Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-08-25
HON. BENJAMIN H. HILL.
ale Mental POWeV-HIs Death Not
IrreparRble.

Editor Morning NesOs: In the death of Hon.
Benz. H. Hin, Georgia has lost an able and
eloquent son; but the State is by no means
sonless, nor is his loss irreparable. That
the State has lost son OF talents, one OF
peculiar mental structure, there is no ques-
ton; but his place can and will be filled. In
the death Of such men as Crawford, Troup,
FORSYTH, Berrien, Colquitt, Cobb, johnson
and many other marked men in the State,
we felt their loss, but their places were
filed, Each and every one had his peculiar
mental quality, and impressed himself upon
the State because he possessed those mental
Qualities, yet no two were exactly alike.
Crawford was man not only OF genius
but great talents. Troup was a man of
self-reliance, and OF decided convictions;
he never compromised his principles no
matter the pressure brought to bear upon
him. Forsyth was brilliant, decided and
aggressive. Berrien was cool, collected,
patient and logical. Colquitt. dashing, bold,
aggressive, and fiery; and like mountain
torrent. he laughed at opposition. Cobb had
the happy combination Of genius and tai
ent, and had that peculiar quality OF
leader known as tact, never rash, DeVer too
presumptuous. He STUDIED men as tneY
WERE johnson was strong, clear, and able,
and very aggressive when roused his pow
ers were best developed when he had oppo-
sition.
Mr.. Hill, when he had studied and mas
tered a subject, was clear, logical and
strong. As speaker, ready, able and elo-
duent. His mind was naturally combative:
opposition was his strength, argument the
food he fed upon, and conflict his natural
element. Like Ant9us of old, in his wres-
thing with Hercules, he grew stronger for
every fall, and death alone could only de-
priye him of his power. So Mr. Hill grew
stronger for every mental conflict he had.
AS lawyer he ranked among the first, as
a debater he was to be feared; as poll
tician he was rapidly developing into a first
class statesman, and had he lived, in the
next ten years he would have had no SUI
perior in the United States Senate or in the
South.
The aggressive mind is the mind OF
mark; it is that which impresses all. The
personal brave man is never without friends,
he is ever recognized as a leader In war. in
debate, in the affairs of life, and when with
personal bravery there is added moral cOur-
age and intelligence and requirements to
back it; that man is a power in any and
every situation.
Mr.. Hill fought his mental battles upon
the same line of action that Hannibal,
Caesar and Napoleon fought their battles on
the field. They were not forever trying to
get the advantage of the enemy by flank
movements or worrying him with o Fabian
policy. They were more direct and aggres
sive; they let the enemy choose his ground,
and, with that Spartan courage that knew
nothing of retreat, won victories by per-
sonal courage. The enemy was demoralized,
because he saw that no position was safe
against determined courage.
Had Hannibal had Caesar to fight instead of
Fsbius. the war would have ended in less
A., bxvf SDR a{Ak
Carthagenian or Roman army. Those two
great soldiers were mentally alike as SOL
diers-their line of thought the same.
So with Mr.. Hill; he did not fear his
enemy no matter his position. He
was conscious that he had ar
gument, facts and truth or law on.his side
he never feared defeat. AS he said to the
writer Of this article twenty years ago, 81
measure my man very soon, and then pre-
pare for the assault" In his conflict with
Mr. Blaine he was conscious of his powers,
had his facts well in band, and knew that
he could crush him In an argument, ana
glOriously he did it.
He was feared In the United States Sen
ate, and had the question Of the right of Sc
cesssion, or the reconstruction acts ever
been brought in debate, he would have
shook this country from centre to circum-
ference. We would never again hear of the
words "rebel," rebellion" or "traitor"
used in that body while he had seat.
Your Start" politicians or partisans
yield many times principles to policy
or expediency, and that has been the
curse with our Southern par
tisans since the war. Some men who have
the reputation of being great statesmen, are
only trimmers, tact-plaYers, compromisers
or non-committals; and instead of being
aggressive as they should be, submit to
insult, injustice and wrong, by taking
refuge in the rat holes of tact, policy or
expediency.
In a word, the reason why the South,
especially Georgia, mourns the death of Mr..
Hill, is because he had an aggressive mind,
and convictions and talents Of high order
to back it. Georgia has other sons who
will step to the front in time; she has never
been sonless, and never will be. We only
want at this time the same order of mind as
that possessed by Mr.. Hill. Give it the proper
encouragement, and it will step to the front
and electrify our grand old mother Georgia,
as did Mr.. Hill. L NJ.