The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-24
BILL ARP'S LETTER.
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION AS To
WHO WAS THE GREATEST MAN.
Williams Idols Were Invariably
Among the Old Timers.

1t was goodlv company and bounteous
feast. While enjoying b'th we discussed the
affairs OF tho nation i'll a philosophic mo ,d,
and in temperate. confederate msnner OK.
pressed our opinions of men and measures
noting the differences that honestly possessed
each different gu at, ventured to ask que'-
tion that each might answer Who is the great
est American, living or dead. of the last half
century? 1t would be surprising to hear tie
answers to this question in any little cotcrie OF
intelligent, well educated gentlem m. Almost
every man has his idol whom he worships or
adm,res, not without reason. but with more re.
gard than IL justly due. We are drifted into
channels OF thought by circumstances, by sur
roundings, by heredity. We become the creatures
OF prejudice, both in politics and religion. This
Is human nature and thero il nothing wrong
abont 1t when it is kept within bound of toll
GRAFTON Zoe the opinions OF others. Only the
intolerant get up diScord.
Who is the greatest man." asked. Gro
YER Cleveland" said Mr.. Fite. Bob Tonmbs
and General Grant" said Mr.. Jarrall. "D,.
Atti-u' Haygood, said Judge Akin, promptly
''Jef rsou Davis" said Mr.. Carey. .'Ah, Tia r.
now. they all respond. "Of cours,-of course.
Jefferson Dav WAS tho greatest man--.hG very
greatest man." When was called to respond
said: 'Nona of you are old enough to have
seen the greatest man, but saw hum when
was a lad and lie put his hand upon NV
head aud said kirl and tender words to
me; lie was passing through our town
that might see the gre,tes. and best
man IN the nation, al he called him 1t
may be that his benediction upon me has hal
something to do with nv hero Worship, nv
idolatry. but my occasional perusal OF his bi
oSraphy and his speeches have conf med mo
in my opinions Eo has been dead fortv-iive
years, but still believ that John C. Calhoun
was the greatest msu. He was the model UPON
which Jeffs:son Davis built his own great
characI er."
their differcn 'es can be traced to some ,latera
influences. Emory college and John Wesley
Mcthodism hal something to do With Judcn
John Wesley Atkins idolauy. / suspect tina,
his second choice would be Judge B!cckav.
whom he loves TO speak Of He VISITED Judge
BlccklcT at Clark"svlle no. long ago aul LIS.
tened eagerly as bs discourscd OF his early life.
Ny mother" said he, ''w:s no. an educ utcl
woman. She was not beautiful woman. II
iact, Sh' was homaiy. 1 never saw her 10 i,
beautiful bat once. only once. AMI tha. was
when she WAS deai and WAS shvoudoi for the
mn. she look 'd lik" an angel sleeping there
and wept great tears of sorrow. Nv heart
was almost breaking. for she had been such a
dear. good bthcr to mo-" Ths judgc paused
long enough to wipe the tears that came from
his caIernou5 eyes and to recover hs wonted
speech ''But, my friend, her life and her re-.
llgi"" was all concentrated IN on, bcautifu'
w"rd, the most beautltnl in our language AMI
that II duty-duty. There is no greatness tn al
Is really great without it. NV dear mother :.
daily life, thought aud deed was one OF duty
duty to God AMI her family and neighbors
She never spoke of it nrr boasted of it. bnt she
acted II and we saw it and loyad har-yoS we
love every feature OF her sweet and homely
face. do not owe all to her, but do owe the
better psrt-yes, all that is tender and lovin ,
and true
Mr.. Jarrall spoke of General Grants great
ness as military commander and his magnan-
unity toward US after we were cononoraI Tn
that was tho herosm hiI character Then h,
spoke of To)nlbs' wonderful gifts az an orator
and sta'es nan and patriot, but lancnted that for
so long a nme h failed to set high moru Il
example to the Young men of the state After
he htd joined the church he occasionally wa,
overcome by t@mptaton-his b,s .ttinr de .ire
for stImulant and in all seriousness, he spoke
OF 1t to Bishop Pierce. his life long friend. nnI
wanted = til 'O.ogIcrl explain rtioo
''Now G. orSe," said he. "if am really CON.
vcrted, why u IL that I crave whisky AMI why
Is II That cant re'iSt the desire It seem .,
To mo that a truH Christian shorll have no
"nhoiy desires Maybe am not converted.
MI + lie Is an OH e holder and an Off 70
seeker, both OF which are honorable to al hon.
orab'e men AMI he has been following oil |
Grover so long that he will not forsale him
now. Mt Carey Is not troubled mach with
present politics. HIS ideal is dead and he
loves to worship at his shrine r,nrc are
many OF his ml,d bu. they MAKE bu. littl.
noise in the noSy world
l. too, love to Worship there and n. Nr Cal
houn'S, too ! low to read what the great
men, hiS r'v'!S. said ahou' NJ. Calhoun when
u was announced in the senate that he was
dead. Mr.. Webster said "FIc was a man o,
Grea' genus an com handing talen,. All the
worl a! nitd thai. Whcn h. last addressed u.
we c"u!d IN'Ginc that we saw be.
tor us senator from + me when Rome
S'.rViyoi I. Ills high chlrac'cr was
one OF "niMp""ched honor an unsprtt"i in
tcSrity. J. ID not brlicv" lie ever lai a sr'.i,h
motive or selfish feeling" Henry Clay said:
MS genius was O. the very highest ordec and
the charn o: his pres nee aud hS "owars We're
,eit by all who coavcrSel with him" Eivirl
EVerett said: Ca 'hDun. Clay AMI We ,s'cr,
nam them IN their proper order. TAe great
thinker, the great Ter, tho grna' orato.."
Duty, patriotic duty was his life work I've
been wond ring what he hal to do with the
Monroe doctrine. H was Monroe's secretary
Of state when it was enunciat"d. and rec ion
was it's inspiration. But after all, Mr. Cal
hoUn's most lovabs qualities were seen in his
private life az hus 'and. f,ther friend and
neighbor. In all these he was pur" and with
out reproach. What NOR. need he sad OF him
| wished to saw this much in irItifisatiou of
nv idolatry. have been to Fort Hill. where
he used to live. and sat at tho groat table that
was mad" of walnut taken from tho frigato
G. institution. have handled the books in his
library and looked at the b'autifu paintings
in his picture gallery. I have walked down the
steps and drank water from the fountain that
he drank from, and I feel like the pilgrim feels
who goes to Mecca.
Now le' younger men indulge in these peas
am cpiSod =. and when they have chosen an
idol 1T them s'uly his character an be able
to- give n reason for the faith that is in them.
We EsCi to debate qucS ions when we were
boYs at school that were akin to those: "WhO
deserves the most praS' Columbu, tpr discov-
crnG America, or Washington for defending
It;' The answer of vOIng America now il e y