The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-01-19
HIRAM r
REvELS.

difficult to realize even as a possibility of modern pol
cal practices that SO many of those who after giving four
years the service of their sats played Important
and not less narrowing and dangerous part in the
evation of the fabric Of free government to people,
should have lived to be suppanted by mushroom grow
told off by prophets of a newer school aposates
and traitors, unworthy TO council and unpriveeed to
criticse.
To such these the simple announcement of the
death of Hiram r. Reves will cause reflections now but
nfrequenty provoked while to the many, the mention of
his name is barren of suggestion.
The United States Senate has been accorded place
amongst the highest ranking deiberatve assemblies of
the world. To its membership even the upheavals of
post bellum revolutionary politics contributed only two
representatives of the then forced violently to the
front Mississippi furnished both of these one was
Hiram r. Reves the other Blanche X. Bruce Rev
els was elected January 1870, for term to expire
March A. 1871, Bruce in March, 1875, for term expn
ing March 4, 1881
There was radical difference between the two men,
Bruce was full of political ambition and from 1859 was
member of every national republican convention After
hiss senatorial term expired he made register Of h
treasury and remained in politics until his death Reye
politician and his election to the Sena te
for unexpred term, not the result of partis
political activity upon his part He was an earnest
thoughtful man. with keen of appreciation of what
best for his race and abiding affection for the
of his former master He did what he could to sub
serve their mutual interests.
Mr.. Lamar elected to the Senate in January
1876, succeeding Acorn, for term beginning March
1871 There the gravest doubt not only in Missis-
spp but throughout the South whether the repu b.
can Senate would permit him to take his seat 1t
simple justice to the memory of the just de adj that
the people of Mississippi should recall his letter to Gen
era Grant, written during the discussion of this question
which meant much to them at that time Since re-
construction the of my people have been as
ensaved in mind by unprncped adventurers who caring
nothing for the country, willing stoop anything
matter how Infamous to power to them selves
and perpetuate it. My people have been
told by these schemers when placed upon the
ticket who VIGOROUSLY corrupt and dishonest that
they must vote for them that the salvation of the party
depended upon it; that the who scratched ticket
was not republican. /, with all the light
before me- look upon it tho recent eection as an uprs
ing of the people, the whole people, to crush out corr up
rings and from power The bitterness and hate Gre
ated by the late civil strife = would have long
since been entirely eaced it not for some unprn-
ciped who would keep alive the bitterness of the
past and incucate hatred between the races in order
that they might aggrandize themselves by Office and its
emouments to control my people, the effect of which to
degrade them. = In conclusion. let me
to you and through you the great repub par
ty of the North that deem it my duty in behalf of my
people that present these facts in order that they and
the white people, their former owners should not suffer
which certain demogogues seem de-
sirous of encouraging" He had clean hands and a.
kindly heart Peace to his ashes.