The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-08-20
LET PEACE ABIDE WITH US.

The first business transacted by the Sem ate when it met November E. 1900, was the election of Hon William D. Jelks to the entire vote cast. The next business, after the completion of the organization of the Senate. was the adoption of joint resolution extending the heartfelt sympa- thy of the General Assembly tJ l.on. Will liam J. Sanford, Governor. .. of Ala bama, who was then lying ...,.cally ill at his home in Opelika.
 It may be truthfully said tat Governor Jelks was chosen President of the Senate when Governor-elect Sanford was thought to bewalking through the valley of the shadow of death. But the final step between him and death was not tax en until June Il, 1901, He tarried in the valley of the shadow of death long to which the people had elected him and In his message to the General Assembly on the affairs of the State he put upon record the testimony of the highest aspi- rations of his patriotic and loving heart in these words:
 Allow me to say that it is matter of congratulation to all the people, and of profound personal qualification to myself that peace, prosperity and good will pre- vail practically in every section and com munity of the State. The asperities and individual alienation growing out of the political disSensions of recent years are happily forgotten in the era of good feel ino diaI i0hl hlN1rc h in nha xyah Q among a reunited, harmonious and con- tented citizenship.
 trust and believe that we are entering upon the enjoyment of that desirable con- dition for which the patriotic heart of the great Houston longed when he ex- claimed: The State needs rest" With the material blessings necesSary to the wants. the comfort and even the luxury of hu- manity stored away by loving Father s hand in the hills and valleys and prairieS of this great commonwealth. with prod igality as limitleSS as human desire and boundless as divine love, it will be our fault if discontent and disquietude should prevail amongst us as a people.
 The great and good and beloved Sam ford lived until the General Assembly ad- journed and on June II thereafter came the sleep of death.
 Hon. William D. Jelks at once, with the modesty. dignity and solemnity befit- ting the sad and lamentable occasion, en- tered upon the discharge of the duties of the high office to which he succeeded un- der the Constitution and laws of the State. He has given the State that rest" for which the loving heart of his predecessor so much yearned. The good feeling and cordial neighborship has continued among a reunited. harmonious and con- tented citizenship Governor Jelks has been wise. just and conservative in his administration of the laws and the State is in a better and more prosperous condition than ever before in its history The revenues have been industriously col to law. The greatest care and diligence have been exercised in making assess ments in order that the burdens of gov ernment may rest equally upon all, and no money has been paid out of the treas ury except upon appropriations made by law, and on warrants drawn by the proper officer in pursuance thereof The people of Alabama have no thought of quitting the enjoyment of this desirable four years of political dissensions so pro- ductive of asperities and individual alien ation, as they so well know by the most trying experience.