The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-21
Judge II. II. Chalmers.

The announcement which passed over
the wires Sunday morning, January 4th,
that Judge ii. III. CHALMERS had sud
denly passed away, was a sad message
a shock to a host of friends in all parts
of this commonwealth who honored and
loved him. The Proverbs of the Wise
Man teach us: "He who has friends
must show himself friendly" | think
| never met man in public or in pri
vate life who seemed to have this great
truth nearer to his heart, or to act upon
it more completely than did the honored
dead whose name is at the head of this
article. He was unselfshly jealous to
bestow on friends more of kindness, of
favor, of service, of praise than he ex-
pected to receive.
The cause of his friends was his: he
had peculiar, gentle way of identifying
himself with them in feeling and in his
friendly relations he displayed beauti-
full blending of tenderness and strength
As man he had the broadcast sympa
thies, and to the poor, the unfortunate,
the widow, the orphan, he displayed
disiuterested kindness, true nobility of
soul. Many to-day, rise up with CRATE
full hearts and bless his memory.
As public H. an, he has tilled-wor-
thily filled-a large place in the history
of Mississippi during its most critical
period, and during her fearful struggle
against adversely for recuperation and
the re-establishment of her prosperity.
His broad sympathies and patriotic i'm
pulses made him eminently progressive
So strong was his progressive spirit, so
completely did it occupy him that it
sometimes made him appear restless and
unsteady; but in his heart and life he
was in reality firm and of strong con-
victions. He felt that the best interests
of the State and country must rest upon
intelligence and virtue; and accordingly
he was the enthusiastic friend and advo-
cate of education
He plead earnestly upon the platform
and through the press for
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
and the widest diffusion of knowledge /;
he was the outspoken friend of liberal
State aid to education and as trustee
of the University of the State, it was
the intense desire of his heart that this
Institution should, by its complete or
ganization, by full equipment and by
a just appreciation of its opportunity,
meet the demands of the hour for large
and liberal culture, aid in solving the
scientific, industrial and philosophical
problems of the age and demonstrate
its worth by the priceless blessings it
conferred upon the youth of the State.
Often did he visit the University to see
the boys" and from the rostrum he
plead with them eloquently in behalf of
that rounded culture, that honest deal
ing with themselves that would give
them qualifications for the exigencies of
life
Judge Chalmers is remarkable In
stance of man, who closely engaged in
the duties of his Office, profoundly
studious of the law, yet found time to
keep his mind fresh and versatile by
reading history and the higher works of
fiction-and reading them with real
delight. He was well educated and had
high appreciation of literary excel
lence. His example in this matter de-
serves imitation by his brethren of the
legal profession.
He was specially fond of English his
tory, and by his close study of the life
of the English people he came to thor
oughly value and admire England's in
solutions. He saw with great clearness
the principles of national life and
growth that were persistent and indie
structible during the ravages of war and
the mutations of parties, and by his
philosophical study he fully recognized
the fact that out of their struggles, out
of their trials and sufferings, out of tenn
porary decadence of popular influences,
grew tneir immortal statement of human
right and their magnificent embodiment
of the principles of justice, He sought
to lay these great principles down as
lessons to our people in their reverses
and to make them the foundation and
stone to higher civilization now
and grander achievements hereafter. |
He dearly loved
MISSISSIPPI.
He desired that intelligence and regard
for right should be SO deeply rooted in /
the minds and hearts of her citizens and
hat her prosperity might be so abundant
hat her sister States and the nations
If earth would look with admiration I
upon her liberal and just institutions.
Is well as upon her great contributions
o the worlds progress.
His philanthropic impulses, his patri- /
,tic example, his works of unselfish de-
7otion to duty, will abide among US.
His colleagues and contemporaries, imi-
ating his own generosity, viii cheerful
y and cordially accord to him place
i honor, not only in the law reports,
mt in the history of his time and in
he gratitude of an appreciative people.
He was my friends sadly 1 lay this
prig upon his grave