Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 31.djvu/102

 94 Southern Historical Society Papers.

breathe the spirit of the new South, oi which Grady spoke, but still we cling to the memories and the glories of the old South; and we have no patience with those in a spirit of time-serving sycophancy would deny our heroes or say we are ashamed of the past. We feel, too, that if ever the South is to take the place in the Union which she is entitled it is upon the old South, that we are to build, the old South with its old courtesy, its old chivalry, its old reverence for woman, its old courage, its old patriotism, its old fortitude in trial, and its old spirit of pride in our history and in our people. Yes, I am proud to be a citizen of this great American republic, and I am true to my allegiance and faithful to my flag, but at the same time I am proud of the State of my birth, and the memories that surround her name, and I feel that a young Virginian who does not feel proud that he is sprung from a people who fought beneath a flag dishonor never touched, is false to his native land aye false to the very stars that shine above her, and false to the God beyond them!

It is not my purpose to attempt a eulogium upon the character of Lee. That would indeed be a superfluous task, for already the great poets have sung him, and the great orators have praised him in words that shall never die, while all the nations of the world, as well as his followers and former foes, have acclaimed him as one of those who throughout all time shall be held supreme among the greatest sons of earth.

And yet I do desire to again give utterance to a thought which has often been expressed by lips far more eloquent than mine, and that, to give it in the felicitous language of another, is this:

" That of the long list of glorious names which America has fur- nished to the history of the world, it was our Mother's fortune to furnish the two who lead that mighty band the two characters that tower in complete and rounded stature over all their great compa- triots, the Castor and Pollux of our nation's history, the 'Great Twin Brethren,' who will ride down the centuries leading the van- guard of our army of immortality chiefs of the deathless host of patriots, soldiers, philosophers and statesmen, who put life to heroic uses and battled for noble ends, the two of this continent incompar- able and unrivalled George Washington and Robert E. Lee."

Both of them were "rebels." If one is to be condemned for it the other must be also, for there is no difference between them ex- cept that the rebellion in which Washington figured was successful,