Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-08-26
LEES STATUE IN THE CAPITOL.

LEES STATUE IN The UAPl lOL.
Robert E. Lees statue now stands be-
side that Of George Wsshington's 10 the
natiou's hall OF fame in the Ospitol ct
Washington. The Confederate chieftain
Is garbed in the gray uniform in which
be won his renoWn as a soldier and
military slrategisf. There hss been
some murmuriug that his efigy should
be among those Of the great men Of the
republic who never lifted haud against
it, bat after all there is little to COM
plain Of.
The State Of Virginia was allotted two
inches to fill, and she chose to ell them
gith statues of Washington and Lee.
Why, it is asked, were not Thomas
Jeferscn snd John Marshall honored
instead of Lee? That is for Virginisus
to decide. Jefferson wrote the Declsra-
ton of Independence and John Marshall
Infused vitality and power into The
Federal constitution. BJlh were great
men, but neither of them is, or ever
was, 90 close 10 the hearts of the people
Of Virginia as Robert E. Lse.
And there sre few people In the North
who do not deep down in their hearts
feel o pride that Lee was sn American.
Lee was the Chevalier Blysrd OF the
South, soldier sans peur ct reproche.
The high q1siii's he possessed extorte.
the admiration of enemies, his:6delitysto
a mistaken idea Of loyalty assumed The
air of lofty devotion. His valor audivir-
lures hsllowed the tragedy of bis defeat
The dignity ard fortilude with which be
accepted the srbilrsmeDt of arms gave
him claim to the respect of mankind,
and the composed patience with which
be returned to ihe'pursuits of peace, ex-
hortiug by voice and example the men
be had 80 lately led in battle to submit
loyalty TO the verdict of the sword, give
him On honored place among pslrio's
His errors we're due tos mistake Of judg-
ment-a false conception Of duty--his
character was entirely notle, while his
genius and virtures rIh ct the flower Of
American manhood. He was 6ner
character than ether Jtffsfson or Mar
shall despite The immensely superior SER
vices they rendered the nation.
Virginia cannot crowd all her heroes
10 two small inches II would require a
pantheon to house the statesmen, sold.
iers aud jurists she has produced, and of
all given birth on her soil there could
DOT have been selected two woithier
examples of the heroic virtues than
George Washington and Robert Edward
Lee. They represent tbs Old Domin-
icn's attitude during the war OF the
Revolution and the war of Secession.
They are typical of the highest de-
veIopment Of the cavalier aristocracy Of
the south-the nglONormsn trans
planted to a new country and bis feudal
traditions adapted to the pslrlarchlal
institulion of slavery, with lis msnors,
serfs and seignOral privileges.
Wsshir gton's Fsrewell Address,
written as victorious generalissiDo re-
tirirg from the chief power in re-
public whose independence his sword
bad carved and whose stability be had
be ped make secure, wss not conceived
10 a spirit OF lofter patriotism than the
advice Lee gave bis tattered legiOns
after the fall of the COniederscy. "Go
home, rebuild your homes, obey the
law and strive to restore prosperity to
your wasted 6elda and heal the wounds
Of fraterDal strife" Those simple
words had potent Influence 10 stilling
the passions of war sDd preventing for
ther bloOdshed. They sounded note
of reconciliation and renewed loyalty to
the union thst rekindled pride in our
common country, its flag and achieve.
men.s, and stimulated the courage of
broken people TO fsce the hardships
and responsibilities Of new and strange
condition. Patience and resignation in
adversely became him even more than
courage and resolution in leading an
army. Let no one comps ain that Vir-
pinis has SIT her Pslsdin Of Secession
beside her Psladln OF Nationality in
the Capitol. Their dumb figures tell
the story of Virginia's settlement and
social evolution, OF her ideals and her
divided sentiments, of her political aud
domestic institutions, and her men.
The victor snd vsrquished in rebellion
they are q noble pair, entirely worthy
Of Virginia's pride and sptly representa-
tive of her people and traditions [Oak-