The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-04
POLITICS IN A EULOGY.
SENATOR HILL PAYS A TRIBUTE
TO SENATOR BARBOUR.

The Dead Senator'S Work in Behalf Of
Senator Hiu in His Canvass for the
Presidential Nomination - A Claim
That His Sudden Death May Have
Changed the Whole Political History
of the Country.
WASHINGTON, Feb. SIT is seldom that
a eulogy In congress is as interesting as THAI
pronounced this afternoon by Senator Hill
on his friend Senator Barbour OF Virginia,
who was the head and front Of the Hill
movement In that state. The few specta-
tors in the gallery aud the few senators on
the floor who had not been frightened away
by the announcement of the eulogy were
we'll repaid by Senator Hills speech, which
differed from any other Of the kind in its
illusions to politics. Senators listened in
amazement while Senator Hill, in his full,
round voice, made reference to recent
political history, and especially when he res
ferred to the speeches made by Representa~
tives George Fred Williams and John De-
Witt Warner ar the Cleveland mass meet-
ing in Richmond last spring. Said Sena-
tor Hill: lido not forget the fact that in
the ante-convention party contest Of last
year he was my political friend-frm, un-
yielding and true. 1t was a critical period
when friendships we're tested and strained.
Some were broken, some were cemented.
He was man of courage and resources, a
statesman Of foresight and prudence, q
skillful politician in the best sense
Of the term; honest, high-
minded generous and undertaking. He
hated hypocrisy, fraud and sham Of every
kind and nature He respected honest ops
position in political affairs, but he detested
personalities and defamation. Let me refer
to an incident in this connection. In the
spring of last year two young men, tndis-
Greet aud overzealous, anxious Tor no-
toriety, visited the capital Of Virginia to
speak at political mass meeting designed
TO aid the fortunes Of a political candidate
for the presidential nomination. While
speaking for their oause,as they had right
to do, they travelled out of their
the then senior senator from that state,
impugning his motives and misrepresenting
bis position and purposes. He was naturally
indignant upon such an assault by strangers
in his own state and among his own friends,
and he quickly resented It, Well do l
reoollect his flashing eyes, his tremendous
voice, his vigorous gestures and determined
garded had been offered him, and when he
announced to me that he should attend in
person the state convention at Richmond
which was to be held the following
week. When bidding me good by on that
occasion, alas forever. he RIasped me by
the hand and said: I snail next week APP
peal to the people Of Virginia from the at
tacks Of these men, and rest assured, neither
you nor any Of my friends will be disap-
pointed in the result / left for New York
that evening aud the next morning Sem
ator Barbour was dead. His death came
as suddenly as terrific peal OF thunder in
an unolouded sky. as a meteor flashing
through the heavens, like a strong oak OF
the forest that had fallen before the storm.
He was at this time the chairman Of
the democratic state committee, the repre-
sentative Of Virginia upon the national oom-
mittee and its revered senator-a man OF
commanding influence not only In that
state but throughout the south. 1t is need
less for me to add that his loss seemed q
personal one to myself; strong friend and
supporter had left me in an hour of need-a
most critical hour. his death, deeply
mourned throughout the grand old state Of
Virginia, which he loved so well, and res
gretted everywhere, may possibly have
changed the whole political history OF the
country