The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1900-04-07
JOHN MARSHALL STONE.
bishop Galloway's Beautiful Tribute, At
the Funeral In Iuka, March 81.

ole of Mississippi in paying some httlng
tribute to the memory of one of the
greatest and most distinguished sons OF
our State. Tenderly loved for his many
personal virtues, confidently trusted be-
cause of the heroism and sturdiness of
his character and universally admired
for the splendid and stainless patriotism
OF his public career, he goes to his grave
null of years and honors, but amid the
lamentations of a bereaved common
wealth. Mississippi may have had
statesmen of more brilliant gifts and
conspicuous ~attainments, but she neve
had a drawer leader or sturdier citizen
or purer patriot or wiser counselor or
more incorruptible official than John
Nj rshall Stone. He was distinguished
not so much for the brilliancy of his
genius as for the ever balance OF his
faculties and almost perfect poise of his
character. He was remarkable not so
much for the depth of his learning as
for the breadth Of his knowledge and
the strength of his convictions.
Before the grave is forever closed
over our honored dead WI may well
pause to recall and enforce some of the
lessons of his noble and useful life. l
would do this, not to praise the majes-
tic sleeper il that silent coffin, but to
hold up lofty ideals for the emulation
of our young manhood. l counted it a
happy circumstance, If not a gracious
Providence, that Governor Stone should
have closed his pnblic career as the
president of an institution of learning
as the counselor and instructor of
youth. There was so much in his life
to command the admiration and emula-
ton of young ambition.
A few of the characteristics that dis
tinguished him as a man and a repre-
sentative of the people | crave the privi-
lege of recounting. To trace the his
tory of his public career as soldier and
citizen, and legislator and governor,
would be a patriotic pleasure, but the
hour will not allow.
He was a man of unaffected modesty
and simplicity, without pretense in
manner or arrogance of spirit. He bore
himself with the quiet dignity of re-
fined and conscious strength. There
was never any effort either to conceal
his presence or make himself known,
and never any nervous fear thai he
would not be recognized and duly
honored. %Singularly free from any dis
position to attitudinize, he despised the
bizarre methods often employed to ad-
vertise and attract attention. He was
courteous without obsequiousness, dig
nifed without austerity and friendly
without familiarity.
Governor Stone was a man of singular
sincerity. He was almost as trans
parent as the light. There were not
enough shadows in his great soul to
hide a sinister motive. He was never
diplomatic in manner or statement,
and never attempted by indirection the
achievement of any purpose. There
was no installing his position on any
question or his attitude toward any
movement. Hence he commanded uni
versal and absolute confidence, and
those who differed with him most
widely in opinion honored the m a and
admired the translucent splendor of
his character.
He was a man of rugged honesty and
unfaltering integrity. In public as in
private life, he was the same upright,
forceful, manly man, as unwarped and
majestic as a royal palm of the tropics.
Among many others there was one
magnificent illustration OF this distin-
guished feature of his character, and ii
alone is sufficient to exalt him among
the noble examples of American pa
~triotism. When a vacancy occurred in
the United States senate by the resig-
nation of Gen. Walthall, and the legis-
l%ature, then in session, was called upon
to elect a successor, it vas generally
conceded that the glittering prize was
within the easy grasp of Governor
Stone. But the several candidates for
that high office were publicly inferno
gated as to their attitude toward a then
test question in party politics. Fearing
that any seeming modification of his
views might be made to secure a per.
sonal end, he was the more positive and
emphatic in statement, and announced
his withdrawal from the contest. Never
in life, not even when he led his brave
regiment in the storm of battle, did
John Marshall Stone appear 50 heroic
and majestic as he did hat day. Nc
wonder the old capitol Numbered with
applause and strong men could not con
ceal their tears. Though party ext
gency seemed to demand that one with
other financial views should be selected
Governor Stone withdrew from tina,
contest crowned with the admiration
and benedictioz Of the State and Ma
ton. Such lofty courage can nevei
fail of it's due need Of praise. In the
coming years of our commonwealth
when the heroic deeds of the father,
are told with eloquent voice, thai
splendid act of Mississippi's idsal gov
ernor will be hold up before young
Americans as worthy of all emulation
His lofty and unsel6sh patriotism