The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-09-01
GREATEST OF NORTH CAROLINIANS

mighty power in North Carolina and rose
to eminence in the Senate Macon was
one of the first leaders of his party at
Washington as we'll as the undisputed
leader at home. He was made Speaker of
the National House Of Representatives
the greatest office in America after the
President; he was made President of the
United States Senate, he declined the of
flee OF Postmaster General; he was the
close friend and adviser OF Jefferson, and
a suggestion about North Carolina pat
ronage from him was acted upon without
question by Jefferson: he was president
of the Constitutional convention and made
| his last public speech fer religious liberty.
No man could attain the positions that
came to Mr.. Macon unsought and hold
his primary until his voluntary retirement
who was not statesman of sagacity and
ability.
We are not Altogether ignorant of his
services and fame. He had distin
guished name when there were many emf
nent men. North Carolina did not have
so many then. Her foremost men came
in later. We think Thomas Hart Benton
ranked in ability with Webster, Calhoun
and Clay, higher than perhaps Mr.. Ma
con did. That is our impression. We re-
call easily that the Wings in the upper
counties about 1910 and later, did not
specially admire Mr.. Macon or attribute
very much greatness to him. We heard
them when a lad deride him. Men will
differ, We repeat, as to the mental atti-
tude of men. A calm, severe examination
Of men and their deeds is what is needed
in biography 1t is easy to fall into train
Of hero worshipping. We knew PERSONAL
ly Mr. Badger. He was a great man
| a genius. He was the greatest advo-
| cate that ever appeared at the North
| Carolina bar. He was par excellence the
| best conversationalist We have ever heard.
| He was a wit, was full OF humor was
! endowed with high dramatic qualities, and
! had marvellous gifts for the law. The
! Oxford Academy always took a holiday
when he was to speak in the court. Vance,
take him all in all, from first to last,
! in all of his large service and great
! abilities, as he appears to us now, after
| studying him in DR.. Battles most useful.
appreciative biography of him. is North
| Cardinals greatest man. Read the
speeches delivered upon him in the SEN
ate and House, and see what great and
even beautiful tributes We're paid to this
brave man of the people who stood four
|
err of strength in the fiery consuming
| days of war We are glad we knew him
well. and for more than quarter of a
century. But We await patiently to read
more Of the greatness and supremacy of
honest and faithful Nathaniel Macon. We
| know great deal OF Vance. If we were
| to undertake it we could fill page of the
| Messenger with our recollections of the
| man We set forth in condensation cur
! estimate of him in the article signed by
us that appeared in the Vance edition of
| the Raleigh News and Observer of a
| year CT so ago. This article brought to us
! from the west and east some warm, per-
| haps extravagant. expressions of approval.
| We make two points here: Vance was the
| greatest humorist we ever knew person
| ally, and he delivered in this city in
| 1880. the greatest political speech we have
| ever heard. Colonel ID. X. McRae held
| the same opinion, We know.