The age-herald., 1898-06-09
TECHNICS FROM
 CURRENT TOPICS

 ton to attract the attention of the nation by grand stand plays" and actuated only by laudabe desire to perform his duty to the best of his ability at all times and in all positions, Richmond Pearson Hobson has sprung suddenly into eternal fame in the light of that torpedo which he fired just under the guns of Moro Castle. It can scarcely be possible that any other such dauntless deed of personal heroism will be performed during the present hostil- ities with Spain. There will probably not come another such opportunity to an Amer ican soldier sailor to achieve for himself such undying glory and to place his coun- try under such eternal obligation.
 The opportunity of a century found in young Hobson a waiting instrument of complishment and Alabama bares her head in admiration, profound and unspeakable, to the hero, not only of the hour, but also of his generation. She glories in his mag nifcent achievement, in his genuis, that planned with mathematical precision the matchless deed, in his moral tributes, in his devotion to his family and his country and she rejoices that she has given to tho nation such a son and such a representa- tive.
 Richmond Pearson Hobson is a southern CT, of southerners; with the warm, ambi- tious blood of an honorable ancestry cours- ing through his veins.
 Born with the aspirations which come from lineage which has assisted in mak- ing the history of the south, he has pressed steadily forward to the fulfillment of a manifest destiny.
 His elevated sense of duty subord:nated all lesser matters to the accomplishment first of the work God had appointed him to do.
 He is g. typical representative of that earlier and later civilization which has placed the scouth on a plane distant and different from any other section of the country
 With all the instincts pertaining to that class of southerners from which he came Richmond Pearson Hobson has demon- strated to the nation that he is capable of the most devoted and unselflsh patriotism. His wonderful deed of daring was per- formed for the great united country, which confronts foreign foe. His lofty patriotism, his ideal patriotism, has made him the pride of the republic, and the south rejoices that she has contributed to the country a man whose name is writ ten higher on the roll of fame than that of any other soldier or sailor of his time. Richmond Hobson Pearson was one of seven other just as brave men who courted death under the shadows of Cuban forts, each one of whom will receive his full mea- sure of praise, from grateful people Even | the glory of their leaders fame will not blot out that of Hobson's brave comrades. But young Hobson's act was not only a manifestation of almost reckless courage, but was the perfect realization of the min- ute calculations of his genius. Intrepidity, and intellect, combined to bring about a magnificent result.
 One without the other meant dismal fail- :. | ure; together these attributes have made | the young southerner, hitherto known only within a narrow circle, the most talked l about and the most written about man of his period.
 The whole story Of Richmond P. Hobson, his early life, his devotion to his mother, his positive sense of duty, his financial bur- dens, all these have thrown fiashilght
 upon certain phases of southern experience
  catch a glimpse of that splendid moral | courage which is part of every true southerner's character. The glare from that | torpedo fired on the Merrimac has illum- | mated southern, southern character and southern capacity for endurance as nothing l else has done for many long day. The echoes from the explosion on, that sinking | ship have been heard in the uttermost parts | of Christendom and the eyes of the world l are turned toward that beautiful old Ala | bama town which has contributed this brave young fellow to a nations defense. l All genuine courage is modest. A blatant exhibition of personal charms is in no sense | an indication of personal bravery. An intrepid, courageous man finds it not necessary to Haunt in the faces of his as- | socates or the country at large either his
 present pugnacity or his war-like record.
 The greatest military heroes of history have l been men of few vanities and fewer petty
 weaknesses. They have rarely been clam orous for personal advancement. They were God-appointed instruments for the accom- | plishment of divine purposes. | Young Hobson, with the modesty of the l ral hero, has renamed Quletiy at HIS po-e, unadvertised, unwritten about until his
 wonderful exploit in sinking the Merrimao
 in the Santiago harbor has set the worio
 to talking of this plucky Alabama,|yout Alabama may not have evinced very
 enthusiastic pugnacious spirit in this span ish-American difficulty, but she certainty l has given to the nation the greatest nero | of the present war. Richmond Pearson
 Hobson Is easily the most distinguished mll-
 dtary or naval officer which the south has
 contributed to the settlement of this trouble
 with Spain.
 | For his state and for his people he has | won unperishable, undying glory. | BALL. MEN OF THE MERRIMAC. | g. k. Riser In Cleveland Leader l np MprrimmAC.