The Greenville morning herald. [volume] (Greenville, Tex.) 1890-1956, 1910-08-24
eoessr lrn.

Let us hope that the attorney gen
gals decision will Bette. once fof ali,
the controversy about the statue oi
6obert b Lee in the capitol at Wash
ington
While We understand and appTeci
te the feeling which prompted many
uorthern veterans Of the civil war to
oppose this recognition of the great
confederate general, the cohgression
al Speeches in support of their eonten
con were wholly objectionable, com
.ng, Us they did, from men whot coul,.
cave ho PERSONAL feeling in the mat
or and who at once aroused the sus
picion that they waved the long dis
carded bloody shirt" but for political
effect, -
mat such rancorous, woundng
speeches, quiekening the hurt. OF an
Gent grievance aud defeat in broth
ers' hearts, could be delivered IN this
-ge OF tolerance among a people de.
70 ed to fair play, is dinlcult to un.
dorstand; least OF all that their sub
Ject couid made a man, woo. de.
spite his repudIated vision is one oi
the most ideal characters which this
land mas Produced
Robert Il. Lee is a type OF noble, vi
tainted manhood, the soul OF honor.
and chiyalty "a humble and deyout
Christian.
A purerr loyelier spirit than breath.
cd IN the life OF this southerner. from
buyhood to the close OF his eventfu
life, mas rarely been witnessed. The
chronicler is apt to oyerestlmate his
brilliant military leadership, his
splendid powers OF strategy, the love
OF his soldiers, his gullantry in the
fed, at the expense of those virtues
of private lie and public service in
times ol peace which form the truest
keynote OF his character.
His conquest oil all the animal APP.
petites. his high humanity. his self.
abnegation, his sublime trust in Goa
and his heavenly submission to the
heavenly willn his Christian labors
among his soldiers and students, his
beautiful family relations, his ute
unpurchasablmy and refusal to u5e
place OF esteem 10 further his ends
or those OF his people-these and 9th
er qualities reveal Robert Il. Lee a.
man among men.
When it was proposed to add $500
to General Lees salary of $500 as
president OF Washington college he
refused on the ground that he al.
ready received "a larger amount than
my poor services are worth. When
he was invited to become the head of
firm in New York to represent
southern commerce with a salary of
$4,000 he refused saying: Il have
led the young men of the south to
battle; have seen many OF them die
on the field; l shall devote my ne.
manning energy TO training young
men TO do their duty in life"
When the presidency OF the South.
ern INSURANCE company was offered
General Lee at a salary of $4,000
with the stipulation that no labor
would be connected with the Office
and that he could continue teaching
he hotly spmned the Offer declarina
that my name is not for sale at any
price"
Contrast these few of many simlla-
incidents with the course OF hosts OF
prominent public men today, whose
names appear in connection with en-
terprises or as the editors of libra
lies toward which they do not do tap
and then say whether Lee does net
deserve honor of his countrymen.
TO the Presidents offer OF the com.
mand OF the union army. Lee made
reply: III / owned four millions OF
slaves, would cheermlly sacrifice
them to the preservation OF the union
but to Hit my hand against MY own
state aud people is impossible"
1t is not for us to judge. 1t is
rather for MS to be very humble in
the presence Of this great soul in its
grieyous dilemma. And our humility
VIII make us tolerant Milwaukee
Free Press,