The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-06-03
"REMINISCENCES OF EARLE.
The Impression he Made Upon a Boy,
His Splendid Fight in 1890.

The Impression he Made Upon a Boy
His Splendid Fight in 1890.
Columbia State.
Ino lie OF man is woven Of mingled
shade and light. Mach shadow clouds
the brightness; excess of light Danish es
the shadow. When career like Sen.
ator EArlc's has closed and we read the
stainless roll Of his achievements, con-
vlctlon seizss brain and heart that his
public life redounded to the honor of
the land, as his private life had ever
Illustrated the shining virtues of the
Christian gentleman. In time of owl
mon; OF foul speaking, Of wickedncss
rampant and blatant, of social up.
heaval, he Saved his crown OF spirit
ual manhood" and followed not "a mul-
titude to do evil" His course fore
shadowed brilliant career in the halls
ol national cUunsel-brilliant and vet
| founded on the rock OF unremittipg la
Dor. over there in tho 'undimmcd
! light at last you love and know" who
foug ut the fight and died like Roman
sentinel at his post
Sixteen years ago one dark night a
boy lay on a cot in a little canvass tent
at Back Forest North Carolina. The
tent faced east where lights twinkIed
in the windows Of the hotel. AS the
boy lay half doing tall form filed
the doorway, and in the half-llght be-
came visible the form and features OF q
splendid man. Ah, heav IN, what ewes
the voice stamped the impression. 1t
was my first sight of Joseph Earle.
Nothing has ever damned that recol-
lection. 1t was an era in my life. Col
onel Earle become paladin. fanciod
his ringing voice calling mail-clau
II &c n nn L. l>t 4 IL
hest figure in the tnrong. That boyisb
enthusiasm helped to q better under
standing Of the man. There was really
no office nor station that he would moi
pave graced and dignified.
There was in the man O. forced re-
serve that signlfed uncommon mental
strength. South Carolina was seething
like a hot caldron in 1890. Eyerythiog
ran like q amillrace for Reform. Tillman
was the lLOl OF the masses. Against all |
that Earle lifted up his voice. He fought
the hydra of revolution at the mouth Of |
It's lair. He failed Of course, as any
man must have failed but he won more |
geculne respect from Rcformers them
selvos-from the best of them-thap
[lllInan could inspire in the pIenitudc |
Of his power. The effect OF his superb
fight was his election as Judge, follow
cd later by his election in the Demo.
cratic primaries to the United States
senate. He conducted that campaign
ON the highest plane. The unbiased
judgment OF newspaper mon at the time
Vas tnat 1T was the only campaign Of
education they had ever Witnessed in
the State. Mon heard with attention
and went away instructed upon the
great Issues that engaged the atten-
Lion OF the country. Had he done no
more than to pitch tho standard CT pub.
nc debate on that lofty height, he
%oula deserve an apotheosis.
| met Senator Earle 10 the campaign
Oh lo9z. He was returning to COlum bia
IRON u business trip. In response to IL
qncstlon no gave his judgment to the
chect that the opposition would fail
and that Tillmanism would wane SLOW.
iyll upright men wore putforward. and
elected 10 Office. Otherwise, il wuuId
quicKly pass and South Carolina be the
ocLter for it's passage.
Alter his Lection to tho senate he
wrote mo from Beuufort, in answer to
congratul ltory note, saying that h,
would strive 10 fulfill the cxpectations
ol his friends, but thauthc i,sue,"as In
Gods hands. Prophetic thought, po.
tent utterance Dis alitur visum,"
ana now he lies asleep, sontineled by
tho blue mountains in the "Pearl Of
tho Piedmont"
thousands will render tribute to his
worth, and Will pay fitting respect to
his memory. Joined the tnrong to lay
THIS one hover upon his bier and now
say farewell.
JAMES HENRY RICE IR