The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-01-24
Birthday of Robert E. Lee.

of General Robert E. Lee by making
the 18th of January, his birthday, a
legal holiday. Though it's observance
is confined to the banks and a few
public institutions, and Confederate
memorial organizations, this action
stands in the statutes Of the state as
as a lasting memorial to perpetuate
his memory in succeeding genera
tions. Where ever there is student
of warcraft and of battles, the men,
ory of General Lee is assured. An
honor-graduate of West Point, the
descendant of Revolutionary heroes,
soldier by training and inheritance;
already distinguished by his military
achievements before the outbreak of
the War Between the States, he be-
came in that four years struggle not
only the commander in chief Of the
Confederate armies, but one of the
worlds greatest generals. He was
not only great in military leadership,
but great in character. When the
war closed, and he received offers of
princely salaries to link his name
with commercial enterprises, he
waived them all aside to devote the
remainder of his life to the instruc-
tion of young men at Washington &
Lee University. His we'll known
utterance, 1.-The sublimest word in
the English language is duty" was
the keynote to his character and his
daily life.
His was a personality too con-
spicuous, career too great and a
character too noble to belong to any
section, and his memory is enshrined
in the hall of fame of the nation.
The other day in Louisville, KY
DR.. w. w. Landrum, well remember
er as a former pastor of the First
Baptist church in Augusta, delivered
an address to the Confederate veter-
ans in the auditorium of the public
library. His theme was "A Tribute
| to the Americanism of the Old
South" and DR.. Landrum stated that
it has been inspired by a visit to
! Columbus, O., where over the en-
trance to a cemetery where 10000
Confederate soldiers are buried there
is inscribed the words: '"These are
all Americans.
January, the speaker observed
was especially memorable month tc
the Confederate veterans because in
this period they observe the birth
days of both Lee and Jackson and
commemoratedt the precious legacy OF
undying fame each left the South,
land.
$50 long as wars of defense are
honorable; so long as self-sacriflce
impresses and loyalty inspires so long
will the memory of Lee and Jackson
be revered and the name of the Con
federate soldiers be written high in
the annals of fame"
Referring to the morale of the new
army DR.. Landrum drew an eloquent
picture of the old Southern home tt
which he ascribed the credit for the
true spirit of the old South and the
foundation of it's ideals-"where
religion was supreme, where mer
were gentlemen and women ladies
and where heredity and environ
ment gave birth to character anC
courage" "As intensely American
he said, "is the South today. With
broader vision perhaps, but moi
one whit less loyal to ideals anc
traditions. The sons of the South
will do their duty in the war today
we shall win the war. America will
accomplish that stupendous result
and in the accomplishment there will
be glory enough for all; there will bt
no dissension in giving a share Of
the credit to the SONS of those who
wore the gray"
AS the blue and the gray of the
sixties have merged in the khaki o1
today, so the North and the South
have been fused into Americans ir
this world, war, and with common
heritage of valor and patriotism, anc
the same lofty ideals of courage and
love of country, and the soldiers o1
this great united nation can on this
anniversary of the birth of the heroic
leader, stand at attention and sulute
the name of Robert E. Lee.-Augusts
Chronicle.
, while ago he unsuccessfully tried
|. tn kill himself