Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-02-23
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
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DIR. THOS. j. MCKEE.

passing away. Within brief Biz
months MCGOWAN, Hagood, Brat
ton general officers from South
Carolina) Deeportes, and now
McKie of the staff, with many Of
the rank and file, have fallen vic.
Tins to that common enemy, death
With the flight of time this list
will be increased i'll rapid success.
sion.
Nobody realizes this more sensi-
bly, than the grim soldiers of the
South. They meet it with the
same composure ta2t sustained
them in the shock of 30 many bat
ties and supported them so bravely
through the perils and poverty
and trials which followed defeat.
The last great SORROW to throw
its shadow over the State, espe-
cially Edgefield, is the death of
DR.. T. J. McKie, as noble Roman
as his country ever produced.
Long and trying years of init
mate acquaintanceship enables me
to speak advisedly of DR.. McKie's
character. He was one of the
purest men, knightliest gentlemen
I have ever known, and mean
this III it's most comprehensive
sense. q. He did not pose as gen.
tleman on occasions. In his daily
life, in his relations with the high
est and humblest, in every walk of
life, professional, business, social,
he never forgot that deferencs due
to others. He was alaoays mod
est, respectful, self-respecting gen.
tleman.
Endowed with liberal educa-
ton and high professional attain
ments, he cultivated the highest
and best ideals in literature, in
art, in nature, and sought only the
elevated and ennobling pursuits
of life.
His services in the Confederate
army were distinguished and with
ont blemish. His patriotic love
of country, bis anxiety for her
welfare and honor knew no bounds
save opportunity to promote them.
During the troublous times in
our neighborhood, in Meriwether
township, in 1874, when the ne
groes, under the vicious leadership
of bad men, were betrayed into
taking the law into their own
hands, l had frequent opportunity
to test his courage, self-sacrlfce,
and judgment, and can say with
absolute sincerity, no man ever
met and overcame grave RESPONSE
bilities and dangers with more
fortitude and fearlessness.
Amid the most provoking temp
tations to crafty resentments and
wresk vengeance upon q people
who attempted to assassiDate him,
in return for an almost paterDal
kindness and care he had always
shown them, he never permitted
his temper to get the better of his
self-possession, or allowed himself
to cross the path of moderation
and forbearance.
It aim ost makes one shudder to
recall, even at this late day, look
ing back through the mists of a
quarter of a century, tho terrible
ordeal and trials through which
we passed in Meriwether in IA.
With the alien and scalawag in
control of every office in the State,
stimulating and urging the ignor-
ant and misguided negroes to acts
of lawlessness and spoliation,
with the spirit of our people broken,
and disheartened by the heel Of
and wrong, with our
families and property at tie mercy
Of hirelings and shameless profit
gate aoventurers, our condition
seemed almost hopeless and des-
perate. Under these conditions
The people Of Meriwether struck
the first blow, lighted the first
torch for disenthralmenpand re-
lief, and taught their fellow citi-
zens in other sections of the State
what courage and self-reliance ex-
ercised with prudence and firm
ness could accomplish. 1t was the
heavy skirmish line which led up
to and made possible the great
battle for white supremacy and
liberty of 1875. The splendid
of such men as DR.. Tom
McKie, Joe Meriwether. DR.. Hugh
Shaw, Joe Thurmond, John Meal
ing, Levi Reese, A. P. Butler, Hugh
Scott, and the host of other high
spirited, self-sacrifcing men car
ried US through the fiery perils of
that eventful period.
Through it all DR.. McKie was
The same quiet gentleman. tireless,
vigjlant patriot. He, with others,
took his life in his hands and
spared no effort to relieve his
l-l.1l &c H. a.x. &c -.