The state capital., 1891-09-19
FACTS IN THE LIFE OF HON GEORGE W


FACTS IN THE LIFE OF HON GEORGE W.
WILLIAMS.
In the death of Hon. George w. Will
liams, the Negro historian, at Black
pool, Congo Free State, Africa, on the
| Sd inst, the race lost one of the most,
| if not the most, brilliant men. In some
respects he was wonderful man. We
knew him intimately, and have spent
many hours in his society, being al
ways welcomed at his home when that
home was one in which happiness dwelt
undisturbed In some respects we find
! in the life of George Williams a paral
lei in the lives of Benedict Arnold and
Aaron Burr. Rather sad commentary
to compare ones life with one who was
traitor to his country, and another
whose page in history is turned quick
ly. Like Arnold there was dash, a
brilliancy about George Williams that
challenged the admiration of his enc
mics. Like Burr, there was a crafty
cunning in his composition that awoke
distruSt in his most intimate friend,
and like Burr, there was disregard
for woman's honor and virtue in his
Olldt uISS uSIctt' IldAl
Williams never entered politics there is
no doubt but what he might have been
living to-day, an ornament to society,
to race and source Of happiness to his
family. He is to be classed in that sor-
rowful galaxy of might have beens.
He plunged into the political sea and
was swallowed by its treacherous male
strom. When he bore the title of rev.
erend, and was pastor of the Mound
street Baptist church at Cincinnati, o.,
ere he had become tainted with politics,
he was looked upon as Christian gen.
tleman whose morals and religion was
above suspicion. AS minister of the
gospel he was a bright and eloquent
one and old Mound street church at
Cincinnati was never before or since
blessed with having delivered within
its sanctified walls such eloquent, such
| logical discourses as were delivered
there by Rev. George w. Williams.
George Williams lived a dual life He
was our DR. Jekle and Mr.. Hyde.
When minister, then he had a
home frightened by the most loving Of
wives, and little son, the image of his
father.
He was nominated for the legislature
in Hamilton county, o., was elected,
the first Negro to ever sit as a member
| in the legislature of Ohio Here dates
his rise Here dates his fall. He rose
and fell at one and the same time.
Paradoxical though this may seem, yet
all too true. AS member of the legis-
! lature, when speaking on the floor of
! the house, his eloquence held the mem
| bers and audience spell bound. His
| logic was indisputable, his erudition
unsurpassed, yea, unequaled by any OF
| his colleagues He plunged into poll
tics with an abandonment of all ideas
of morals, principle or religion. In his
| plunge he went to the bottom, he went
to the top. He tioated upon the waves
of popularity, he was overwhelmed and
sunkened by the waves of unpopular
| ity. His career, while member of the
! legislature, was brilliant and yet un~
scrupulous.
For few dollars he attempted to
play traitor to the interests of his race.
Mark the Arnold here To appease an
animal passion he sacrificed virtue and
dispoiled home. Mark the Burr here.
How often have l sat in his home,
marked the bliss, the devotion and love
that found an abiding place there, and
almost envied the happiness of such a
| home Little did l dream then that
that home of bliss would ever give room
to the skeleton that would strangle its
happiness. Little did / then dream
| that the marital bliss that existed
there would be stabbed to death by the
dagger of unfaithfulness, and that, too,
| in his hand Yet such was true
George Williams had wife beloved
by every one, as true little woman as
ever plighted a VOW with man. She
clung to him with devotion, with a
love and a sacrifice that was excep'
| tional.
| He abandoned this true wife and her
and his child For what?
To follow the bend of depraved
| mind.
During his term as member of the
! legislature, he studied law, and was