The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-25

were on so much grander a scale than
those OF Washington and all things be-
ing so essentially different. that there
ceases to be any further points OF COM
parison between them. Nor need ~
draw parallels between Lee and out
dead heroes, Sidney Johnson and Jack,
son. The career OF the former, whose
cut of so soon that we scarcely knew
! him.
Whoever shall undertake to draw a
parallel between General Lee and hrs
great lieutenant, Jackson, for the pur-
pose OF depreciating the one or the
other, cannot have formed the remot-
est conception OF the true character Of
either of those llustrious men and
congenial Christian heroes Let us be
thankful that we had two such cham
pionS, and that in their characters we
can furnish the world at large with
the best assurance OF the rightfulness
of the principles for which we fought.
Shall | compare Lee to General
Grant, his successful antagonist? AS
well compare the great pyramid which
rears its majestic proportions in the
valley OF the Nile, to a pygmy perched
upon the top of Mount Atlas
No, my friends, it is in vain to seek
anywhere for parallel to the great
Lee. Our beloved chief stands like
some lofty column which rears its head
among the highest in grandeur. Sim
pie and sublime, he needs, s,no~borrowed
last mountain i'll the deluge, 'unap-
proaChablc forever"
How well our great hero performed
his part in the mighty drama the
world knows by heart. The glories of
his achievements have been immortal
lied in song and story. Emblazoned
in letters of living light is the name OF
the idol OF the Southland, Robert E.
Lee. Described as "A foe without
hate, friend without treachery, a sol
dier without cruelty, and victim with
our mur.muring,. he was public
officer without vices, private citizen
without wrong, neighbor without re-
proach, Christian without hypocrisy,
a man without guilt.
He was a Caesar without his am
bition, Frederick without his tyranny,
Napoleon without his Selhshness, and
Washington without his reward. He
was as obcdicnt to authority as a king.
! He was as gentle as a woman, in lie,
pure; modest as a virgin in thought.
watchtul as a Roman vestal. submis-
Sivc to law as Socrates, grand i'll battle
as Achilles.
!
cold must be the heart that thrills not
at the sound oi that magic name. When
the time came Tor this great man to
decide where his services must be en-
listed, we see him struggling with the
mighty problem. On the one side was
all the seductive alluremcnts OF posi-
ton, power and pront. Within his
grasp were all the full realizatons OF
soldiers fondest dreams, all the gilt
tering prospects OF warriors ambi-
tlous hopes. but spurning position for
principle, power for patriotism, the
great chieitan moved by that grand
subllmest word i'll our language"
linked his destiny with the Confcder-
f5u aPd agPadca a,f Mn II tbs k5 SHpth Syt hbe6bMieh Mihihh shhs
be my people, thy God shall be my
| God"
The world has had its heroes, who
III the moment OF victory dazzled the
eyes OF their countrymen by the gen
luS OF their actions and the glories OF
their triumphs, but were / asked the
Subimest moment OF this idol OF the
South, | would answer, not when he
marched triumphantly at the head OF
battle, not when the star OF the Conicd-
eracy was i'll the ascendant, not when
amid the shouts OF victory he rode re-
splendant at the head of his conquer
ing heroes. but | would take you to
that historic spot at Appomattox,
where the old torn and tattered flag
was turled, where all the bright hopes
OF his grand band OF followers vanish
ed, and with his great heart throbbing
. and bleeding for his stricken South
land, with broken voice and the tears
streaming down his noble brow, he ad-
81, 81
lost cause. Mighty in victory, but
mightier still in defeat. All, my coun-
trymen, such men as Lee were not
born to die"
These shall resist the empire Of de-
cay,
When time is DER and worlds have
Il passed away;
| Cold in the dust the perished heart may
lie,
But that which warmed it once can
never die"
Mr. B. F. Arthur, president OF the
!. Peoples Bank, gentleman who has
from the first starting OF the enter
prise been one OF its most liberal sup
portcrs, was selected by the ladies to
mark the spot. This Mr.. Arthur did in
an appropriate way. His speech
though brief, was to the point and
: was as follows:
Veterans, Fellow Citizens, Ladies and
School Children:
, Today we are gathered here to break
dirt Tor the foundation of the Conied-
crate monument, the work Of love and
loyalty OF the noble women of Union
county, through the Daughters OF Will
| liam Wallace Chapter. 1t is with the
greatest Dride th at thiS biob bopor {, lie