The state capital., 1891-10-24

ly finds a parallel in the history of the
world. It is an occurrence upon which ear
nest attention of the whole people is rivet:
ed at this hour, because of its peculiar sig-
nificance. Not to the memory of great
soldier q famous statesman Is this statue
unveiled to- day, but to plain citizen of the
republic. A journalist, orator. patriot"
Gov. Hill then reviewed the early life
of Mr., Grady up to the time when he
became editor of the Atlanta Constitu-
ton, and continued:
Journalist, orator. patriot! Did ever
sculptor's chisel cut a truer or worthier cpl
taph? Journalist, orator, patriot What
three words portray more truly Gra1y's life
work? What are fuller in suggestion and
signiflcance? He began when Journalism
In the south was Mt II low ebb; when readers
were scarce and newspaper enterprise
was stagnant; when industry was paraiyzed
aud trade stood still He left off
when journalism Was vigorous, re-
sourceful and influentia1; when com-
merce fiourished and industry was making
great strides, when prosperity had replaced
poverty, and help and energy had taken the
place Of despair and Indifference. In this
transformation of conditions lie was the
| most conspicuous paftis III. True tn his con-
ception of journalism, and uiisefisl1 I'm his
| work, he turned the wonderful power of the
press to the noblest purposes-thc recovery
of his stricken land from the blight of war.
| the restoration of its prosperity, the develop
ment of its resources, the resignation of its
people to the hardships and che kindlIng of
| new ambitions and new ideas.
| The orator next reviewed the history
| of the newspaper press, and criticised
| the American journal as follows:
What our own newspapers omit rather
| than what they print Is blameworthy. When
all American statesmen are editors our po
| litcal parties will cease to suffer from an
| exclusion of first race champions 10 put
| their case TO the widest audience. pay for
many American newspapers to give me all
the news of the world. Such news
| not one of them supplies, not even those
| which are making colossal fortunes for
their proprietorS Any journalist at his
best can but show us the world in which he
dwells, in which his own thoughts live and
| move, news only from the-world which he
| himself has to see.
| That he has eyes for better things in
| the future of journalism, however, was
evidenced when the governor con-
| tinued:
| The press Is our best security for the
| preservation of our political institutions.
| 1t Is our best safeguard against the
perversion of our government, against
| loading it up with private business. To our
| editors We may look when socialism and
| Capitalization stands unrebuked by those TO
| whom ballots have intrusted that possibility.
The freedom and growth of the press will at
last invigorate that clause of our constitu-
tion which withholds from government all
but few specific and expressly granted
| powers. Better every just expansion of pri-
| vate freedom than any growth of govern
| mental functions, still more of govern
mental usurpation.
Coming to the famous New South"
speech delivered by Mr.. Grady at the
New England dinner, Gov. Hill said:
| Grady, carrying to the north with him that
| burden of public care, and by his inspired
| eloquencc, convincing us of the earnestness
of his message, touched the chord of hu.
man symp tiny and true patriotism, and
| bound again the loosened ties of sec.
tional friendship. From that moment,
appeals to sectional prejudice fell on deaf
| ears; from that moment attempts to array
section against section were vain. The north
put away its vague fears and it's animosities
engendered by war and allowed express sion
to it's quickened sympathies, which the
south, perceving and feeling, met with
prompt response and frank trust. From
that moment began new era of fellowship
aud fraternity.
But his speech at the Boston banquet in
December, 1889, was the ablest and grandest
presentation OF the position or the sOuth on
the race problem that has ever been put
forth. With this speech Grady's mission of
peace was ended. For the last time that
eloquent voice had sounded the note of re-
Cancellation and i'm the very home of puri-
tanism 1t was his last effort and his
last sacrifice. At Boston lie contract
ed the disease which caused his
death. True are the sweet words of the
inscription upon his monument that 'When
| lie died he was literally loving nation in
peace" nation in peace, a broad land dis
turbed by no civil dissensions, threatened
| by foreign enemy, people united
and homogeneous, prosperous and hap
nv. No trace of conflict, Bit
ter memory, questioned loyalty.
| That people rejoicing in the univer-
sal spirit of fraternity. retaining only the
| pleasant recollections of the past, harno-
niousIy solving the problems of civilization.
| working ont together the grand destiny of n
| common country-that people Will ever hold
| in grateful remembrance the life and public
| service of Henry w. Grady.
BY all unfortunate oversight the
committee of arrangements omitted
sending an invitation to Mrs. Grady
and her children to take part in the
parade. They were on the stand, how
ever.