The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-02-15
POLITICAL COURAGE.

POLITICAL COURAGE.
Under this head the Atlanta Journal
some time ago published a speech de-
livered by the late Justice Lamar when
be was a member of the Senate of the
United States from Mississippi.
In this day of agitation and doing
what the people want and instructlng
of representatives, it is refreshing TO
read such language. Most public men
of this time try to follow the current, to
drift with the stream, instead Of trying
to direct the flow and to mould public
opinion. Not that we object to the peo-
pile having what they want, but what
we do like to see in our public men is
not so much a tendency to tickle the
popular ear with false sophistry, asis so
frequently done, but the manhood to
stand up for those things that are right
aud true apd just, whether they be. for
the moment. popular or not, for, as Mr..
Lamar quotes in his speech, we verify
believe that truth is omnipotent and
public justice is certain"
The Herald and News has never be-
lieved in this matter of instructing
representatives. IF that is to be done
we had just as we'll send post to the
Legislature and label it on these ques-
tions and when the roll was called let
the vote be recorded. Better, for then
there would be no danger of its failing
to carry out instructions.
In the selection of representatives we
need men of ability, men of character,
and men in whose honesty and integ-
rity we have confidence.
A man never gains anything worth
gaining by trying to drift along with
the popular wave and trying to do al
ways what the people appear to want,
whether or not he believes it is the
wise or proper thing to 'do. The
people themselves soon tire Of such
a man, because he has no indi-
viduality or stability of character.
He tries to ride on every popular wave
that comes along.
But to Mr.. Larnar's speech. The
Mississippi Legislature passed resolu-
ton instructing TIE Senators and re-
questing the Representatives of Missis-
sippi in Congress to vote for the repeal
of the Act to resume specie payment.
Mr.. Lamar was opposed to the resolu-
tions. He presented them and then
spoke as follows:
ssMr. President Between these reso-
lutious and my convictions there is
great gulf. l cannot pass it. Of my
love to the State Of Mississippi I will
not speak; my life alone can tell it.. My
gratitude for all the honor her people
have done me, no words can express. I
am best proving it by doing to-day
what think their true interests aud
their character require me to do. Dur
ing my life, in that State, it has been
my privilege to assist in the education
of more than one generation of her
youth, to have given the impulse to
wave after wave of young manhood
that has passed into the troubled sea of
her social and political life. Upon them
have always endeavored to impress
the belief that truth was better than
falsehood, honesty better than policy,
courage better than cowardice.
"To-day my lessons confront me.
To-day I must be true or false, honest
or cunning, faithful or unfaithful to
my people. Even in this hour of their
legislative displeasure and disapproba-
ton I cannot vo,e as these resolutions
direct. ] cannot and will not shirk the
responsibility which my position i'm
poses. My duty, as I see it, I will do,
and I will vote against this bill.
when that is done my responsible
ity is ended. My reasons for my vote
shall be given to my people. Then it
will be for them to determine if adher-
ence to my honest convictions has dis
qualified me from representing them;
whether difference Of opinion upon
difficult and complicated subject to
which I have given patient, long con-
tinued, conscientious study; to which
+ I have brought entire honesty and SIN
gleness of purpose, and upon which I
have spent whatever ability God has
given me, is now to separate US; wheth-
er this difference is to override that
complete union Of thought, sympathy
and hope which on all other and, as I
believe, even more important subjects,
binds US together. Before them must
stand or fall. But be their present
decision what it may, know that the
time is not far distant when they will
recognize my action to-day as wise and
Just; and, armed with honest convic-
tions of my duty, ] shall calmly await
results, believing in the utterances of q
great American who never trusted his
countrymen in vain, that truth is
omnipotent and public justice GER
tain.''
The Journal says: "The event proved
that Mr.. Lamar was right as we'll as
courageous. Specie payment was easily
and naturally resumed before the time
appointed and the country was put on
q sound financial basis. Mr.. Lamar
never had any faith in sixty-siX cent
dollar or an irredeemable paper curren-
cy and his opinion of them remained
the same to the last, though he passed
through more than one period when
demagogues were singing the praises
of that sort of money"
We commend Mr.. Lamar's speech to
those of our day who would aspire to
the position of leadership among the
people.
It is reported from Lakewood, Mr..