The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-01-21

ed from his station in Texas the pro-
gress of events since Lincoln's cleo
ton. Thinking slavery as an insti-
tuition a moral and political evil,' hav
ing a soldiers devotion to his flag and |
a warm attachment to General Scott,
he loved the Union and it was espe-
cially dear to him as the fruit of the
mighty labors of Washington. AL
though believeing that the South had
just grievances due to the aggress-
ion of the North, he did not think
these evils great enough to resort to
the remedy of revolution and to him
secession was nothing less. STILL he
wrote in January, 1861, "a union that
can only be maintained by swords and
lbayonets and in which strife and civ
il war are to take the place of broth
'erly love and kindness has no charm
for me. If the Union is dissolved and
the Government disrupted | shall re-
turn to my native State and share the
miseries of my people and save in de-
tense will draw my sword on none.'
Summoned to Washington by his
chief, Lee had arrived there few
days before the Inauguration of Lin
coin, and he had to make the decision
after the bombardment of Sumter and
the Presidents call for troops wheth-
er should serve the national Govern
ment or Virginia. The active COM
mand of the Federal army with the
succession to the chief place was vir-
tually offered to him, but with his no.
tion of States rights and his allie
glance to Virginia his decision, tho
it cost him pain to make it, could have
been no other than it was. He could
not lead an army of invasion into his
native State and after the ordinance
of secession had been passed by the
Virginia convention he resigned his
commission and accepted the command
of the Virginia forces.
Northern men may regret that
Lee did not see his duty in the same
light as did two other Virginians,
Scott and Thomas, but censure's
voice upon the action of such a noble
soul is hushed. A careful survey of
his character and life must lead the
J student of men and affairs to see that
the course he took was from his point
of view and judged by his inexorable
: and pure conscience the path of duty
to which high sense of honor called
, him. Could we share the thoughts of
that high-minded man as he paced the
broad pillard veranda of his noble Ar
lington house, his eyes glancing across
the river at the flag of his country
waving above the dome of the Capitol
and then resting on the soil of his ma
tive Virginia, we should be willing
=" now to recognize in him one of the
finest products of American life. Fol
surely as the years go on we shall ses
!. that such life can be judged by nc
I partisan measure, and we shall come
G to look upon him as the English of oul
: day regard Washington, whom little
n more than century ago they delight
!. ed to call a rebel. Indeed in all es
I sential characteristics Lee resemble,
q Washington, and had the great worl
of his life been crowned with success
), or had he chosen the winning side
Il the world would have acknowledge;
that Virginia could in century pro
q duce two men who were the embodi
T, ment of public and private virtue"
"The avenging pen of history" ha
placed the name of Lee side by sid
T. with Washington. So writes the his
a torian of today and so will the futur
t. historian prolong the noble recorc
u The fame of Robert Lee is secure i
q that last appeal to:
ID "Time the beautifer of the dead,
IF Time the corrector where our jude
ie ments err,
T. The test of Truth"