The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-04-29

knife Of war had 10 DESTROY. It WAS a
possession not Of the South alon, hut of
the United States. IL is possible that
the North d.d not fully realize the ,tvony
thus caused by the removal of tho base.
upon which during more than -four
score and seven years southern iu,lu.-
try had been built But Robert lee
realized il and while he knew that
70 was opposed 60 the real developuent
OF the South. bee also knew that there
was nothing 20 take it's place and that
"a terrible reaction must follow its re-
moNaL Therefore. he fought for the
state which had given him birth and
the cause which She upheld Al through
the war he was the dol of Virpinia anJ
OF the entire Southern people He Is
worthy To be honored by the entire
American people. even iu so conspicuous
a place as the National Capitol The
following comes from a member Of the
G.. A. r.
One asks the question what Lee had
| done He did so much that hi. name
has gone down n history as ono OF the
three greatest generals tie world has
ever produced. And his chivalrv Is be-
ing taught m our public schools to the
coming generations. General Lee never
tried 20 down the Stars and Stripes.
lie only wanted what he thought was
rght, the protection Of his own iireside
and his people. Lee never knew de
ieat. With his small army and great
odds against him. he would not sacrifice
another life and he asked for terms of
peace. General Grant said lee was a
soldier and gentleman. | have often
been affiliated with the Grand Army of
the Republic. and ! have the greatest
respect for them. but ] have never
heard one of the 'old vets speak AN un-
kind word of the Southern hero.
Whether General Lees statue is placed
IN the Hall of Fame or not. his illustri-
GUS name Is written in letter. of gold
the world over. In my experience as a
soldier and a veteran. the old boys who
stood the brunt Of battle never had
much TO say about what he did. but
look out for the three months recruit.
They are the boys who know il an and
tell us IN time OF peace all about it,"
The Confederate uniform and sword
worn by the Lee statue should be a
tribute from North and South alike To a
great commander and a worthy foe, 10
noble man and to patriot son Of
the Old Dominion To divest the Cen
eral of his uniform would deprive him
Of the laurels which he actually won
while leading the Southern armies. and
Tor which. aside from his great person
ality, he will be remembered with dis
tinction
Another Of our G.. A. X. friends
says; Certain members Of the Grand
Army have displayed a bitterness of
spirit and an ignorance OF history not
To be expected at this late date. To
display such rancor toward character
SO lofty and pure, is a disgrace TO vet
Grams, who should match their service
10 their country by justice and chivalry
10 their foe. The historical book worm
is equally unjustified in such expires.
sions, because he is invariably narrow
and fails 10 apply the light of truth u
both sides of the question.
The causes of the war. which for a
time threatened the life of the country.
have disappeared with the growth Of
American nationality. The reaction
caused by the abolition of slavery has
come and gone, but the South is ad-
vancing as never before under the inn
petus of a true and solid industrial
system. Schools. colleges and manu-
featuring plants are making their in
tiuence felt, in bringing the North and
| South closer together and more and
more identifying their common in
| terests. The future Of the Great Re
| public is fundamentally interviewer
with this identification. The honoring
of Robert Edward Lee, whether by
means of a statue in the National Cap
ltol or more enduring sanctuary the
hearts of his united American country
men should heal effectually the last of
the nations wounds and seal the States
| into a perpetual brotherhood, "'with
malice towards none, with charity
toward ALL" so that indeed and in truth
Union and Liberty may be "oae ard
inseparable now and forever"
Albert Chas. Mort IN,
1880 Diamond St,
Phiiadclpl ia. Pa