The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-05-17
LOOKING BACKWARD.

Occasionally contemporary up III
New England axes occasion to bark
back some forty-four years and say
things about the events Of that MEM
orable period. AS an example. we
copy this from The Springfield (Mass9
Republican. of recent date:
Gen: Robert E; Lee Is being praised
ism" In surrendering at Appomattox.
Patriotism" isn't exactly the word TO
at the case. But Gen. Lee certainly
showed good sense
Then only a day or two ago The New
Bedford Standard, of the same State,
had this to saw: ,.f-.
The man who commends the far
sighted patriotism of General Robert
e. Lee in surrendering at Apponattox
eral Lee surrendered because he had
to- and the act was one of common
sense rather than of patriotism.
1t will be noted that both these con-
temporaries deny that there was any
patriotism in Lees, action, but that he
surrendered because The had to-"
Stepping across lots over into Connect
lieut. We get this from The Hartford
CourantS
The always critical Springfield Re-
publican suggests that President Taft
used the wrong word when he spoke
of the patriotism of Robert L. Lees
CONDUCT at ,Appomattox. It assumes
he had no alternative. President Taft
knows better; so does history. 1t was
within General Lees choice to prciong
a hopeless struggle-to give the signal
tainly have gone on for months, pos
sibly for years, and nave left added
desolation and bitterness behind IT. He
was urged by some hot heads 70 do so.
Henry A. Wise Gas We know from his
sons book told him that il would be
murderous wickedness The general
the decision of patriot. Charles
Francis Adams-wearer of a name for
merly esteemed in the latitude of
Springfield, Mass.-has said that the
generals life. Perhaps The Republican
may have forgot that Robert f. Lee
was not a secessionist, and that when
he resigned from the army Of the Unit;
never be drawn again save III defense
of virginia
All these are not only New England
papers. but Republican journals. vet it
will be noted that they take quite
different view of the same subject. The
Springfield and New Bedford contempt
raries are yet unable to entirely rid
themselves OF the narrow prejudice and
intolerance which so often mars and
discredits the Journalism of that Sec
ton. To them General Lee is still
traitor and whatever he did of his own
accord was treason. but II he really
did a good act it was because he had
TO-" Such narrowness and blindness,
we regret to say, still prevails to some
extent up in New England. and 1t oc-
casionally crops out in a way not al
dulge in It,
The Courant. It will be observed,
takes broader view. and one wholly
justified by facts and history. 1t is,
or should be- known that there were
very many Of General Lees men who
did not wish to surrender. II he had
given the word they would have con-
tinued the struggle while any of them
were left. Thousands Of them refused
to surrender at all. When they found
that such a move had been decided on
they threw down their arms and left
the scene; some going to their homes
to await events. while many of them
made their way to Texas and other
Western points to join the forces tina
were still keeping up the fight. and