Goldsboro weekly argus., 1909-01-21

heart was burdened with sorrow and
every home was shrouded in gloom
as an exemplar who was himself the
highest example of his own farewell
words to the officers of his staff: "Hu-
man virtue ought at least to be equal
to human calamity''-an eXemplar that
we could all take, a model to which
we could all look, a man whom we
could all try to initiate. Where else
in the history of the world, in the
history of the whole world, will you
find one man, of whom it can be said
that his life was so pure, his ambitions
so noble and his deeds so great, that
you might say to your fondest child,
to the son that you love above your
life: "There is your example; follow
it; look to him and to his example;
it will be excelsior as long as you
live" Criticism finds nothing in him
to harp at. Envy finds nothing to
decry. Jealousy: stands abashed as he
stands out as our model, our example
and our loving and beloved hero. AS
a boy, he was honest and faithful
not only honest in his dealings with
others, but honest in his thoughts, his
words and his deeds. Faithful in ev-
cry duty even though it were of the
least Importance. AS he passed from
boyhood into manhood these gradually
developed until in his later life he
stood forth model of character for
his countrymen, and occupied the
highest place in the affections of his
people.
Robert E. Lee was a good man.
Throughout his entire life, his one
aim was to bring his acts into har-
mony with the principles of religion.
He was tender-hearted and forgiv-
ing man. No one ever received an un-
kind word from him.
Though a soldier and a very emf
nent one, he retained from the begin
ming to the end of his career the en-
tire temper and character of an ideal
civilian. He had all a soldiers vir-
tues and was glorified with a whole
galaxy of excellences which soldiers
too often lack. He was pure of speech
and of habit, never Incorporate. never
obscene, never irreverent. In domes-
~lc life, he was an absolute model
Lofty command did not make him
vain.
When that mighty struggle for the
protection and preservation of Dixie
and her institutions was begun such
men were needed. Both parties were
willing to sacrifice their lives, their !
fortunes and their sacred honors upon |
the altar Of their respective causes,
and Robert E. Lee was not one to |
shirk. His sacrifice was great-fame, |
honor, wealth, renown all were held |
out to him as inducements to keep |
him in the Union army; but he sacri- |
feed all these in obedience to what |
seemed to him a call to duty, a call |
which he must obey at any cost-and
cast his all with the land of his birth. |
He was soon called in most earnest !
tones to assume the role of chieftain |
Of the bravest, and proudest army this |
world has ever seen, and he would
not turn aside. Around him his peo-
pie gathered as their military leader,
and thousands willingly joined him in
defence of their country. All business I
was set aside; the sturdy laborer
ceased his toll, the sunburnt farmer
stayed his plow in the unfinished fur
row. No thirst for gold, no desire for /
'ame gathered these rough, unframed /
came to fight for their rights as they /
saw them, for the protection of their /
aomes, their families and their in /
,titutions, and in defense Of the fair
est land that ever a zephyr kissed or
an ocean bathed-the birthplace of t
greatness, the home of liberty, the /
and of patriotism and the cradle of T
genius. In that long, thin, gray, i'm
mortal line that swept up the rocky I
slopes of Gettysburg, my country /
holds within her sacred embrace, no |
bier dust than ever slumbefed in /
Westminster or even in the renowned |
of the seven-hill city. With
his band of devoted followers, Robert |
E. Lee gave to the world an example |
of bravery, heroism and patriotism
than which all history fails to record
greater. He was indeed great when |
at the head of charging squadrons he
led Southern valor on to fruitless
victory. But, then, when the battle
was over thousands of dauntless
hearts lay cold and lifeless on the
bloody field never to follow him again.
But even greater was he when the war
was over, coming back to his people
with words and deeds Of consolation
for all; coming back to his old church
for the comforts Of religion only to
find it's walls pierced with shot and
shell, and the floor of the very sanct-
uary itself stained with the blood of
those whom he loved. With such evi-
dences continually before every eye,
no heart could for a moment forget
it's sorrow Yet nobly he went to
work as President of a Collegiate in
stitution of learning, as a teacher OF
youth, and sent out year after year
hundreds Of promising young men,