The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-07-30
Erect Memorial OF General Lee I'm
Washington.

TO the Editor OF The Times Dispatch.
Sir'.-l.itty years ago the great bat
years ago the people in Two sections
OF our beloved country We're engaged in
deadly strife. In this year OF our Lord.
l9l3, the same peoples. in about as
large numbers. many Of them survivors
Of HE original armies; are again N
what a different scene spreads itself
before the eye.
Then the contest: one 10 destroy the
ne other. Then destruction. anger: no
fricmdship ties Of love---union!
Fifty years ago the President of our
United States. as one OF the master
pieces of our mother tongue viii show
commended the valOr OF the victors
our country glorfes the prowess OF
both victor and vanquished. uniting
the American people. and the whole
nation applauds. II applauded the one
President FOR his appreciable express
sions Of deeds done; Il applauds the
other President for voicing the scnti-
ment Of the public opinion OF our united
country.
Is II not a nttine time now, while
government. 'of the people. by the
people and for the people" to com
incmoratc this union of sentiment by a
monument in the District of Columb ia ,
the one and only place in our vast
citizen thereof?
Washington is besprinkled with
bronze and marble in memory Of those
who won in 1852. but not one statue
suggests the gallantry and heroism of
those who were vanquished,
Sparta. in the old days in time of
sore distress, called upon Athens for
help. There was feeble hint in the
had been their enemies. but the higher
thought that carried all before il was:
that they were brothers: that they
were, OF the same race, and that they
worshipcd in the temples Of the same
gods And the strong right arm Of
Athens shot forth in Spartas defense.
What individual can regale his mind
With thoughts of the brave and gallant
James Fitz James without recalling the
intrepid figure Of Roderick, the Black"
without thinking of his heroic oppon /,
ent. Robert T.. Leo? Daniel Webster
IN his most wonderful Grafton said:
Heaven. If ! see extraordinary capacity
and virtue in any son Of the South. and
If moved BY local prejudice or. gan
1.-The Of a hair from his just character
and just fame. may my tongue cleave
10 the roof of my mouth"
With this majestic conception in
view. should not one. of our unoccupied
circles here in Washington contain a
"reminiscences that. will tell the whole
world the story of our united country
that those who lost at Gettysburg and
that those who won at Gettysburg each
had qualities of which every American
can speak with honest pride?
Whose statue so placed would be the
most fitting reminder that the South.
ms we'll as the North, had men endowed
by God with extraordinary capacity
and Virtuc?''
/ answer this question without a
! single hesitation, that of Robert Il. Lee.
Such an act by our general govern
ment. at this moment, would preserve
| and ernbalm the picture of the WARMLY
| clasped hands at Gcttysburg-be the
act OF n whole people. intensity the
! patriotism of every citizen of our
! promise over the future OF every true
! American.
United we stand. divided we fall"
DANIEL SMITH GORDON,
2012 Hillycr Place, Washington, .. c.