Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1910-04-14
He Who Fails in His Duties Betravs Hi. r..
AdmiTssIlss and VITginIaRs.
Editor The Gazette:


IN your quaint old town. and have
been thinking Of writing my opinion
ever since. The thing that moved
me 10 get about il was the recent
controversy in Washington about the
statue OF General Lee going in stasu-
ary hall. The opposition to it. I
think. IS the most disgrsceful thing
that has happened recently. The war
was over q years ago and It is dne
20 let such things, drop. I an a
northern man and think the North
was in the ghr at that time. but I
do not question the sincerity OF the
southern mn who differ with me.
No one who is well posted and has
read the If Of General Lee can de-
ny but that ne is ons of America's
greatest men. Inc men who stood
IN the firing line wnere bullets and
shells were thickest I do not think
teel any Oppo ntion 70 his statue 90
ing there. A a General he is with
out a superior. ard bis personal
character with )ut biemish. II was
shame that he was allowed 10 die
a prisoner OF war on parole. II the
policy and generosity of General
Grant st Appomauox had oeen fol-
lowed out all along the line, this
whole country would have been
saved lots of trouble. The north
was victorious and can afford to be
geaerous especially as we are all one
country. That is what General
Grant said when he stopped the fir.
ing of sslutes at Appomattox. He
said. these men are our bro hers
and we do not want to rejoice over
/ there defeat" Words cannot ex-
press my contempt OF men who can
not recognize greatness and charact-
er in men who differ with them.
/ have about a dozen southern
books il my library about the wal
and more than that Of northeru. /
found some of the southern while in
Riehmon1. enjoy reading them
very much. especially Col. Walter
Taylo.'s and <. P. Alexandsrs
here must be something wonderful
about man who can arouse the con-
bdence in men that General Lee did.
The whole army of Northern Viz
ginia thought that "Aiarse Roberr''
vas equal to any occasion. Even
when ne surrendered them there was
mo question raised but everyone
thought he had done what wss right
and all the regret they felt was sor
row and sympathy for him that be
had 70 do it. He never showed his
greatness any more than at Appo-
mattox. The perfect dignity Of
bearing and performance of a very
oisagreea0le duty under awful tryinz
circumstances was wonderful. Please
allow a northern man 10 mention
that his greatness was equalled by
the kindness and generosity of Gen
eral Grant. I ike o contemplate
these two men there. General Grants s
ready sympathy to g ye anything he
could and the simplicity Of the whole
ceremony. No giving and taxing of
swords or military pomp or show.
America has had scme great men
but none greater than Robert Z
Lee.
But enough of this. started to
write my impressions of Virginia, !
like your country very much and
would like to come there and live.
| enjoyed going over the battlefields
| have read so much about and see
ing the great historicsl places around
there. There are several people
from this part down there. Mr.. I. r.
Daley and F. R. Woodruff and some
others. l was much pleased with
your climate. the winters arc so short
IN contrast with ours / was there
70 put in the heafinr nlanf IN NJ