Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-06
SOUTHERN LEADERS.
A POET AND EssANIsT on hen
HILL.
In Confederate Congress and United
states CONGRATULATIONS Com
tests with Blaine and Conh-
ling.


sonally. was at Richmond, Va. either In
1852 or 1852 lie was then Confederate
senator Already he had great repute
for marvellous intellectual endowment
.s,cci,il,. ne a epcakcr and lawyer. His
onuoSifiop 10 secession at the Georgia
State convention more than anything else
cave him natural distinction, although
no had previously. on the husungs,
matched the most redOubtablc politicians
or statesmen, exhibiting not only woe
range OF thought and steady. but an elo-
ouence that has never been surpassed NJ
the South in some particulars, ana sell
dom eaualled in any country. Aihed WIN
the most splendid oratorical equipment
in pcrsou. voice. sinewy logic, dauntless
nerve. dominant confidence, lofty imagery,
and Hghtuing-liSe ability In attack anu
defence. he was one OF the most loIiil'u-
able Of mental gadiators. lie sToue
along the streets Of Richmond a Veritdpie
lord Of the creation. and Mr. DAVIS hnaue
M mistake when he chose him as the or
scl. of hi. policy to Congress, however
,-,l-tak.n That policy was IN the concep-
lions M strong men who had scant sym
,,atb,. ,cith il. The stride OF Mr.. iill AZ
fhat pcriod. more than anything else De-
tok,nel his firm reliance upon himseii'
de.nlte the fact that he did not ho'd MS
head erect II was habitualiy peht III
scbolasffc meditation, only raising II Ike
al, imperial crest momentariiy. wnen sa-
Iutlug casual acquaintance we"
reused. i'm the forum or on the husuhsS'
however. his tall. muscular frame dliated'
"A
His features were massive ana ieohiLe'
adorned with tawny. abundant hair, bu!
claIically shaver face.
As he walked slowly along the mo
rouehfare that day. nearly thirty-'hree
Vears ago. ne was blissfully Obvious oil
The sick. lean. youthful enthusiast VINO
cazel atluiringlV on 50 much human
grandeur. Nor did | then ever Imagine
fhqt in afler wears our lives would be
intimately mingled in different orbits ana
that IL would ever be my lot TO nave
friendly intercourse with him. chronicle
many of his large achievements, ana, AT
his dcathbe1 receive from his hahu
token OF final regard.
WONDERFUL PERSONALITY.
After the war Mr.. Hin again asserted
his wonderful personality In legal analrs
and political contentious. ] had drifted
and. occasionally. as an editorial writer,
did not always agree with this conspicr,
cus AGGRESSIVE. and magnetic man. When
reconstruction Of the South became more
and more fragrant and worse, in some
regarls. than actual war Mr.. Hill-hc
was ALWAYS "Ben" Hill IN Georgia-wrote
Il series Of letters for the press called
'Notos on the situation They were
masterpieces Of their kind and demon
sttatel mat he was as potent wth MS
non as with his tongue. Their effect was
electrical when allied with his speeches.
The civic and military enemies OF the
South at home and abroad were dashed
by him with scorpion whips articulaied
ON ID body Of political argument for
some reason he afterward MODIFIED ms
views. and this caused some OF ms lei
low-countryme 10 accuse him OF Nacll-
latlor. | was among those whO criuclZed
him and once stung him TO the QUICK 50
that De- lost his temper, and, being at
distance. wrote TO me on postal cara
some words that sensitive people do not
generally accept calmly. Conscious that
the offending articlc-it was newspaper
cne-dI not merit such angry retaliation
and that Ar I'm had quite misinterpre-
led g. / prepared 60 answer him with
something like fOIg.ving patience, when
he auticirateI my reply in the most gene
raus fashion. admitting his mistaken i'm
pulse. and recalling his rash language.
From that time or, 10 the very end OF his
III. We we've friends and affectCnate
nucs. although for a rcGrettGb.e period
ha was at variance in "A very painful
cav. with Nj stephens, whom l loved,
esteemed. and venerated. II Will be seem
rs proceed. that this amicable condition
between disC0rlant elements had some
memorable providential consequences.
UNLIMITED LITIGATION.
The end Of the war brought unlimited
LITIGATION. especially in bankrupt and cot
ton complications. and Mr.. Hill had i'm
mediate opportunity of earning great fees
lie diI indeed receive vast sums-more
than 100000 in his professional career
hut he was always. more or less, in
circumstances the reverse Of plutocratc
had q note from him once when he
was United States Senator. declaring that
~ was afflicted with poverty once a
millionaire friend Of mine. who had bust
ness relations with him. said to me:
What does Ben Hin DO with all OF his
money? / know Of considerable amounts
that we nave paid him for professional
services. His money was sunk, 10 a
great degree. in Improbable planting, on
an immense scale. in partnership with a
rich New Yorker who was politically OPP
posed 10 him. He helped others, ana
seemed TO care little or nothing for lucre
of itself. lie had not a spark Of avarice
in his composition. loving fame and tri-
umph in high ambition much more than
any possession Of pelf. | suppose that
mis- scOrn OF mere accumulation gave
rise o. the announcement of some adver-
sarics that he was lacking in practicability
and good judgment There are some
yorldly-minded folks who MEASURE
mans sense 10y acquisition of cash and
its memorable retention, whereas the
French have a maxim that the creator
sometimes oyincos His contempt Of money
BY exhibiting what kind of persons He
occasionally permits 20 gather and alb
sorb Il. At any rate. Mr.. Hill. with
abundant chances for enrichment. had a
habit Of letting this kind of fortune es-
cape from his hands. and died with
very small fragment, comparatively, of
The 81 10000 he had acquitted at the bar.
While at Washington, when Mr.. Hin
Wa United States Senator. | had frater-
mel intercourse with him and his family,
We were then practically agreed on pub
lie matters. | had occasion TO serve him
with my pen. rccountinS his signal con
rressional contests and he was grateful
f,- my zeal. Having the freedom Of the
Senate floor. / could be near him when
pleased. In this way ] heard most Of
his remarkable speeches and enjoyed his
confidence in the cloak-roOn. On that ar.
gust legislative arena he met the fore
most men Of his day In debate. just az he
had previously done in the House, ana
his fight was higher and higher when
malignant disease parolyzcd and deVoured
that musical and majestic tongue.
have recently wondered where Ben
Hin would have been found If ne had
c,t~tffyn1 in fr1t vfasnr n this epOcn. on the