The age-herald., 1899-05-02
SENATOR MORGAN
 THE NOBLE ROMAN


 The first democrat of Alabama and the most illustrious of all Alabamians speaks today to his people upon the most momen- tous political tissue that has been present. ed to this public since he led the white peo- pie to the redemption of the state from black misrule twenty-five years agoI
 MT. Morgan speaks with as clear a note as he spoke in the troubled years from 1865 to 1874, when his voice rang out most eloquent and most noble of all in the cause of the white people of Alabama, their hon. or and their salvation!
 Senator Morgan as first of the states democrats has the, best right to speak for the democracy. As first of Alabamians he has the best right to speak for Alabamians. Whosoever amongst this people loves his state will hearken to the words of match less eloquence and wisdom from him who is acknowledged first amongst his people in eloquence, first in statecraft and states manship, first in his devotion to public duty and first in the cause of right first in his unwavering advocacy of white supremacy as represented by the democratic party!
 Another has thrown down the glove in defiance of the democratic party and it's sacred pledges. Senator Morgan takes it up, and Alabamians shall know today that their noblest champion for thirty years has entered the lists as first and foremost in this strife for the preservation of their rights and for the preservation of that po- litical party from which alone they can h ope for good government and the main- tenance of order, law and decency in the conduct of public affairs.
 It means. moreover that ha opa Yza +ot,- less personality of all the states history asserts the active duties of leadership, and defes the enemies of democracy to do their worst.
 It means that the first of the senators and one of the most representative of Americans takes into his own hands the gauntlet of his partys honor and his peo- ples welfare.
 It means that there shall be heard again in grave crisis the sound of that voice that no brave man ever yet heard unmoved and none other ever heard undismayed.
 Itmeans that there is about to be waged the most aggressive, the most brilliant, the most vital political fight known in this state since "A.
 Above all it means that the integrity of the democratic party and the continuance of white rule are once more to be contended for, and along with these principles the as- sertion of the peoples determination that no one man is or shall be their master The cracking of one place-seekers whip shall not affright-not whilst Morgan leadsI
 An, Morgan as he used to be!' He thundered then with unsurpassed elo- quence, labored with tireless energy, and led his own race to it's own redemption. His fiery denunciation of the aliens and the negroes who were prostituting the state to basest purposes; his defiance of federal bayonets; his awful invective against men who betrayed and outraged-all has prooa- bly not been equaled in any period of Ala bama's history. It is doubtful if it has been surpassed in the record of the English speaking race. In addressing a political meeting he was grand
 All hail Morgan! He alone were sufficient to make Alabama famous. His deeds and his fame ring around the world. In some respects he is first of Americans. In all the essentials of ability and statesmanship, he is the first of Alabamians. Without question he is first of the senators. He en- joys to a fuller degree the admiration and affection of his home folk than has ever yet been enjoyed by anyone who claimed Ala bama citizenship. All hail Morgan-the first democrat of Alabama, and the foremost of Alabamiansi
 It would seem almost an impertinence to speak to the people of Alabama concerning Senator Morgan's life record, so familiar is it. but it may be presumed to refer to some facts.
 He resides in Selma, where he was ad- mitted to the bar in 1S45 He was a presi- dentfal elector for the state at large in 1S6o In 1861 he was a delegate from Dal- las county to the secession convention which was presided over by the late Judge Brooks, also of Dallas. He enlisted in the confederate army as a private in May, 1861, as a member of the Cahaba Rifles. and when that company was assigned to the Fifth Alabama regiment, under Col Robert E. Rodes, he was elected major and after wards lieutenant-colonel of the regiment In 1862 he was commissioned a colonel and raised the Fifty-first Alabama regiment. He was appointed a brigadier-general in 1S63 and assigned to-a brigade in Virginia, but resigned to join his regiment, whose colonel had been killed in battle. Subse- quently, in 1863, he was again appointed a brigadier-generh. At the conclusion of 1he war he resumed the practice of law al Sell ma. In 1876 he was chosen a democratic presidential elector, and voted for Tilden and Hendricks. In that year he was elected to the United States senate to succeed George Goldthwaite, democrat, of Mont gornery, and took his seat March 4, 1877.
 
 his present term will expire March 4, 1901. In the meantime the senator has served on the Behring sea commission and the EIa- waiian islands commission. For several years he was chairman of the foreign af- fairs committee of the senate. and is now the ranking democrat that committee.
 Personally Senator Morgan is one of the most engaging men possible to meet. He has that rare quality which men call "per- sonal magnetism" He is courtly in man. ner, always gracious, and in personal ap- pearance is one of the most distinguished looking men in American public life.
 He is today the central and luminous fig ure in the struggle of the democratic party of Alabama for its own existence. With such leader, what cause could fail! The democracy, under his leadership, did not fail in 4 It shall not fan at this tin1si
 THE GOVERNORS CHALLENGE To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 The call of extra session of the legis-