The New York herald., 1921-01-19
Robert E. Lee.

NOOeIt Z. Lee.
On January 10, 1907, the eyes of
ROBERT EDWARD LEE opened upon a
world in which he was to leave a
name of undying renewn.
To one who not only studies the
causes of civilization and its decay
but also seeks to know what is the
salt preservative there comes cheer.
The perspective that holds the image
of such character in our national
history gives also promise of the
permanence of American democracy.
This is as surely the case as that the
shadows cast by the sunset point
toward the morning. No greater
proof of the continuance OF our ma
tional commonwealth can be given
than this, namely, that ROBERT e. LEE
Is to-day thought of, not as a Vir-
ginian or Confederate. but as an
American.
In the West, which as a civic en-
tity is the offspring of the civil war.
LEE is honored with the great. In
the North his military genius and
achievements are most clearly recog-
nized by the very men, veterans now,
who once met him on the field Of
trial. AS for European critical opin-
ion. it is unanimous in awarding LEE
q place ON the roll of the greatest
soldiers.
Now the wonder is that the fur
ther we go back in the study of
LEES life the more the patriot heart
throbs and thniils. One might tell
here of the naval battery at Vera
Cruz in 1S47. It's heavy guns from
the ships were the first to breach the
city walls, thus virtually deciding the
campaign. Captain ROBERT Il. LEE
not only built this battery-unha.med
by the big guns of the Mexicans,
which were served by the German
Lieutenant HoLzINGER-but its builder
sat in it during the bombardment
Not for him to Shirk the risks he
asked others to runi
1t was Of course glorious in 1918
to see again at Gettysburg the rem
nants of the mighty hosts that fifty
years before had faced each other in
fire and flame, amid iron and death.
They charged again, but this time
with laughter and In brotherhood.
But then half century had mel
lowed their souls. while throwing
into oblivion the passions of the past,
and men saw more clearly what, in
dependent of individuals, had been
the causes of the war
But what to-day seems even more
one of the splendors of democracy and
an augury Of "the Union forever" Is
discerned in WALT WHITMAN's verses
20 Captain My Captaini"
Surely art is eternal. All the world
recognizes WHITMAN as a great poet
of American democracy. Yet remem-
ber that his throbblng numbers were
penned in the fiery days of 1865.
Then the North thought that grief
over LINcoLN's fall was wholly her
own, and hers alone; whereas the
nation and the world will not let LIN
coins name be forgotten Nay, more.
It Is seen that this martyr died not
for a section, nor even for one ma
ion. but for humanity.
Not one word of rancor in WHIT
MANS linesl II seems as II LIN
COINS own spirit, having left its
earthly tenement, descended for the
hour on WHITMAN while he wrote In
deathless rhythm. Surely II must be
that he who amid the fiery passions
Of the moment could echo in both
spirit and form the prayer, Father,
forgive" uttered on the cross Of
agony, is a poet for all time and that
his lines are deathless.
For those who know the living
power of LrNcoLN's name beyond
both oceans and who have sat as
teachers before lads or even OF pagan
culture In Asia realize by experience
how hard II Is for them to receive
the idea Of forgiveness of enemies.
Rather was II taught for ages "Thou
shalt not live under the same heaven
with the murderer Of thy father or
thy lord" Yet here sings WHITMAN
in the spirit Of the cross and OF It's
august victiml Here I'm passionate
poetry Is record like that Of those
cvangelists who nnrrate the facts but
call no vile names to the men who
put their best friend to death.
fes, over the grave and name of
RoBEEr Il. LEE, American, democracy
may take augury Of permanence when