The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-20
Lees Very Surrender
Saved.His Country.

SavednElS Country.
From that crown of sorrows Lee
saved the common country. He was
the one man in the Confederacy who
could exercise decisive influence. 1t
was the night of the sth of April, lack
ing ten days only of exactly four full
years, years very full for us who lived
through them, since that not dissimilar
night when Lee had paced the floor at
Arlington, communing with himself
over the fateful issue, a decision on
which was then forced upon him. A
decision of even greater import was
now to be reached. and reached by
him. A commander of the usual cast
would under such circumstances have
sought advice. perhaps support; at
least divided responsibility. Even
though himself by nature and habit Il
rnasterful man and one accustomed to
direct he would have called n council,
and hardened to those composing 1t.
This Lee did not do.
A singularly self-poised man, he
sought no external aid. Sitting be-
fore his bivouac fire at Appomattox
he. reviewed the situation. Doing so,
as before at Arlington, he reached HIS
own conclusion. That conclusion he
himself at the time expressed in words,
brief indeed, but vibrating with moral
triumph: The question is. is it right
to surrender this army? If 1t is right,
then VIII take all the responsibility"
The conclusion reached at Arlington in
the April night of 1861 to some seems
to have been wrong. inexcusable even;
all concur in that reached before the
Appomattox campfire in the April
vigils of 1865. He then second time
decided, and he decided right.
His work was done; but from failure
he plucked triumph. Thenceforth Lee
defeat n
A few days later small group of
horsemen appeared in the morning
hours on the further side OF the Rich
mond pontoons across the James BY
some strange intuition 1t became
known that General Lee was of the
party. and, silent and uncovered. a
crowd-Virginians all-gathered along
the route the horsemen would take
There was no excitement no hurrah-
ing; but as the great chief passed a
deep, loving murmur. greater than
these. rose from the very hearts of the
crowd
Iaking off his hat, and simply bowling
MS head, the man grent in adversely
passed silently to his own door: II closed
upon him; and his people had seen him
for the last time in his battle harness."
From the day that he affixed his sig
nature to the terms of surrender sub
mitted to him by Grant at Appomattox
to the day when he drew dying breath
at Lexington, Lees subsequent course
was consistent. In his case there was
no vacilation, no regrctful gances back
ward thrown. He counselled with wis
dom not less profound because ,ncon-
scious; and what he said evinced that
underlying common sense which in poll
tics nvails more than genius.
Five years of life and active usefulness
yet remained to General Lee-years in my
Judgment most creditable to himself. the
most useful to his country of his whole
life; for during them, he set to Virginia
and his own people high example-sn
example OF lofty character and simple
bearing. Uttering no complaints entering
into no Controversies, he was as one
in suffering all, that suffers nothing. His
blood and judgment We're we'll commin-
gled: and so 1t fell out that he accepted
fortunes. buffets and rewards with equal
thanks. His record and appearance dur
ing those final years are pleasant to dwell