Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-12-27
HanrY ". 0fadY.

Grady, the brilliant young Southern Or
stor aud editor, ID loss To the whole
nation. He was in all respects typical
Southerner, believing in the Justice OF
the Confederate cause, and feeling a
profound admiration tor Jefferson Davis,
Its leading and directing spirit He be-
lieved and avowed that the negro should
not BE- permitted the right Of ssf
frags. Yet despite these ldeas 30
far removed from the sentiments enter
tanned here at the North he was, with
out doubt the most popular Of all south
ern leaders with the people Of the North.
One reason Of this was his manly indie
pendence Of character aud perfect sin
cerity. He stated his belief. boldly and
frankly, and although men might differ
from him radically they could bat adj
nire his honesty. Although Mr.
Grady was 0utspokeniy OPP
posed 10 negro suffrage, and faeitly,
at least, acquiesced In lts suppression
he was strongly opposed To those ruf-
aanly methods Of terrorism, which have
been a stigma upon the reputation Of
the south, and when oumber Of ne
gro~s, residing not far from A.
lauta were brutality logged because OF
their political beliefs, he did not hesitate
10 denonDee the act in the mGat aameas-
ured terms, aud TO demand OF the Off
eials that they bring the perpetrators
Of IL To justice. This courageou-
course Of action, though IL called down
upon his head the anathema- Of many
Of the Democrats Of that section, and
brought him many threats Of personal
violence. raised him immeasurably in
the estimation Of the people through
out the country. He WAS everywhere
recognized "a man with the cour-
age Of hi. convictions. 1t was seen
that hi. love Of the south had In
H. no element OF sectional bitteruess
He was looked upon al the leader,
almost originator of a New Sonih
which looked forward Instead Of back
ward; which turned its back upon
the dead past with all its bitter memories,
aud reached out hopefully into The fu-
ture, seeing in prosperous industrial activ-
ity, and in the establishing Of closer bust
ness relations with the North, that balm
,.,lI,.l ,y.,t ia n.aI rho ,.,unJl 80 th. nus,
sweep away sectional differences aud
make us In heart IA In name, one nation
This was graad field for work, and in
to It's labors he threw himself with all
the inpulsive strength Of his strong
hopeful nature, with all the power Of
his gifted pen, with all the genius of
his strangely moving eioquence. He
pictures to the people of this country a
south far different than they had even
looked upon before. Not the old south
with its melancholy memories OF war
and carnage, with its sullen adherence
to principles that persisted at Apo.
mattox, with its battlefields covering
the bones of thousands of brave men
North and south, who persisted upon
them In fratraeidal strife and with it,
morbid hTooding over the gaunt spectres
Of the past that fingered In the memory
to remind It of the time when it
was rent with carnage aud strife,
aud made the operating powerful
ground of armies. This wa. the South
of which Jefferson Davis was the most
striking representative. Grady saw
different south, one growing and eX-
panding in unison with the bounding
pulse Of the nation, OF which it was
glad to form loyal part, having
no hopes that were not in sympathy
with those of the whole country.
lie described in glowing language
the great natural resources which the
South possessed, and in inviting north
ern enterprise and capital to assist
In its development He was young
man, and his large following was chiefly
composed OF young men who had come
upon the stage of affairs since the war
and were not weighed down with its
burden of disappointed hopes and bitter
memories. 1t would have been impossi-
BILE, however. for such movement to
be without its elevating influence even
upon the old South Itself. Regarding
Grady himself, there WAS no difference
of opinion. He was favorite son of the
South All. old and Young, admired
him and felt proud of the great work
which he WAS doing towards the obliter-
alton of old lines. His death at such a
time in the very opening of this grand
and patriotic work, in the vigorous
prime of his early manhood ia indeed
national calamity. But the seed he has
sown will bear fruit. The great work
he inaugurated will ge forward, to build
up more fraternal spirit North and
South, and makes is better, stronger