The Afro-American., 1893-04-29
HlF. GEORGE ". MURRAY.
THE LONE STAR OF THE RACE IN
CONGRESS.

When on the eighth of last November
the wires flashed forth to the country, tina
the Hon Henry p. Cheatham had beer
showed under in the Second North Caro-
lima District, general cry of sorrow anC
regret went up from the race, because Mr.
Cheatham had made faithful and most
competent representative in the Lower
House Of Congress- This feeling was
heightened upon the reflection that the
race would be without representation upon
- 40 floors OF Congress, where it had 50 long
lcceeded in maintaining, at least one of
it's members with almost unvarying inter
ruption Feeling Of hope and despair be-
gan to play hide and seek with each other
when the conflicting reports from the
Seventh South Carolina District began TO
indicate from day to day the election of
the Hon. George Washington Murray.
When theTillman board of state managers
and canvassers, finally awarded the certifi-
cate OF election to Mr.. Murray, the race
stood on tiptoe everywhere and shouted
itself hoalse, 1t was great triumph, and
the race had good reason to rejoice.
From an obscure slave plantation in
South Carolina to & cushioned seat in Con.
gress is along climb up the ladder. Such,
however, is the impressive experience of
Mr. George W. Murray. Forty years ago
on the 22d of September, 1858, Mr.. Murray
began his life as slave in the Palmetto
State. A little more than decade passed,
and the slave boy found himself free with
out parents or friends Being Of an indus
triops nature and anxious to learn, he
seen through his own efforts acquired the
aLIfipents Qf, education. upon which he
steadily builded until he was enabled to
accomplish the novel success OF entering
a school for the first time as a teacher
rather than as a scbolsr He taught in the
public schools of his native State until 1874,
when he entered the College department
Of the University of South Carolina, having
obtained scholarship in that renowned
institution, through his success in a com
petitive examination. He went as far as
the Junior year in college, when he was
forced to leave by the overthrow of the
party. He again applied !
himself to teaching, in which capacity he
served until 1890, when he was appointed |
Inspector in the custom-house He re- |
NAMED here until 1892, when he was nolni
mated and subsequently elected to Con
gress
Throughout his entire career, Mr.. Muir
ray has given his personal attention to
farming, generally engaging in the active
work Of sowing and reaping. So faithful
has he been that he has succeeded in ac-
a splendid farm of several
hundred acres. He sold parcels from his
original tract of land, and thus enabled
mahy Of his friends to acquire homes
In addition to all this Mr. Murray did
not neglect the mental development of his
nature. During the years 1881, 1882, 1883,
le attended the State Normal Institute.
leld at Columbia, South Carolina. under
he direction Of Prof. H. P. Montgomery,
md made noticeable progress in the prac-
ical arts of teaching. He has prepared
1umber of papers on teaching, which give
of originality of method and
amiliarity with detail
In politics he has been county chairman
# Sumter county, and chairman of the
Republican State convention. In his con
est for the Congressional nomination he