The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1889-08-29
EXTRACT OF SPEECH
OF Hon. A. A. Taylor, at Crockett Gel.
ebratiOn, Limestone, Tennes.
see August IL, 1889.

see August IL, 1851.
FELLOW CITIZENS =
& The committee of arrangements has
assigned me the very pleasing and dis
duty Of welcoming to our
midst, and to this occasion, the friends,
and kindred of David
Crockett, the illustrious hero, whose
and the one hundred and
third anniversary of whose birth, we,
of this generation, have assembled to-
day to honor. 1t is good for us to
make such pilgrimages as this. 1t is
good for our feet to press the soil which
glorious men have trod. 1t is good
for us to breathe the air where they
have breathed, and behold the scenes
where they have lived and moved.
Inseparably associated with their lives
and actions, they remain the indis-
tructable monuments to their memo
ry, awakening in us a realizing sense
of their existence and character which
no written history can transmit.
To walk where great men, now dead
have walked, to touch and to see what
they have touched and seen, to look
around us and view objects now pres
ent which were once as familiar and
pleasing to them as they now are to
us, there is a fascinating charm,
mysterious influence about all this
which none can describe but all may
only feel
Near this spot, one hundred and
three years ago Saturday, was born
Dayy Crockett, one of the most re-
markable men of modern times, and
one Of that long line of distinguished
soldiers and statesmen who glorify the
history of Dug State and of our coun-
try. Tennessee has a right to be
proud to the verge OF vanity OF the
pages she has contributed to our
country's history through the deeds
and services of SO many noble sons.
From the dark days OF the Revolution
they have merited and achieved con-
spicuous distinction in camp and field
in Cabinet, in Court, in Legislative
Hall, and in every public and private
pursuit of life. Davy Crockett was of
that sturdy race of pioneers who sub
dued savage wilderness and laid the
foundations of a aRepublic. Himself a
prince OF pioneers, his brawny arm
could WELD the axe and the rifle with
skill before which the thickest forest
fell and the 6ercest savage fed. The
humble home that stood within a
stones throw and that sheltered his
infancy and boyhood, was the rude
log-cabin of those early times, style
of which has produced and sheltered
more solid useful and illustrious mer
than were ever born in the palaces
and mansions Of the world.
These pleasant fields, this oper
country we now delight to look upor
were in these days, unbrokcn wilder
ness of cane brakers and virgin for
ests, infested with ferocious wilC
beasts and savage Indians. Wild, un
tutored, and unsubdued Nature, ami
mate and inanimate, opposed will
hostile front the advance OF thes,
pioneers of Western civilization
Davy Crocket was schooled in tn
hard and trying experiences of dali
battle with these opposing forces c
nature. His youth and early man
hood were passed in the struggle 70
existence. He knew none Of the luz
uries of our age, nor the elegant in
dulgences, vices, nor refined conyer
tionalties, manners and customs {
our more cultured civilization. H
was essentially a child OF natur,
Gifted with extraordinary mental CT
pacities, this school of activity, of pr
vation, and fierce conflict, gave edg
to his native wit, and point 10 his il
tellectual faculties. His mind was
huge diamond of the first water an
without flaw, uncut in the collea
laboratory, but polished in its rugge
beauty by attrition with the advers
ties and oppositions of life. It ofte
sparkled with dazzling effulgenc
and shone with light peculiarly /
own. It's chief excellence and beaui
consisted in its powers of originate
Many Of his sayings and maxim
would astonish and delight philo
> opher. Some of them have bee
adopted almost the world over, ar
now form a part Of our literatur
Couched in few simple words, eaC
/, one may be said to contain a who
volume of wisdom and philosop
They often epitomize the experien
Of a lifetime. As a statesman, co
q sidering his brief career and mis- Iii
tied education and opportunities,
stands as a peer OF any OF his day.
unsulied integrity Of character a
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