The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1890-07-10
JUDGE GEORGE v. BROOKS.
LET A SPLENDID MONUMENT BE
ERECTED TO HIS MEMORY.
A Distinguished North CaroIinian
Heartily Endorses the Movement.
Wilmington MESSENGER |

A Distinguished North CarOIiniaI
Heartily Endorses the Movement.
Wilmington Messenger.
The ingratltude of Republics is pro
verbal. Another saying is t!:at a peo
pie do not know their greatest men
1t is a fact that modest merit will perisl
by the way, whilst self assertion and
boldness and "cheek" will forge tc
the front and get the prize not because
OF worth, but solely because Of unadul
terated impudence and eager self
seeking. A man died the other ca,
who thirty years ago was read by more
men and women than any other man
then living or who had lived. A man
now lives who is thought by his init
mates to be man of great abilities,
and yet his name, like that of the
other one referred to, is not known to
a dozen readers of this newspaper.
They are are of England
The Messenger Is anxious to see a
man of merit who rendered the State
very much service in a crucial hour
honored as his memory deserves to be.
The Messenger is wholly unselhsh in
this. 1t has no axe to grind, no plan
to work out, but aims solely to do its
duty, and to manifest its gratitude and
appreciation. This writer thrice al
ready has sought to awaken public
interes, in the matter of erecting a
monument to Judge George W. Brooks,
of Elizabeth City, Federal Junge who
dared to do right and to discharge
his duty in the face of personal sacri-
flee and perhaps danger, and at time
OF great darkness when an awful calami-
ty rested upon the people of North
Carolina,a clouds hung lowering and
black in the political heavens.
The Messenger is quite willing that
Others may have all the honors if it can
only induce the lawyers and others to
cooperate in rearing fitting memo
rial to commemorate the bravery, no.
blllty, and integrity of true man who
stood firm in a time Of danger and
saved the people of North Carolina.
Judge brooks had courage in high
sense. He "bravely dared the dangers
nature shrinks FROM" and possessing
grand " moral courage, which despises
all opinions" he rose to a genuine
greatness to which many aspire and
but few obtain. He acted upon the
wise, high rule of the Roman Seneca
to govern life and thoughts, as if the
whole world were to see the one, and
read the other.
We knew personally well this man
of high integrity and virtues. He was
indeed a man of truth and honor. We
held many conversations together.
The last time we met him, not many
monts before his earthly work closed
and he fell on sleep, he said to us:
" | have read many of your discussions
about the Constitution and they have
interested me, but do not agree with
you in your views l am Republican
solely because believe in the interpre-
tation of that instrument as given by
the leaders of the party. l do not be-
lleve in the Democratic theory of Gov
ernment and because or that | affiliate
with the republican partk. But do
not suppose that endorse much which
has been done, nor do | support the
men of doubtful or bad character
whom the party nominate. | will not
support for office knowingly dishonora-
able men,"
We respected and honored the man
who could cherish and act upon such
sentiments. They were worthy of
pure, good, true North Carolnan.
He is the man who is deserving of the
honor of a whole people Will the
State neglect his grave any longer?
Shall great judicial virtues go unhonored
and unsung?
We have received from that gallant
and exsellent North Carolinian, Col.
VIM. H. S. Burgwyn, of Henderson,
N. c., most welcome letter concern
ing the proposed monument to Judge
Brooks. He authorizes US to subscribe
$40 towards erecting it. # other sub
scriptions are made we will open
" Judge Crooks Monument Fund" in
the Messenger. We believe the Bar
of the State should move in the matter
and take control. 1t is true the whole
people are concerned, but the lawyers
ought to manage the matter and see
that it is built and at what place. We
copy Col. Burgwyn's capital letter and
hope it will prompt Others to contri
butte and to action. He writes:
81 am glad that you have taken up
the matter OF erecting a monment to
Judge George W. Brooks. l only knew
in a general way that Judge Brooks
issued the writ against the protest Of
Governor Holden, and that in doing
SO he showed the spirit of an inhexible
Judge; but your editorial puts his
action in the matter in more honor
able light than | had conceived. In
speaking of his action in this emergen-
cy, in the address at Chapel Hill,
to what a great debt the peo-
pie were under to Judge Brooks, and
am glad was privileged to say that
much.
If the people of the State-as you
generally contribute
to this fund, there ought not to be any
difficulty in raising an amount suffi-
cient to erect at Raleigh, or at Sails
bury, where | believe the write was