Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-01-23
Dr.CharIes Francis Adams Talks
EIouuentIy on Gen. Lee

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EIoquentiy on Gen. Lee
"Having occasion once to refer In
discussion tt certain Of the founders oil
our Massach usetts Commonwealth,
madc the assertion that their force
lay In character and l added
that In saying this paid, and
meant TO pay, the highest tribute
which in my judgment could be paid
to a community or to its typical men.
Quite a number Of years have passed
since SO expressed myself, and in those
years have grown Internationally
older; but l repeat, even more conf
IDENTIFY than then uttered them, these
other words: The older have grown,
and the more l have studied and seen,
the greater In my esteem, as an ele-
ment OF strength in people, has char
acter become, and the less In the con-
duct of human affairs have thought
of mere capacity or even genius With
character race will become great, even
though as stupid and unassimila Ing as
the Romans; without character, any
race will in the long run prove fall
ure, though 1t may number In 1t indi-
viduals having all the brilllancy Of the
Jews. crowned with the genius Of Ma
poleon.' We are here today to COM
msnorate the birth Of Robert Ed
ward Lee, essentially man Of charac-
ter.
THAT America has been rich In men
OF character 10 matter Of history. 1t
has also been our making as cominu-
nifty. Such in New England was John
Winthrop, whose lofty example still
influences the community whose In
fancy he fathered. Such In New York
was John Jay. Such, further south,
was John Caldwell Calhoun, essentially
q man Of exalted character and repre-
sentative Of his community quite ire
spective OF his teachings and theil
outcome. Such unquestlonably in Vir'
ginia were George Washington and
John MARSHALL; and, more recently,
Robert Edward Lee. A stock. OF
which those three were the consum-
mate flower, by it's fruits Is known.
Here to comm emorate the centennial
OF the birth of Lee. l do not propose to
enter into any enlogium OF the man, to
recount the we'll known events OF his
career, or to estimate the final place to
be assigned him among great military
characters. All this has been sufficiently
done by Others far better qualified for
the task. Eschewing superlatives also,
| shall institute no comparisons. One
Of a community which then looked
upon Lee as a renegade from the nag
he had sworn to serve, and traitor to
the Nation which had nurtured him,
In my subordinate place directly con-
II onted Lee throughout the larger por-
ton Of the War of Secession. During
all those years there was not a day In
which my heart would not have been
gaddened had l heard that his also
had been the fate which at Chancel-
louisville befell his great lieutenant;
and yet more glad had 1t been The for
tune of the command in which l served
to visit that fate upon him. Forty or
more years have since gone. Their
close finds me here today-certainly
a much older. and In my own belief at
least. wiser man. Nay, more A
distinguished representative OF Massa-
chusetts, speaking in the Senate OF the
United States. shortly after Lees
death, upon the question OF return to
Lees family OF the ancestral estate OF
Arlington, used these words: 'Elo-
ouent Senators have already charac-
terized the proposition and the traitor
which it seeks to commemorate. l am
not disposed to speak Of General Lee.
1t is enough to say that he stands high
10 the catalogue of those who have Inn
brued their hands In their country's
blood, | hand him over to the ayen6-
ing pen OF History 1t SO chances that
not only am l also from Massachusetts,
but for moro tkan dozen years. have
been the chosen head OF It's typical his
torical soceity,-the society charted un-
der the name and seal Of the Common
wealth considerably more than a CEN
tury ago, the parent OF all similar soei
cites. BY no means would l on that
account seem to ascribe to myself any
representative character as respects
the employment Of History's pen,
whether ayeping or otherwise; nor DO
| appear here as representative Of the
Massachusetts Historical Society; but,
whole generation has passed away
since Charles Sumner uttered the words
have quoted, l do, on your invitation,
chance to stand hers today, as have
said, both a Massachusetts, man aud,
the head OF the Massachusetts, HIS,
torical Society, to pass Judgment upon
General Lee. The situation Is thus to
a deglee dramatic.
"Though, in what am about to say,
| shall confne myself to few points
only. to them l huve given 10 little
study, and on them have much reflect
ed. Let me, however, once for all,
and With emphasis, In advances cay alr
not here to instruct ViIginlans either
In the history Ct their State or the
principles OF Constitutional Law; mol
do make ms pretense to profundity
whether of thought or insight. On the
| contrary, l shall attempt nothing more
than the elaboration OF what has al
ready bsel said by others, as well as