The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-12
The One Hundredth Anniversary of Judge
O'Neall.

To the Editor of The Herald and
News: You request me to give your
readers some account of Mr.. Chap
mans lecture yesterday at the Graded
School on the life and character of
Judge O'Neall. In doing so I must
necessarily be brief, for want Of time,
and because did not listen to the lee
ture with any thought of being called
upon to write out an account of it.
In common with many others, re-
gard it unfortunate that the idea of
celebrating the day on a larger scale
was abandoned. Judge O'Neall was
not only Newberry's most illustrious
son, but was one Of whom the entire
State ought to be proud, and whose
memory ought to be cherished and
kept fresh among our people. His
noble example ought to be commended
especially to the young and growing
generation. Hence, it is to be regretted
that so fitting an opportunity for doing
this was given up. In doing honor to
the memory Of O'Neall, we would have
been doing honor to ourselves in show
ing our appreciation of so noble char
have been encouraging our young men
and boys to emulate his example. But
I am not inclined to complain of the
decision to give up the plan of a more
extended celebration of the day. 1t was
thought of too late to make the neces-
sary arrangements, the speakers in
vited to attend were unable to do so,
doubtless from being notified too late,
and our people were from some cause
manifestly not disposed to join heartily
in such celebration.
It was therefore best, perhaps, to give
it up. This decided upon, it was a
happy thought of Mr.. Evans, Superin-
iendent of our Graded Schools, to de-
vote an hour to the celebration Of the
day, and to invite Mr.. Chapman to de-
liver an address to the pupils on the
life and character of Newberry's dis
tinguished son. The address was of
course not elaborate, for Mr.. Chapman
had only from Saturday to Monday to
think up what he should say. After
giving brief sketch of the Judges life,
his birth, near the town of Newberry,
of Quaker parents, his early education,
his industrious and studious habits, bis
career as legislator, and as judge, be
dwelt on certain leading incidents of
his career, as showing his mar6ed abil-
ity, his independence of character and
his determination to do at all times
what be regarded as right.
He told how, on more than one occa-
sion, as a legislator. be made himself
temporarily unpopular and prevented
his reelection to office by this inde-
pendence and strict adherence to his
ideas of duty. What a lesson this
ought to be to some of our demagogue
politicians of the present day, to
whom the term, duty, is unknown.
But so great was public confidence in
his ability and integrity.of character,
that these spells of unpopularity were
only momentary and soon forgotten.
He dwelt especially on the famous de-
cision against some of the notification
laws of the South Carolina Legislature
of 1882 and '35, as being Inconsistent
with the allegiance of the citizen TO the
Federal Government"
At the time this decision was made,
the State was in great political fer
ment on the question of notification.
And yet, as an upright and patriotic
Judge, he had the courage and the in
dependence to do what he regarded as
duty. This decision so incensed the
dominant element" of that time that
the Court of Appeals was abolished by