The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-05-11

following, the subject of his speech was
The Constitutionality of the United
States Bank Says Col. Creecy: 1T
was close profound constitutional ar
gument" As he sat down, Prof. Nit
chell turned to Judge Duncan Cameron
and remarked: THAT boy has mind
as big as my arm"
Professor and pupil, Mitchell and
Clingman are names indissolubly linked
together, never to disappear from the
States history. The one dying bedueath-
ed his name to the highest peak of the
Blue Ridge. the other lived to see his
name, in recognition of his distinguished
services to science and politics. given to
the loftiest summit of the Alleghanies.
They sleep their last sleep near each
other. the one in the blue Of the eastern,
the other in the gray Of the western hills.
The year of Clingman's graduation
1892 is memorable from the fact that
Judge Castor delivered the annual adj
dress. production of so much merit as
to have passed through five editions. and
should to-day he wade mecum with the
youth Of North Carolina.
1t may be without interest to state
here. that in addition to it's supreme
Judge Gaston's address is remarkable
in the language he uses in denouncing
slavery. and the Naledictorian also. in
his Grafton, made strong argument in
favor OF the abolition Of the institution.
This it will be remembered, was as ear
ly as 1882 Mr.. Clingman's unremittng
application to his studies while ut the
University affected his eyesight. and for
months it was feared he would go blind.
but undismayed he got his sister. Mrs.
Puryear TO read the law course to him
while he lay on his couch with his eyes
protected by green shade made Of silk.
He Wore this shade for more than Il
year, and getting better under the skill
full treatment of DR. Pleasant Henderson.
of Salisbury. he went to HillSboro and
completed his law course under Governor
William \. Graham. Young Clingman's
school days were brilliant. They gave
him a conspicuous entrance into the
arena of public life and his early career
upon its stage verified the promise Of his
bOyhood. He took rank and interest in
public affairs from the jump. and his
school mates heard from him before they
left college His first stump speech was
made in 1885, when lie was candidate
for the House of Commons from Suiry
county. He was elected. and before the
expiration of his term moved to Ashe-
vile. which was thereafter his home.
From the House of Commons, he soon
passed to the State Senate Of which he
continued Il conspicuous member for
years.
He took an active interest in his pro-
fesSion. regularly rode the circuit. Of
which Asheville was the center, and
reached leading position among his
brethren of the bar, but elected 10 the
National House Of Representatives in
1919. public affairs absorbed his time, |
and thought: he became weaned from the
law. which is ever Il jealous mistress, |
and he is not now classed in tradition
as among the great leaders OF the west
ern circuit.
lie was in his youth Wing, and con
tinued such until in the Presidential
campaign of 1852. he gave his support
to the Democratic candidate. General
Pierce This subjected him to the
charge of political inconsistency. In am
swer to this Mr.. Clingman says: "The |
only consistency worth consideration is |
consistency to q mans conviction To
be true TO the principles recognized as
important. is the only object to be de-
sired. Mere devotion to a party, instead |
of being a merit, is reproach to a |
statesman. In fact no man ever did |
acquire the character Of statesman,
who was mere dcyotee of a party"
Mr. Clingman's change Of politics did |
not diminish his influence in his district. |
and he was returned at the ensuing cleo |
tion as Il Democrat by a larger majority |
that he had received two years before
MS Il Wing. Except one term, when he |
was defeated by Mr.. James Graham, |
Mr.. Clngman was continuously in Con
gress from 1913 until in the spring Of
1861. after being sworn in as United
States Senator for six years term. turn
ing his back upon the great achievements
of the past and the ambitions of the FIJI
ture. he casts his lot with his people and
leaves the Senate Of the United States to
take the field to fight against that gov
eminent in the greatness Of which he
had taken a part SO prominent. Seldom
has it fallen to the lot of a man in public
life TO make such sacrifice in obedience
to his convictions Of what is his daty.
Mr.. ClingInan was first elected to Con-
gress as Wing, became n leading and
trusted member of that party; was an
enthusiastic admirer Of Mr.. Clay. and
after the latter's defeat in 1914, in the
early days of the next Congress january
g. 1860 Mr.. Clingman delivered an ella
borate speech ON the causes Of Mr.. Clay IS
defeat. 1t was scathing denunciation
Of the methods pursued by the Demo
cratic party in electing Mr.. Pope. such
terms as false watch men of the south"
traitor sentinels:' "A party held togeth-
er solely by the cohesiyely power of pub
lie plunder:" n party with which all
defauters. all needy Adventures, all
the gambling fraternity naturally ar-
raigned themselves" His description Of
the organization and method of the
Democratic Association of Washington
city doubtless furnished the plan for the
Dudley blocks of FIVE or more modern
campaign devices. and he specifically
charged that the President Tyler compel
led those in the service Of the government
on main Of dismissal from office. to con
tribute n part of their salaries to create
a fund ia be used in the election of Mr..
Polk. But Clingman's righteous indig-
nation reaches it's acme when he comes
to describe the Empire club of New York.
and the circulation in PENNSYLVANIA of
riot,,,,.,. ,.o,,,n...,fs,ef Mr. CLAY n HANG