The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-03-04
OUR DEAD STATESMEN.
Speech Of Hon. F. A. ricLain in
Memory of Hon. w. r. Love


Saturday, February %, contains
the eulogies delivered in the low
er house Of congress on that day,
on the late Senator Walthal. and
the late Representative Love. All
the representatives from Missis-
sippi, and seven from other
states, delivered addresses on the
occasion, but the Gazette can
make room now for only one
speech-that of Hon. F. A. Nc
Lain, the successor OF the la
mented Mr.. Love. who spoke as
follows:
sr. Speaker, we have assem-
bled, in obedience TO a resolution
of this body, to express our APP
probation OF the life and services
of the Hon. W. F.. Love. AS a
citizen of his native State, and
successor to him in this honor
able body, | esteem it a privilege
to offer a tribute of respect to his
memory.
This time-honored custom of
Congress, in setting a day apart
to pay tribute Of respect to a de-
Ceased member, has a chaste and
pathetic significance. 1t is sweet
and hallowing in its tendencies,
though an eloquent reminder of
the certainty of death. On these
occasions the fragrant flowers OF
friendship gather around us. fill
ing our souls with the purest of
thoughts. Yes. it softens our
characters, touching every chord
OF the heart with its hallowed re-
membranes.
Tender thoughts come trooping
upon us, calling up the fondest
memories of life, and throw open
the door of the heart to the en-
trance of the richest flow OF
thought. To feel conscious that
after death we shall be pleasantly
remembered robs the grave of
some of its terrors. God implant-
ed this desire in the human
breast to spur US on to noble eff
forts, reaping as reward an
honored name.
dare say, Mr.. Speaker, no
State in the Union has suffered
so greatly by death in the Fifty
fifth Congress as the State of
Mississippi, having lost one-third
of her delegation on the floor of
Congress. First, the matchless
George; next, the peerless Wal
thall; and lastly, the noble and
promising W. f. Love.
Fain would we delay our coming fate,
But when the heaven born gale doth
blow, we must embark.
| will briefly relate the chief
features in the life of the Hon.
w. f. Love. In performing this
duty it affords me pleasure to say
I knew him intimately and thor
oughly. He was my neighbor
and my friend. | shall paint him
as he was, or, at least, as he ap-
peared to me. At the very thres-
hold of this undertaking / feel
somewhat embarrassed. I feel
and know that many features of
his splendid character and the
many gems that crowned his
daily walks are not known to you
as to me, his stay with you being
too brief for it to fully develop
and impress you with all Of its
power and true worth.
| shall not detain the House
with an extended biographical
sketch of his life. He was born
in 1850, in the county of Amite--
the county that he served so long
with such marked ability. On
the evening of the 10Th OF Octo-
ber, 1898, at his home in Glosler
Miss, after a long and continu-
GUS attack Of typhoid fever,
"God 8 finger touched him, and
he slept He was born and
raised on a farm near Liberty, !
Miss. His environments were
such as to compel him to engage
in all the labor and drudgery Of a.
farm life until he reached his full
manhood. In this school of toll
was doubtless the seeding place
of that grand success that crown
ed his after life.
1t was here that he became so
thoroughly in touch with the toll
ing masses and acquired such
great sympathy for them. In this
field Of toll he advanced patiently
and deliberately. He did not be-
come discouraged from these
surroundings, but bravely press
ed on with fortitude and courage,
and soon took deep root in the