The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-01-15


cur the one hundred and fifteenth an
nlversary of the birth OF Robert Ed
ward Lee, soldier, patriot, statesman;
of the highest rank as a military lead
err, and the idol of the Confederate
army. "A public officer without vices,
private citizen without wrong, a
neighbor without reproach, a Chris
tian without hypocrisy, and man
without guile. He was Caesar with
out his ambition, Frederick without
his tyranny, Napoleon without his
selfishness, and washington without
his reward"
When his native state seeded from
the Union, he resigned his commits
sion in the United States army, hav-
ing declined the post OF commander
in-chief of the federal forcss. Though
opposed to secession, and deprecat-
ing war. he preferred to share the for
tunes Of his people, for good or i'll.
He was placed in command Of the
Virginia military forces at the begin
ming Of hostilities. Within a month,
he became a brigadier general in the
service of the south, no higher rank
having been created at that time by
the Confederate government. His
military exploits during the four years
OF the war between the states are
without parallel in the history of the
world.
The brilliant record OF Lee as a
leader in matters military has been
appreciated by friends and enemies
alike, but the world has been slow to
recognize the value of his services as
a civilian. He was no less great in
the last years of his life than in the
more spectacular time when his mill
tary genius was the wonder and adj
miration OF all.
After the cessation OF hostilities be-
tween the north and south, Gen. Lee
accepted the presidency of Washing
ton College (now Washington and
Lee), which work filled the remainder
of his days until his death, which oc-
Cured in 1870.
One OF the first acts of his admin
istration was the construction of the
Lee Chapel. 1t contains his office just
as he left II, many priceless paintings,
including Peale's original portrait of
Washington, q number OF memorial
busts and tablets and the Lee mausol-
cum, I'm whose vaults rest the remains
OF the whole Lee family from Revolu-
tionary times TO the present. In the
upper story of the mausoluem just be-
hind the chapel rostrum, in full sight
OF the audience, is the marvellous re-
cumbent statue OF General Lee by
Valentine.
The tomb OF Lee is the most sacred
shrine of the south. 1t is visited by
thousands of tourists from every part
OF the world, the visitors averaging
more than a hundred a day When
the great national highways from
north to south and from east to west
are completed. the numbers will be
greatly increased.
All university assemblies COM
mencement exercises. and other for
NAL gatherings are held in the Lee
chapel, the building thus being the
inspirationaT center of the university
life, and It's associations the chief
spiritual asset of the institution.
This building, constructed in a time
of great poverty, was never conplet-
ed as Gen. Lee had planned, owing TO
a lack of funds. 1t has no adequate
enLIduCe OF stall way - has io O1llCe
for custodian. and is in constant dan
ger from fire. in consequence OF in
adequate heating facilities.
More serious still is the fact that
the student body has now entirely
outgrown its capacity. 1t would be
great and irreparable loss to future
generations Of Washington and Lee
students to have the university as
semblies and celebrations transferred
to another auditorium, thus removing
this sacred building and its associa-
tons from the current of university
life.
The United Daughters of the Con-
federacy, recognizing the need for ac-
ton in the matter, passed the follow