Birmingham age-herald., 1895-05-26
GOVERNOR JOHN MuRPt dy


 The fourth governor of AlabamaS c-w was native North Carolinian. His parNSpts were Scotch He was born in Robins bn county in 17s5. Mir. Murphy was tne among the many of Aabama's ISeading men who Commenced life in pove rty and obscurity,k He was naturally ar1 lpltious, and by industry and persevera kce ne reached the highest office withja the>Sl1t Of the people Of Aiaba1na- His early pow erty was only sone of the | ara lessons which schooled him for tn duties o1sg life. -.
 His earliest hopes were to Saln aLf en- trance to the legal profession. ms M hope he kept alive throughout his y6 &Hh. A7. Hawthorne says, he "hitched his wagon to his guiding star, which lT him safely to the hopeful port AfterN# 7 prleI study MT. Murphy became an Al ssIncie <. lawyer He settled in CoIumba a s. e. He gave his time and .thouEhts& x to HE work and was at once successful apu gained considerable note threughoutN Ythe state. He afterward held the of1ce$ or secretary of state and filled the F fosi- tion to the satisfSction of the peort tgIe of South Carolina. N in South Carolina he moFed't to AlatV -ana and. Settled in Monroe county. Hs1 was sent as a delegate to the convent ion at Huntsville. which formed the state con stitution in D1cember 1919.
 MT Murphy was democrat and>y yJiieai. a great influence in his party, wf}ys,II..- elected him governor in 1895 He not saslay proved himself supporter of the ieB rf,est ized system o1 state work, but an RsfI IT. and Intelligent worker He serye6sf us ns term, and his administration @nas &>sao well received by the people th9H thesg again nominated and elected hiH4 govern or for another term, which alseL, proved 2 beneficent one to the people off AlahauaL He again turned his attent44on to tile practice of law. continuing until 1SSsS. when he was elected to coh4-9ress. At the nations capital he workeA1i for 4he state and her people with the 3Same zeaf that had previously marked hig life work. He remained in congressS sniy two years after which he never cam ,e before the people as candidate for ofnP ce His administration ss state execuffvdc was at the time of John Quincy Adao ms3 as United States executive. Ther{ 3 could hardly have been two men holdi4 Ing office of such noble bearing, whose eah Fly lives had been so vastly different. MT. Adams was the son of the president, yohz.n p Ad, tso ans; he had been blessed with sTealt the advantages which the times rof. fefeds q carefully educated in the usual braiif&cnes. and above this had receiveds SD eclal training in statesmanship. Alike, they were men of strong personal eharaf ctersg great native ability and unbandim h. tegrity.
 MT. Murphy was a devoted disc iple to state rights That question, thosy tsu5 the state was but few years Io1d, a&et intef- va1s brought about considerabl .e argp- ment. State treaties with the4 1natns had to meet the sanetiona aof th enfed Ia ed considered valid. Goyernor Murplxy ned at his home in Clark county, l1erel he owned considerable estate. By qfaose ad- quite little fortuna. He stud ed the tendencies of the times, was clfse ob- server and hard worker; ozdu<R per taining to his profession was-& sf5efsQ manding address; lIis mar mad wit, soere Sere pleasant and unpret9nfious ns% shsiic speaker his delivery was easy As..a .s 4 ,5rci-a ble. Few men of his day in K E &isfpsy of the state had the public kne ,,ss lsssice, for integrity more axtended to {& 1n than < did Governor Murphy He acte a well his every part and hislmemory Is hAs!ld in the Rs Rsf6Sf 6ur yssPs yssPsSs as essss sa not one word in hiztozy 1eeves repcord of an unmanly act, IIe Iifes histQ Try cah be placed in the hands of our voui1us men and boys without fear df. hof1 m Ina fact there is not a recorded ,Hct&<17af Is J not worthy of imitation. 7
 Governor Murphy came ,to thiz czauhtry when it was a wild, iuncuItufcd Vp.ain, and as rule the whife ppI)ulatior A1Ivare q as void of culture as any to be fouxj1 4on the western slopes ftodayf The i4rx9fN portion of the state belong A to s4[4 was : inhabited by the Greek Indians The Creeks. I believe, were cdnsIdcred the most intelligent of the southern Indians. They titled the rich bottom, lands near their little towns, but were not extensive farmers. These towns were always found near a water course ax the Creek territory shows. The wolf pAnther and other wild animals roamad the weeds. Deer and turkey were abundant. Carr ' rages and wagons constituted the modec of travel, and MT. Murphy was ieviGe1tly many days en route from the capital Of South Carolina to his new horaf in the r Indian territory. The beautiful and fruitful farms that today dot tho surface | of our state were then vast Wilderness. A covered with luxuriant growth, WhIch4 furnished the entire food for stock. The preparations for winter quartet6 81H food were unthought of by the iiA<[
 Roads were almost unknown, e2,e e&| 'f few well-beaten paths which mark6 < 4, course of former travellers. The Nekl3zf grant camps were kept enlivened by the screams of the panther, the howl of the 2 wolf and the boot of the owl His maj esty, the owl, Is all that is left of the musical trio. And we have but the rec ord of the past to tell us alike of the brave yet treacherous Creeks and our own great and good men who planned our system of state government, which we now enjoy. l.. E. M. Love lightens labor; Hoods Sarsapa- rlla lightens spring cleaning trials. Enough said.