Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-05-06
TUESDAY. ECONOMICALLY 6. 1890
The Death OF Senator Beck.

In the death Of Senator BEcK the cause
of ta,iff reform, so important TO the peo-
ple. loses one of its ablest advocates.
From the standpoint Of the South the real
interests Of the country have not suffered
no serious q loss in years as hrs sudden
taking of, and the standpoint OF the South
in this matter happens to be the stand
point of right and justice. There If
notbing so easy of demonstration TO the
uppreiudiced mind as that the welfare OF
The United States rs whole demands tam
reform and tariff reduction, and Mr.. BEcB
Uas one of the best-equipped and most de-
termined upholders of this principle. Ever
since the var, in one house Of Congress OF
The other, be has fought on this line, anc
his steadfastness of purpose, as wei
as his genuine ability, has been admira
BILE IN the highest degree. He was
Scotchman by birth and possessed all the
characteristics Of the people from whom
he ame-characteristics of lone-headed
ness. hard-headedness, and shrowdness II
general. He was a citizen of Kentucky
however. and of the United States, and
realizing the true needs Of his State and
country. battled for them with tenacity
that has given him renown as one worthy
in every way of public confidence. Acting
ON DAvY CRoCKETI's suggestion, he made
sure he was right and then went ahead
and there was no power on earth great
enough 10 shake him from tho pursuit OF
his object.
The South, as we have minated. has
special reason 10 mourn the loss OF MT.
BECK. Her interests have been absolutely
safe in his hands TO the extent Of his ablll-
ty. and she has been hoDored by the cham.
pionship of q man so careful to prepare
himself. so prompt TO engage her enemies
eocapable Of maintaining a contest well anc
20 the end. 1t is earnestly 10 be HOPED
that the mantle of the dead Senator VII
fall upon one worthy TO succeed him. The
bonors of Mr.. BECK are rafe and unsullied
Wv anv faint even Of the suspicion Of qucs-
tionable methods which accompanies, alas,
in so many instances the career Of ouT
modern statesmen.
JAMES BURNIE BECK was born in Dunn
friesshire, Scotland. February 10, 1922. lie
received an academic education IN ms
native country, and coming to the United
States with his parents settled III Lexing-
ton. Nv, and was graduated at the law
school of Pennsylvania University, in that
city, in 1916. He then practiced law IN
Lexington, and in 1866 was elected to Con
eress, serving four successive terms-fron
1867 until 1875. In MAY, 1876, he was ap
pointed a member of the commission tt
define the Virginia and Maryland boundary
line, and in the same year was elected to
the United States Senate. He took bis
seat March 4. 1877, and was reelected IL
1882 and in 1888.
He died in harness. as probably he woulc
have wished to die, for he was one Of those
men whose idea Of lite is duty and whose
pleasure lies in the faithful discharge
thereof. He was specially interested as {
congressman not only in questions relating
10 the tariff, but in the matter Of the cur
rency, that difficult problem which need
the light thrown by such clear heads AS hi
now as never before. He rests from hi
labors, however. and IL at peace. The benz
sons of the South go with him to the grave