The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-05-05
EuLOG|zES SOuTH'S

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as we will.
The name of Robert r. Lee ia
synonymous for honor and character
T. was his inheritance. Hear his fathers
words Of wisdom to his son, The love
ard practice of virtue, the only real
1 FOOD in tfe"-.z I-pray never to
forget that virtue as our first good
and lying its deadly foe. Above all
things earthly. even love to the best
81 mothers and your ever devoted
father, entrcat YOU TO cherish truth
and abhor deception" Fame in arms
or art however conspicuous. is naught
unless hottomed on virtue. Think
therefore Of fame only as the apendage
Of virtue. though poor. humble and
scnrned"
40 wonder it is truly said OF Robert
that he entered West Point academy
ut eighteen years of age and during his
whole academic course He never re-
eeived # demerjt or n rcprimand and
at his graduation stood amongst the
. highest in Hrs class, II is no wonder
( that he distinguished himself in the
service OF HIS country as a soldier We
arc nor surprised that Mr.. Lincoln sum-
rrnned him to Washington and through
Mr Blair offered him the command of
the United states army in the field.
HeU ever it appeals to every honest
I mind that the only possible thing for
/ such n character to do was to decline
/ that commission and honor when he
! felt IT his duty to uphold the banner
OF his own state. Virginia. and her sis
ter states Of the South. These words
! were the spontaneous expression Of his
/ heart. How can ] draw my sword
/ aeatnst my state and all my friends
/ and comrades 9''
He appreciated the difficulties and
:. %A
would necessarily entail few men
did
And was he not great soldier and
a great general? Surely it would not
require great orator to make elo-
Quent the story OF his achievements,
when he had done all that man
/ could do and he felt that the time he'd
come when It was his duty a SOL
/ dicr ed as a Christian to save the
farther effuaion of blood. nothing Of
selfshness ambition was permitted
{ to enter into the consideration OF the
matter In his own words. 'the ques
/ tion is whether 1t is right, and IL 1t Is
right. ] take the responsibility"
+ It is n mark of true greatness that
+ one shall be able to command himself
In time OF defeat. Robert +. Lee was
{ equal to that occasion and thus COM
PEELED the loving gratitude Of his COM
! radcs and of the unborn generations.
| When he retired in private life, worn
in body and mind and with little Of
material blessing left. offers OF assist
ance poured in upon him from all quar-
tiers, hut he refused, saying, MY friends
have offered me everything except
work and / feel that 1t is my duty to
work"
with him we have found out duty
was the sublimest word in our Ian
! euare." His own tastes led him to seek
absolute retirement and prompted by
these no was at first disposed to refuse
the presidency of Washington college.
Hut when it was suggested to him that
he could accomplish infinite good In
this position, he at once determined to
( accept the place. Having done this, no
offer of pecuniary advantage could
tempt him to quit the path where duty
led hmm,
Again, as he himself expressed IT,
Il have n self-imposed task which Il
must accomplish / have led young
men OF the South to battle. have
seen many of them fall under my
standard shall devote my life now
to training young men to do their duty
in life"
We have hut touched upon a few
points in this great life. however. we
realize that we cannot do more.
There are other and exceedingly
worthy names that demand recognition
by all the laws of worthiness. We must
ther consideration tonight.
We must remember Lee and those
brave men who have fought for us in
the past, for there Is grave need still
, for brave soldiers, If the warfare of
| the cross Is to he fought to a success
full issue, The very honor and life of
our nation is the stake. Shall ours
perish with Seldom and Gomoraa be-
cause there are no more Lees and
stonewall Jacksons and Joseph e.
Iohnstons and Stewards and Long
streets. who are willing to suffer that
the hand of despotism shall be lifted
thank God that in pcardy. beyond
tho sea,
, a million heroes fought for me;
Where fires of death appalled, the light.
And smoke curtains blinded sight,
That hattled in the fiendish light,
For me,
In ricardy. beyond tho sea.
one warrior Iaddies hled for me:
For them the homeland held the most
, Nor did they fall to count the cost.
Trey went, lest freedom might be lost.
For me.
In Picardy. beyond the sea,
) Those dAuntlcss lads would die for me,
The feur-de-iis. deep tinged with red.
, win bend Ger many a CORY" bed
i Where lies those sons Of Freedom
{ dead
For me.
, How sleep the brave who sink to rest,
, By all their country's wishes blest;
When spring. with dewy fingers cold
Returns TO deck their hallowed mould
, She then shall dress fairer sod
Than Fancy's feet have ever trod
Fly fairer hands their kneil is rung:
By forms unseen their dirpe is sung:
Their Honor comes. pilgrim grey.
; TO bless the turf that wrap their clay.
. hnd freedom shall awhile repair
To dwell a wriking hermit there.