The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1881-08-27
Judge Thurmoad on Railroads.


On Wednesday at the kaufman celehra,
ton, among the speeches made was the fol-
lowing historical one by Judge Thurmond,
who said In closing:
And now few thoughts for the boys of
Kaufman, because in you is our country's
hope. But little more than one hundred
years since. George Stephenson was born
in Great Britain. lie grew up poor neg.
lected boy. His parents were 80 destitute
that he was compelled to herd the COWS of
his neighbors at about two cents day. He
did most mental servitude rs hired boy.
He was nearly twenty years of age before he
could read or write, and his only
school was night school. But
George was noble. honest, indus
trious, temperate, and possessed an indomits-
bic will and an almost superhuman thirst for
knowledge. His mind was strongly inclined
TO mechanics and science. He commenced
the study which immorlalized him while em-
ployed as q fireman in the collieries Of his
country. 1t was here he conceived the
principle and wrought out the details Of his
great achievements as the worlds bensfactor.
Then such thing as a railroad Of modern
civilization was unknown. but George Steph.
enson, the son of toll, poverty and adversely,
seized upon the crude ideas of others, and
chrystalized them iuto self-propelling
engine, from which the whole railroad sys.
tenn of The world has been born and grown
to lis present proportions. Now we have
nearly 100000 miles Of railroads, represent
ing about twenty billions $4,000, 600, 000)
ofdollars.
And but little more than one generation
ago "a number of old gentlemen here to-day
were then living) the great mind to whose
foresight and ingenuity. labor and persever-
ance we are indebted for this mighty invention
fought like one battling for liberty and
life for the mere privilege of testing his en-
CINE upon the track improvised for the pur.
pose. The houses of lords and commons
opposed him in every effort. His engineers
He was,denounced as fraud, imposter and
csricatured. The wiSeacres of the day Laughs
cd him to scorn. They denounced him as a
malefactor, declared that the engines
smoke would kill the birds and the
cattle, devastste the fields by FIRE,
drive the people mad with noise and
even If successful, would destroy the wealth
OF the country, then invested in horses. His
bills were thrown out Of parliament. The
board Of aldermen declared, by solemn reso
luton, shat they had no confidence in him."
With all these obstacles, with ignorance,
prejudice and cast arrayed against him, he
succeeded, built railroad from Manchester
TO Liverpool, over Chat-moss, bog near
Eve miles in width, placed his locomotive
upon it, ran 1t successfully and gave to the
world the railroad system that brought the
citizen Of Dallas to your lovely city to-day,
to greet you as brothers and patriots Of a
common country.
George Stephenson was several times alters
wards rendered the knighthood, very high
degree of honor in that country, but he
modestly declined. The world, through all
ages, continues to confer upon him higher
title than knighthood: 1t is u memory of
gratitude, Of love, of veneration. When
you remember these things, and hereafter
become more familiar with the history OF
them, let II guide you In your lives, not
only In fair and honorable treatment
of. such railroad men as he, but the
man that shovels the dirt, tha,
handles scraper, that cuts tie,
should all be treated with Just and fair con-
siderstion. Now, my young friends, when
ever adversely or misfortune, in any Of ia
forms, befalls you, like &c rye Stephenson,
with his uncomfortable will, with his nobil-
lily OF character, his industry, his pride and
love of right, Of country and liberty, grid on
your Mmors, rcdouble your energies, and.
with the inspirations Of victory, march stead
lily on, in the prosecution ofyour work, in
the fear Of God.
And though you mag at ilrst fail, try again
and again. At length the clouds will pas!
away, success will crown your efforts, and
tho little scoffers, petty revilers and tradu'
GERS of your motives and character W il bye
and-bye fit around you liks the csndls-hy
but even in that day DO kind, generous ant
forgivins, because IL 10 not only the bes
policy, but Il is chivalric, II Ia true heroisn
Just such as this grand empire needs, ant
will spprec late in immor.elles beyond TIL
grave.
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