The news & observer., 1897-01-20
AN ELOQUENT TRIBUTE.
HON. FRED A. WOODARD SPEAKS
o. THE LATE SPEAKER CRISP.
He Voiced the Regard of tn. Peop'c
of North Carolina For the Late
Speaker of the House of
Representatives.

Among the tributes paid to the late
| Mr.. Crisp in Congress Saturday, Hon.
| Frederick A. Woodard made one of the
| shortest and best. Mr.. Woodland said
| Mr.. Speaker, it is living service to
| those who know, loved, and honored him
| to speak in memory of the life and char
| acter of Judge Crisp
| As a private soldier he was brave and
| faithful as Judge of the Superior court
| ne shed luster upon the judiciary or his
4 State; rs n member Of Congress he was
| long the trusted leader of his party; as
| Speaker ne was a master OF parhamen-
| tary procedure, a model presiding officer,
| firm and resolute, but always courteous;
| with an attractive personality, Indoml-
| table courage, great prudence, an earnest
partisan because he believed the policies
| OF his party, il enacted into laws, would
| rebound to the honor and welfare of his
| country; a statesman in it's best and
broadest sense his party and his country
| have sustained a great loss in his un-
| timely death.
| | do not PROPOSE Mr.. Speaker, to re-
| view in detail the early history or services
| of Judge Crisp. That has been done
/ by others who have known him longer,
| and who have, in appropriate and elo-
quent words, portrayed his exalted worth
| as a citizen, his valuable services to his
| party and country.
! ] first met him at the beginning of the
| Fifty-thirl Congress, when | entered
/ unon my service as a member of this
| House. and my admiration for his char
| acter as . man and as n statesman in
| creased with the passing years.
When but boy, only 16 years of age
| animated by that patriotic spirit which
| followed him through life, we find him
| volunteer soldier in the Confederate
| army, where he served until the end of
| the war. Immediately after it's close he
commenced the study of law, and in few
years attained high rank in his chosen
| profession. He was elected solicitor
general and judge Of the Superior court,
and while on the bench was elected to
Congress. He had served in the House
but a short time when his conspicuous
ability pointed him out, as IL by intuition,
as the leader of his party on the, hoor.
Having been assigned by common con-
/ sent to that honorable and responsible
Ispositiof, it was manifest that he was a
born leader, equal to every emergency,
always ready, always wise, always able,
and ever true to his convictions OF duty.
While possessed OF that firmness and
i true courage so necessary to constitute
successful leader, Judge Crisp was
withal a modest gentleman, and never
forgot the amenities and courtesies due
his opponents. On all occasions he ex-
hibited those manly and gentle virtues
which never fail to win our warnest ad-
miration and tenderest regard.
In the Fifty y-second and Fifty-third Con-
crosses he was elected Speaker Of this
House, and in that delicate and respon-
sible position he more than sustained his
justly earned reputation for ability,
| frmness, fairness, and courtesy. His
record as presiding officer will compare
favorably with that of the most distin-
guished parliamentarians who preceded
him. Ia every position he was called up
ON to fill, Judge Crisp measured up to the
fullest expectations OF his friends, and
his whole life affords bright example
for the young men OF our country to
emulate.
| As a soldier, as a citizen, as a Judge,
Us member OF Congress, as Speaker, as
the great leader Of great party, he was
ever faithful to himself, to his people,
to his party, TO his country, and to his
Maker. Those high, noble, and sincere
virtues which made Judge Crisp a con-
spicuos leader in American politics and
constituted him a pure and unsuilied
statesman were part OF his nature, and
they appear with equal beauty and
brightness in his private character. In
sn the private and social relations OF
life the same purity Of character, honesty
of purpose, and noble aspirations which
distinguished his public life made him a
model citizen, q true and constant friend,
a loving and tender husband. an affec-
tionate father, and Christian gentle
man.
1t was my fortune, Mr.. Speaker, to be
constantly associated with him during
the last four yeaFs, as we boarded at
the same hotel in this city. The more
saw of him the more L appreciated his
high qualities and the beauties and vir-
tues OF his private hfe. During the lat
i. ter part of the first session OF this Con-
gress the health OF Judge Crisp became
| impaired, but his friends hoped his suf-
fering would be only temporary. After
| adjournment he sought relief in the pure
and invigorating climate Of Western
| North Carolina; but the disease which
had attacked him was a fatal malady,
| and his indomitable will and brave heart
struggled in vain against the inevitable
| result. Death came to him in the very
when his party and country seemed to be
in special need OF his wise counsel and
safe leadership. 1t came when he was
so soon to receive at the hands Of CRATE
full people the high Office which had been
the ambition of his life. Why should he
have been taken at this time? We would
not question Gods providences, so mys-
terious in so many ways. Beautifully
has it been said by another
''There is an existence beyond the pre-
sent life where all shall be made clear
We shall see az we are seen; We shall
know even as we are known Mr.. Dick
ems made the poor idiotic Barnsby and
the coarse, strong Hugh, of the May
pole Inn, hold conversation about the visi-
Bile wonders OF the heavens, and they in
| quire Of each other whence comes the
| light OF the innumerable stars that dot
the skies. When they were both under