LETTER: Historical context no excuse for Gen. Lee
This is in response to the Nov. 4 letter “Stop judging historical figures by today’s standards“ and the Nov. 5 oped “Modernity has changed our views of Lee“ by Patrick Buchanan, both of which defended those who defended slavery.
By the time of the Civil War, many countries had abolished slavery. There were hundreds of abolitionist societies. All of Abraham Lincoln’s speeches were about slavery. The South couldn’t even call it slavery, it was the “peculiar institution.” Everyone knew it was wrong. As far back as the 15th century the Spanish priest Bartolomé de las Casas called it the greatest sin against God.
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Robert E. Lee took of the uniform of the United States Army, put on the uniform of a foreign power, violated his oath, and waged war against the United States, killing more Americans than all others wars combined. He was also very cruel to slaves. President Grant called it the worst cause anyone ever fought for. So how was he such a “gentleman”?
Michael I. Frischberg