The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-12-26
HE IS AN OLD MAN ELOQUENT
B. Arp Says Senator Morgan, of
Alabama, Is a Great Man
nta Constitution.

A nta Constitution.
As l looked upon the likeness OF
General Morgan that g,acei the Mica
lauga headlines in The Constitution
c>uld not help saying to myself
"There is great man. l pray that
no may live To sec the canal completed
aid be the honorcd guest Of the boat
that makes The fist tlip across from
OCEAN to ocean," 1t looks like Provl.
dence reared hun up to champion that
lg%at work and has preserved him in
| health and devotion until at last the
bill has passed and all obstacles are re.
moved. l know that he is haiTrW and
feels sercnclY triumphant. If l wa
an Alabaman, would feel proud of
Morgan. If | was a Tennesscan, |
would feel proud, for he was born there
and there spent ten years of his youth.
But am proud of him anyhow, for he
ID Southern man and all HE long
public life has been uns.lIish and true
to his people. His good health and
well preserved faculties encourage me
TO live on and on just as long as can,
Tor he is just two years older than am
aud is still vigorous and useful.
lie is the old man eloquent and like
Nathaniel Macon never said an idle Or
foolish thing. He is as solid as rock,
self-poised and self-preparcd OH all
great questions. In 1861 he volunteer
ed as a private and soon rose to major
and then to lieutenant colonel; next h
raised and equipped il Regiment aud
became it's colonel. In 1868 he was
nominated for brigadier general by
Robert e. Lee, but declined it. Later
on he was constrained to accept the
honor and was with General Johnston
TO the close. In 1876 he was elected
to the United States Senate and re-
elected in 1882, in 1888, in 1894, and
again in 1900, making his fifth success
slve term. He well deserves a monu-
ment after he dies and place in the
Hall OF Fame. 1t is q comfort to us
all to be assured that no man ranks
him in the United States Senate, for
he is a treasure-house of knowledge,
and there is not a cloud over his eau
dor, his truth or his integrity. When
he speaks he has something to say and
knows how to say it aud when to quit.
] Tom Benton SAID of Nathaniel Macon,
He rarely spoke but Il few sentences,
but uttered more good sense in getting
up out of his chair and sitting down
again than WAS contained in the long
and elaborate speeches of most Sena-
tors"
General Morgan's long career re.
minds me Of Macon, for he, too, was a
private in the Revolutionary war. lie
held public Office for hfty-seven years
| and John Randolph said of him, "He
! is the wisest, the purest and the best
man l ever knew" Twice lie declined
! place in the cabinets of two prcsi-
dents, but after he had retired and Was
II years old he accepted the Office of
justice of the peace in his home dis
| lrict. He never recommended anv OF
| his kindred Tor appointment to office.
lie refused pay for his service as q
soldier and refused to receive pension
afterwards-and voted against all pen.
sions or rewards or gratuities. He
died as calmly as Socrates, but with,
out the poison, and his grave ls On q
| high, barren ridge marked with nc
marble, only pile of stones, which
was according tn his will.
Nathaniel Macon was my fathers
ideal of a great and good man. He
| placed him above all other statesmen
for he declared that he was as wise az
Solomon and purcr than David. When
! l was in Warren County some years
ago l was It'd that Mrcon's falhe,
lived in an old.fashioned double log
house and that he himself hewed the
| logs. For some years it had mud and
stick chimneys above the fire. jams and
Was covered with boards of his own
make. In course Of time he tore away
the chimneys and rebuilt them OF
stone and brick, and tore away the
boards and covered with ehinglcs
Later on as he got able he weather