The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-05
KANSAS COMMENT
STATUE OF ROBERT LEE.

NO one desires to keep alive the
memory of the civil war between the
North and the South. We are one vast
ana undivided country, singularly
united by the great American destiny
tnat mas become apparent in the coun-
| try rapid progress since the rebellion
Ample evidence is being given fol
twenty years. Of the fact that the civil
war that divided US for four awful
years Is now remembered without bit
terness.
| Sons of the North have been gen.
timely welcomed into the citizenship
| OF Southern states and vice versa.
Sons of confederate fathers are serv-
ing in our army and in our navy. New
ertheless it is not surprising that the
hall of fame in the National Capitol
building the statue of Robert E. Lee
should have raised an echo of the old
sectional bitterness. It is only forty
f1ve years since the struggle was fin
1shed. Thousands of survivors still
breathe an atmosphere of memory for
those days, and it is not surprising
that some of them should object to a
monument to Robert E. Lee in the
National Capitol
1t is possible, of course. that their
vision is too clouded by the memory of
past sacrifices to enable them to get
a view of just what Virginia means by
honoring the memory of Lee. General
Robert E. Lee was knightly soldier,
a distinguished American. He was
great hearted in defeat, and rendered
after that defeat, ungrudging loyalty to
his country. If Virginia honors him as
a type of American manhood her civ
ilization has produced she does not
dishonor the spirit of national patriot
ism in asking that he have place in
the American Valhalla at Washington.
Posthumous honors to a great man
will not dignity the ''lost cause" or
justify 1t in any American mind. On
the other hand it may stand forth as
a symbol of our united nation, as an
undying proof of the healing which
time has brought, as a manifestation
of forgiveness and Of confidence in
our future perfect relationship. 1t
could never be regarded as an effort
to reopen in any sense a controversy
which patriotism has settled and
which time will always hold in it's
rightful ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Beacon.
OUR MANNERS.
It is always possible. it seems, when
other subjects fail, for a writer to
roast American manners, and find a
market for his screed. A writer in
the current Century dwells in mourn
full terms on the deplorable lack of
politeness and consideration on the
part of Americans, and the impress
sion it must make on foreigners COM
ing this way. And to prove his point,
he goes down to Ellis Island, the gate
way of the New World, and sees the
way the newcomers are handled. He
finds the manner of their reception is
such as to discourage good manners
in those who have learned them well
in slower going countries. There he
notes the employees of the government
show disrespect for the minor rights
of the immigrants, which is not intend
ed to strengthen the belief that Amer
lea has the respect for larger rights
of which the immigrant has dreamed.
This indictment is probably true, so
far as pertains to Ellis Island. The
work of receiving and passing upon
the qualifications of many immigrants
is hurried through, in no polite man
ner, probably because the inspectors
are in a hurry, more than from in
territorial rudeness. Improvement is,
doubtless. to be desired, but it is not
fair to get a crouch at the whole
country because of a few government
employees. Americans may be rude
occasionally, but there is appreciation
of good manners and even an immi-
grant of average intelligence will not
be long in finding it out, even If his
first welcome is not a, Ia Chesterfield
Globe.