The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-04-10
TlInan'S TTbutetOHiS DeadCoIbaguo
THE LATE JOSEPH H. EARLE.
An Eloquent Eulogy and an Interesting
Recital of Historical Events in
South Carolina.

sad occasion | shall depart from tin
form of eulogy which Is customary.
can not speak Of Senator Earle fror
the standpoint of personal trier dshir
| can rot from extended personal OF
servation and experience pay tribut
to his character and virtues as ma
and rs private citizen. | can no
speak of him even from the standpoint
OF political friendship. While W,
Doth entered this Senate as representa-
tives OF the Democracy OF South Caro-
lima and he had publicly announced
lis purpose to cooperate with me il
the Senate If elected, we were no
friends in the common acceptation o
the term, nor were we political allies
What shall say, therefore, in honor
Of my dead colleague will be more
worthy Of acceptation and carry more
weight by reason of the antagOnism
that existed between us as rival candi
dates for the goyernorship in 1890, and
later on because | felt it my duty to
lend all the help could to the gentl
man who opposed him in his race ft
the Senate.
Senator Earle and myself were never
brought into close contact except dur
ing AN exciting political canvass, and
| therefore had no opportunity to
Judge the man as he bore himself to-
ward his friends and neighbors. But
during that canvass | watched him,
and had opportunities such as no other
man in South Carolina or out Of it ever
had to get an insight TO his character
and correct appreciation of his ster-
ling worth and brave, untllnching man
hood during most trying ordeal. 1t
may not be OF interest to the Senate,
and have almost dOuoted the pro-
,txNt,, ~
recital of events in which | myself
bore so conspicuous q part. 1t is not
egotism or any desire to inject my own
personality into the discussion Of Sena.
tor Earle's services and merits. But
If fail by reason OF such consideration
to discuss the subject from that stand
point, | will fail to discharge my duty
as | see 1T, and no one else can perform
that duty as we'll as | can. Indeed no
one can or will perform it at all. If |
do not do it, the fame and record of
the virtues Of the dead Senator would
lack that testimonial which alone can
give here and which, given under the
circumstances, can but help to link his
name by stronger bonds to South Caro-
lina's history.
short time. The illness which result.
ed in his death seized him within
thirty days after he took the oath of
Office, and he disappeared from our
midst to return no more. His star had
climbed the heavens until it had
reached the zenith and there shone
with calm and steady brilliancy.
Suddenly, like u meteor, IL sank be-
meath the horizon and went out into
darkness, leaving naught as a reminder
that it ever held place in the Sena-
torial galaxy save the memory Of one
short speech OF two minutes That
speech made it's impress on the
minds OF his hearers and stamped the
new Senator as good constitutional
lawyer and q man who would not
jot or little of the right Of his State
and OF his people.
But, as impressive as was his utter
ance and eloquent as was his plea, it
only gave promise Of n career that
closed all too suddenly and sadly.
Senator Earle will not be remembered
for what he did here. His record is
not Senatorial one. His reputation
must res, upon his actions and utter
ances while be was az officer of South
Carolina and before he was sent here
as her representative. Realizing this
In the fullest degree, anC anxious as |
am to give that part of his lie the
greatest pror .inence which will teAd
to perpetuate his memory, | must
follow the course | have marked out,
even though 1T deals with occurrences
In which | myself acted an important
part.
A brief recital OF historical events
in my State will be necessary for a
clear understa. ling of the causes
which led up to the most exciting and
intensely bitter campaign that has
ever convulsed any state in this Union.
There are people in South Carolina
where most Of Senator Earle's friends
live, and where his good name and the
honor due him will be most cherished, :,
who will not thank me for this exposi-
tion, and who will severely censure
me for making 1T, but, as | have said
once before, | am not seeking the
plaudits OF anyone or trying to DO any
thing except to discharge a solemn
duty to the dead man whose one st.'ik-
ing characteristic was devotion to duty.
1t Is simple act OF justice to him
without caring for it's etfeyt on me. |
know IL he were alive, he would do as
much for me. Indeed, he did, in 1892,
by writing letter for publication, dc
such an act OF justice for me which
made him very unpopular at the time
The real friends of the dead Senator
will see the justice Of this view Of the
matter and will thank me for giving
prominence to that part Of his career
which Is the lasting basis OF his fame
1t is not as a Senator that he will be
remem bered, nor is his record as Judge
and attorney-general, honorable ant
worthy though IL be, his highest clai IN
to remembrance. His candidacy fo
governor in 1890 and the fact that h'
90 bore himself in that campaign, IL
which he carried only counties In 30
that six years later he won the Sena
torship by popular vote gi zen largel.
by the very men who howled him dOwI
in l890-this Is the mans claim to i'm
mortality, and / shall tell the story a
briefly as | can and as understand 1T
phases and facts, coGcealing nothing
and anxious only to state the truth a
! understand it. ! do this knowing
that there are men who will be read
to dispute the facts and also deny tn
conclusions. That is q right / sha
not attempt to deny to any man. Thos
who hear and read what | say mus
determine for themselves the truthful
ness and impartiality of the story.
Up to the period OF reconstructio
South Carolina never had read pop:
lar government 1t was so in forl
only. The State was settled first alon
the coast, as were the other colOnie
and NJ TO and succeeding the Revol,
tionary war prepOnderance OF /
people resided In the tier OF counti'