The age-herald., 1899-09-13
THE PASSING
 OF THE ARGUS

From the Montgomery Journal, Sept. 1.
 The Southern Argus did not fill Hong felt want" It came into being of it's own accord. It was not born of irrisistible de- mand. No noisy herald proclaimed it's ad- vent. No acclaiming multitude welcomed 1t to a brilliant and profitable career Its appearance did not fill hungry minds with the ecstaey of delight. The public had not been lying awake O nights waiting for it. It was received without smiles and dis missed without tears. God rest it!
 It not an organ of the "bosses" and the Headers and they had no use for it. Its mission was to the people, and they re- ceved 1t not. It told the evil days at hand and of evil days to come; and it as 'tthe voice of one crying in the wilder ness" It was a prophet without honor with its own. It's warnings aggravated the insolence of the mighty It's entreatments fe1 on the duled ears of the weak. It could not call attention from the petty vanities of personal politics to the weight fer matters of law and liberty What matters it who is governor or senator, who receives the peoples money for the hold ing of this office or that, when the iron is on the limbs and in the souls of men It talked seriously of serious things to a generation "eating and drinking marry ing and giving in marriage, as in the days of Noe" There is little comfort in the thought that it's remonstrances and coun- ses will be recalled in the hereafter. Alas, there cometh a time when no effort avail ethi
 It thought little of men. who rise and fall come and go, mighty and forgot ten, all unnecessary to the world, which ''waoS n upO1iD6fil 0f their hrth tensions or death. It did not feel itself acquit of duty in laying snares for one and helping another out of the pit It held no one totally depraved or immediately good. It nowhere found absolute candor, sim cerity, or unselfishness. It placed blind trust in no man. It was no mans thrall. It no factions mouthpiece It was no offenders apologist. It looked to ends and took counsel of it's judgments. It ap- piled principles and had no care of conse- quences. Its justification was in it's con science, to which it gave no offense. Its errors mistakes, indiscretaions, were it's own. It was not 'practical" and there fore was useless; and therefore is gone,
 There came to it, from press and peo- pie, many words of encoura cement, com menda ion and congratulation. which are treasured up in a grateful heart. These Were not reproduced in it's columns because of restraint imposed by some touch of modesty or some sense of propriety This acknowledgement is assurance that they were noted, are appreciated, and will be remembered.
 The Argus had many readers and if if had conformed to a custom more honored in the breach than in the, observance" it might have bought many more. It could have filled it's columns with advertise ments at rates that would almost pay for the white paper they marred. It rejected these conditions of nglorious and intoler- able existence. And the place and the peo- pie who knew 1t, will know it no more for ever. The Montgomery Journal will fill out its unexpired subscriptions. If any there be dissatisfie with this exchange, the amounts due them will be paid in cash on applica tion by mail or otherwise
 The brief life of the Argus was one of contention and strife. It's first number was an event in the controversy around the constitutional convention question. That matter happily disposed of. other questions, less momentous, but of the grehtest importance, factional and yet vital, brought constantly changing forces into fierce conflict. From week to week, the Argus took it's place in this shifting warfare and bore its part as best 1t might. It gave blows without malice and received them without resentment. Whether the hurt was here there was the fortune of the fray If it gave offense. it regretted it. It took none. It went hence without re- pining, at peace with the world, and with a prayer in its thoughts for a more abound ing prosperity and a greater usefulness to its survivors in all the works of patriotism and honor.
 ROBERT M'KEE,