Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-14
James R. Randall, ESQ.,, Of the Augusta

Chronicle:
A few days ago, Gen: M. W. Gary was in
Augusta, apparently in the fullnees of vigor
and health. He is now no more. Our whole
community is shocked to hear of his sudden
demise, which was as unlocked for as the
fate of
"Ships that have gone down at sea
When Heaven was all tranquility"
Death, come in whatever shape it will, in
infancy, in the young morn of life, at middle
age in the twilight of existence, with sudden
ness or after lingering years of pain, is always
mysterious and always pathetic. In the case
of Gen. Gary it is peculiarly startling, not
merely of the violent transition from lusty
manhood to stiffness of the heart, but be-
cause the life that passed unscathed amid
hundred battles should have yielded to the
insidous attack Of an acute and almost un-
hearalded disease. We who knew him best and
appreciated him most, feel most keenly the
loss for while he was stern to his foes, 80
long as they kept the field in arms, he was
loyal and staunch and true to friendship. No
knightlier soul ever went forth to the ranks
of war than NJ. W. Gary. No cavalier ever
welded brighter and better blade in de-
fense of his section and his principles. No
braver warrior ever led troops into the thick.
est of the fray. Few fthe glorious men ofthe
South-the men of Clever so rapidly and
worthily rose from rank to rank until only
The very loftiest prizes were missed. AS he
was the idol of his soldiers in war, he was
their .chosen champion in the angry truce
that followed, and the peace that came largely
through his influence and his leadership
He was nothing Of courtier; therefore, the
mere baubles of politics were dispensed to
others. But to him, more than to any other
person in South Carolina, is due the excep
tional glory of saving that Commonwealth
from the "organized hell of reconstruction
rescuing civilization from organized barba
rism, and making it possible for others tc
wear and hold the honors Of place and pre-
ferment that they now enjoy. He was
serious, determined, energetic man. There
was no disguise of his sentiments, which were
fixed and ultra and there was no hesitation
in consummating the plans his quick ano
tenacious judgment approved. He had enor
nous faith in himself-miscalled vanity
but really the individualism of strong, un
daunted character, which knows its masterfu
power and has the valor to maintain its hole
upon the world. He succeeded as soldier
as statesman, as planter and as lawyer
His mind was cultivated, grasping, coura
geous, self possessed and as versatile as it wa
profound. Foibles he had, as all have; bu
his good qualities far surpassed whatever wa
imperfect in his nature. He lacked rever
ence perhaps, and missed, we think, some o
the divinest gifts and blessings; but his natu
raj virtues were rare and radiant His no
bier part will be remembered for many {
dav in the Palmetto State and in Georgia
and by all whom he ever met. His more
earthly fraities will be buried and forgotten
He had one trait of character that proved
him to be at the core, a good man. He wa
the best of brothers and the most afectionate
ofsons. Beyond even the devotion to bis coun
try were his love and his care for his mother
and we hold it to be eternally true that nj
son that loves his mother can be other thar
good man, despite any other unfortunate
environment. We bid farewell, then, to th'
hero, the statesman, the orator, the advocate
the patriot, the good, true s6n of South Caro-
lima and the pride of Edge6eld May, tht
Spring roses bloom upon his grave and tb'
turf rest lightly upon his manly form Th'
earth will take what is mortal to her embrace
But from the clay there shall arise the i'm
perishable memory of one who scorned to b
hypocrite, asked only to be painted as hi
was and, infexible in honor and truth, bor'
"a bold spirit in loyal breast