The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-09

patriotism would have been clear ana he
would not have hesitated for one mo-
ment to go with his State 1t is this
conflict of duties that brings about the
tragedies OF life. aud this was tho
tragedy OF General Lees lifc Hc was
an American. In every flbre OF his be-
ing, every pulsation Of his heart, and
7 he felt that secession. even II success
full. would be fatal to tho best in-
terests Of America. But what could he
do when 'hls native State. withSalls;hsr
glorious history and associations, cast
In her lot with the cause OF .seoessione
lie had no choice but to go with IT. He
could not draw his sword against his
own kindred and his own home. TIis
/ State was his only fatherland; there
fore, to say that General Leo was. even
In this tragicat crisis of his llfs al
true an American patriot as Grant or
Lincoln, Is to speak but the simple
truth.
Both these great Americans. Grant
and Lincoln. had come from States that.
had been cut out OF tho; common terri
tory belonging, to all tho States: and
these men felt could feel, no special
patrio tism for such more political
and geographical district: nor could
they in common with most OF the
Northern people. appreciate the intense
love of State which Leo and other
southern ner felt
I, Moreover. Lincoln and Grant and oil
| the Northern people were not called
| upon to face such a conflict OF duties.
Their States and the United States took
the same course. so that In going with
|. their States, they also went with the
government OF the United States.
! Hence there wore 10 heartburnings.
! Again.it must be Remembered that the
! mattersaf slavery was not tile question
tf,tt tx.n tn IL
mind at the beginning OF the war. Leo
never would have drawn his sword to
|, per pftuate slavery. He did not believe
IN slavery. But the war complicated
and confused matters. and the only
direct and clear issue that Lee and
| Jackson and their like saw and felt
was that OF State loyalty. which to
them was n plain question of patriot
| ism of love for tho fatherland There
were Southern men OF high character
and undoubted patriotism who went
| with the United States, az against
| their native States. Such were General
Thomas and Admiral Farragut. But
think Il will be found that these men
were bound to their States by no such
F, ties OF history and traditions as was
| General Lee; and ] believe that the
consensus Of enlightened opinion
North and South. must finally BIO that
| General Robert Z. Leo did the natural
thing, the honorable thing. and the
! patriotic thing when he refused to
command the United States Army
which was to invade the South, and
cast IN his lot with his native State;
and that thu, great dignity and noble
! ness Of his character shines out with
the same spIendor IN this act as In al
his sets. and that. therefore. General
| Robert y. Lee car be called. and right
L. called, as great ali American patriot
as he was unquestionably a great
! american warrior. And, as time goes
on. think It will be seen that the two
! finest Characters tn American history
since Washington wer, Lincoln and
Lee. Tho ore Who was born to notl
| ing and achieved everything; the other
who, was born to everything and hand
| ed the hor orable traditions OF family
! ard State to posterty with addel
lustra IL