The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-24
The Summons Came TO Him Al
most in the Twinkling OF
an Eye.
Thought to Be on the Way to
u Complete Recovery of
Health.
A Man Noted Among tho Notable Mon
of His Time-some Traits of His
Character

MACON. Ca, Jan. 23.--Justics IamAry1Hd
here tonight. Death was sudden In the
extreme, for since the justice has been hero
he appeared to be gradually gaining. This
evening he visited, for some time with q
friend, and Just after the doctor left the
house. about eight O'Clock, he was seized
with violent pains in the heart. and died in
a short time. Lucius Quintus Cinoinnatus
Lamar WAS born in Putnam county, Geor-
gia, Sept. /, 1925. He graduated from
Emory college. Georgia. in lS45. was ad-
mitted to the bar In 1847 and after few
years of practice in Oxford, Miss, went to
Georgia. After term In the legislature he
returned to Mississippi and settled, in 1854,
on plantation in Lafayette. being shortly
afterwards elected to congress as demo-
crat. In 1860 he resigned from congress to
cast his fortunes with the confederaoy.
After the war he again took his seat in the
house OF representatives,. He was elected
to the senate in 1877. and in 1885 President
Cleveland appointed him secretary OF tho
interior, and later elevated him to a seat on
the supreme bench.
| In Mr.. Lamar the south had practically
her first representative on the supreme
bench since the war. Outside of the small
ooterie OF republican senators who wished
to defeat Mr.. Lamar's confirmation, every
body in Washington of both parties was in
full sympathy with him in those the farst
days of his new and high official honors.
When Mr.. Cleveland made up his cabinet
he could not find in the south public
man who gave greater promise Of liberality,
breadth, and Advancement than the recent
secretary of tho interior.
Mr. Lamar's home at Oxford, Miss, ia Q
simple. unpretentious house of one story,
with but Ave roome. But there ia svery-
whore the evidence of scholarship, comfort.
courage and usefulness. Mr.. Lamar's home
life has always been very delight
ul, wrote correspondent of him
some months before his death, He
calls himself farmer at home and his
farming is the subject of manv joke
around Oxford. At one time he bought
lawn mower. and tried to persuade his
every week they could got more
grass: He was one Of tho first men
in Mississippi to invest in Jersey
COWS. He has never made any money
from them, mainly because he has habit
OF giving away the best calves; still. he
somehow manages to have few loft. He
IL very fond of comfortable hats, and the
hat rack in the hall never contains less than
half dozen. Among them is an immense
broad-brimmed palmleaf, which is his favor
lite. When the secretary is at homo he
wears calico shirts and old clothes. Few
people in Washington who look upon him
as the foremost statesman of the south
would be able to recognize him il they
should see him At home in midsummer.
He ID always anxious to show his devotion
to live stock, and has been known to sit up
many night until midniahs to look after
some COW or horse that probably would have
gotten along much better without the med
lcal treatment which he doomed 10 neces-
sary. Wherever you go in Oxford you hear
the people joking about Col. Lamar's farm
ing, but you nowhere hear q word against
his character. His picture is to be seen on
all sides, and men, women and children
revere his name.
Speaking to u Washington correspondent
shortly after his appointment to Cleve-
lands cabinet Mr.. Lamar said:
There have been many times since the
war when have been exactly in a position
to be misunderstood both north and south.
saw clearly. and understood the motives
which moved some OF our people to do
things which really stood in the way OF
all that, and did all that could to pre-
vent IL, but never have taken just such q
position az my northern friends would have
desired. Had done SO should have lost ali
my influence with my own people. My only
course was to keep my temper and occupy
restraining violence. advising patience, and
at the same time sympathizinR with wrongs
both actual ana fancied. Many q time
when have been away from homo have
hurried back TO prevent what might have
been q political outbreak, and presume
have moro than once imperilled my life to
keep the peace between factions. / have
lamented sincerely many things that have
been done by my own people in the south
But by open condemnation of them could
not have accomplished what think have
by another course toward ultimate peace
and prosperity"
Secretary (now SENATOR Villas, who sue
ceeded Lamar as secretary of the interior,
gave this opinion of Lamar when the lat
ter had been promoted to the supreme
surprises. did not know him until we
met in the cabinet. and during the past two
years l have been very intimate with him.
l think l have never met any man whose
inteliect has grown upon ME 30 overwh elm
ingly as has Lamat's. At times he has con-
policy which only the decision of uues-
tion of law could settle. Once hs had a
most important decision to make. He
had not written Il for l believe he does
not writo his decisions until the last
minute, but no had the whole matter re-.
TolviuQ in his mind. He began at the be-
ginning and stated the facts. Such a
faculty of clear, linpid statements il sell
1om met. think in my tims no man
aave known has possessed il so we'll as Mr..
Lamar. unless ii Was the late Matt Carpen-
er of Wisconsin. Then he began to unfold
he principles of law which ne thought APP
'licable. As his mind rolled on from
position to position IL was with q ponder
'us, majestic, yet ever delicate and ssnsi-
i've movement that wss simply wonder
ul. l said to myself. this man may NOS
10 able to quote the exact section of the
aw. or the particular page OF the reported
lecision. but he has a mind thoroughly
mbued with legal principles and magnili-
emily disciplined. Without making in
ldious comparisons, it IL my Judgment
hat Mr.. Lamar will add strength and
dornment to the supreme bench. be-
leve he possesses some qualifications that
he bench needs. and as the years go on the
1isdom OF his appointment will establish
'ssif far above the reach of oriticism.''
Lamar was typical southern fre-sater.
'auntless as lion he never quailed before
IN man, and his hot encounters we're nu.
,erous, several 0 which occurred during
IL career In the national legislature At
ashtnRton. But after his appointments
, the cabinet exhibitions of temper wsrs
sw and comparatively mild.