The Columbus commercial. (Columbus, Miss.) 1893-1922, 1902-10-28

acnlnB ana Sp1Ilt-stiIIiug, out not
vindictive defense OF the "Lost Cause, %
beautiful tribute TO the women of the
south, and an earnest and touching ap-
peal to the youth of the state to be good
citizens and love their country. / can
recall at this moment-a quarter OF a
century after its delivery-but two SEN
tences almost as they fell from his lips;
proudly but modestly touching upon his
own career. he said: "My fellow-citi-
zens: From the day that first set foot
upon the soil of Mexico up to this good
hour, the ambition Of my life has been
to weave chaplet of glory that I might
bind it around the brow of my beloved
Mississippi" When he came to speak
of the patriotism and endurance of the
soldiers who responded to the call to
arms, he said, with glistening eyes and
evident emotion: "I never saw Missis-
sippi boy, trudging along with musket
upon his shoulder, that my heart did not
| go out to him with a mothers tender
ness and devotion" Yet his enemies
called him cold and selfish. With the
most far-reaching voice ever heard, to
be managed with so little effort, exquis-
itely modulated, a veritable trumpet in
its rousing tones, with snowy hair thinly
covering a head that Phrenology de-
| lighted to study; slightly curved nose,
chiseled with Grecian clearness; bright,
steady grey eyes that CLEANED and
| flashed at some moments and became
moistened and tender at others; with
language always correct, never bombas-
tic, chaste, yet strong, and glowing as
the flash meath Psyche's tabled zone of
beauty facts, quotations from history,
poetry, science, nature-all falling into
place like trained soldiers, and fitting
compactly and beautifully as the greaves
in the armor of Achilles indeed,
was an orator, a leader, a man among
men, who had only to say the word and
they were ready TO do and die for him.
When he sank into his seat, ex-
hausted with the half hours effort, there
was a happy pandemonium turned loose;
the ladies tossed their handkerohiefs
and parasols, the men threw their hats
in the air, many shook hands with each
other and shed tears of retrospect; the
gallant and simple-hearted, ALI Harper,
himself a Confederate veteran, and edi-
tor of the Okolona States, rushed upon
the platform, dropped down between Mr..
Davis knees. threw his arms around the
heroic form and cried like child. 1t is
strange, that although Mr.. Davis had
lost one of his eyes some time before
this from erysipelis, the difference could
hardly be detected by the observer, one
seemed as bright az the olher.
Aye! Let the northern harpies call
him "traitor," and malign him as they |
may, the truth of history will yet do
him Justice. Meanwhile,
''Little he'll reck if they let him sleep |
Ou
In the grave where a SOUTHERN has laid
him."
Forty years ago one of the noted men /
of Mississippi was AlbertG ertGallatinBrown,
a member of the United States senate.
/ think with Mr.. Davis, when the civil /
war broke out. He was man of large |
brain, a strong speaker. and had the
look of greatness. The only time ever
thought William s. Barry to be over
matched in a pnbiic discussion was when
he and Senator Brown, as candidates for
the same position, met in Columbus /
about the year 1857 or 1853. Even in
personal appearance, the latter had the |
for he was large, handsome /
man of distinguished air and the eourtly |
manners of Chesterfield. Mr.. Barry's /
only personal charms were his fine hazel /
or brown eyes and noble brow; bodily /
he was small and slender. recall, as
if it were but yesterday, when Mr..
Brown, at the conclusion of very sat
isfactory account of his stewardship, /
turned to his competitor, and, after
complimenting him in high terms, ex-
claimed with irresistible suavery and
drollery: "But, fellow-citizens, there is
no issne between my friend and myself;
the only difference in the world between
us is, | am in the senate and want 70
stay there, while my friend is out and
wants to get in" Mr.. Brown was re-
turned for another term.
| do not know whether it is true or
not, but it is said he had weakness
that impaired his usefulness, as it has
sent many of Mississippi's most brilliant /
sons to untimely graves. Think OF poor
Prentiss passing away at AZ, the result /
of intemperance.
Judge VIM. Yerger of Jackson, was /
the "bright star that glittered to the |
name of Mississippi"a- greater lawyer,
however, than an orator. Soon after the |
war | was summoned to Oxford as a |
witness in some civil suit, and there
first saw and heard him. He vas en-
ployed as counsel and made speech in /
the case. In manner he was like an AL
pine torrent; but | remember more the
terror he inspired while asking me
questions than do of his address to the |
jury. There was nothing to be alarmed
about, but Judge Yerger's great black
ewes seemed tn he lootxinO clear through /