The Savannah morning news., 1902-04-26

quality of gray matter suitable for gu
/ bernatorial responsibilities, must adj
nit that if the patience of that animal
is needed in hearing the claims of of
| ficeseekers, the nimble- footedness of
the fiddler is at least equally as valu-
able in escaping the means prepared
for the unwary distribution of guber
material patronage.
Not "a Politician.
II trust the foregoing thoughts, sug-
| gested by the prevalent political con-
d.tions, will not engender in the minds
of any of this distinguished company
the idea that / intend thereby to in
innate an espousal of the political
cause of any candidate. There are two
reasons why such a result would be
|. extremely unfortunate. In the first
place, it would be a serious breach of
good taste, and in the second place, 1
am a small-sized candidate myself and
have a wholesome respect for the
ability of one candidate to reach out
and destroy the most cherished pros
poets of his foe. Therefore, l wish it
distinctly understood that if 1 am an
enthusiastic advocate of the mule
against the fiddler, l am entirely neu-
trail as between the devotees who wor-
ship at their shrines.
An inspiring Theme.
Sir, in the presence of a sentiment
like the Old Red Hills of Georgia. the
mind rises and the soul expands, and
above the melancholy which the bare
and fruitless hillsides create, ascends
the noble thought of the past history
which is written on their rugged yell
low bosoms. To the eye they present
picture of ruin and desolation; but
to the heart and the soul they bring
memories which inspire every Georgian
and rouse within him loyal venera ton
for the past, as well as blessed hope
for the future. Bold and bare and
bleak those silent observers of the
present, and voiceless memorials of the
past they tell of duty well performed
they speak of honor. of courage, or
hospitality, of beauty and of virtue.
God pity the Georgian who cannot
stand in the silence of the moonlight,
and with his eyes resting on one of
these signs of natures royal power. see
the splendor of the past and prophesy
the glory of the future. 1t is true that
their material usefulness is gone. 1t
is true that selfishness may scorn, be-
cause they minister not to it's appe-
tites. The cold and the calculating may
despise them for in the struggle for
| material wealth, they are worse than
useless, but to the heart of the patriot
they are unspeakably dear, and our af-
fections cluster around them in ever
increasing fervor.
Tribute to His Alma Mater.
"Sir, among the old red hills of our
loved old state, there nestleS the seat
of an institution around which clus-
ters the fond affections of thousands
of her children. Born of lofty pur-
pose, in the splendid souls of our an
| n ic of
and self-sacrifice. All around the
superb old campus rise in the distance
the bare and glistening hills, at whose
feet roll the waters of the restless and
turbulent Oconee. Every foot of those
towering monuments of nature, every
spot on that lovely valley, is full of the
| memory of the music of the voice of
| patriot, statesman, orator and poet.
That institution may have in the past
been buffetted by bigotry-it may have
/ been stricken by jealousy-it may have
been assaulted by ignorance, but
| through it all it has come to pass that
when the stranger seeks to read the
history of Georgia, he, like him who
! saw in silent wonder the glores of
| old England in the splendid outlines
| of Westminster Abbey, looks upon the
humble buildings at Athens,
and sees in those aged
walls and stately walks which
border them. the spirit of all that is
best and noblcst in the life of our
loved old Commonwealth.
'She may be weak-she may be poor,
she may be humble, but Sir, there are
! those who love her.
LAS for rae, l fondly cherish the be-
lief that within the past few years she
| has gained an impetus which means
| great things for her own future and
the future of the State. There presides
over her destinies one of her own
| alumni,-not only is he scholar, orator
and patriot. but he feels deep abiding
affection for his dear old alma mater
! In response to his rallying cry, there
gather around him his brethren from
every section of the State, and as one
! OF the humblest of the superb class,
l look with confidence and pride to the
coming days when the light set upon
the hills of Athens will reach into
every hamlet in the State"