The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-10-31
RANSOM ON O'HAGAN
Magnificent EuIogy Delivered
in Senate Chamber.
He Makes the Presentation to State Library FOR
State Medical Society Of Portrait of
the Late Or. 0'Hagan.


1ost night in tho Senate ChNnber a
nortroit of the late DR.. Charles J.
o.uoqan. of Greenville, was presented to
the state Library by the State Medical
Aseociation through a committee of that
.hodv composed of DR.. l.. J. Picot, OF Lit
tIoton. DR.. w. H. Whitehead. of Rocky
Mount and DR.. G. w. Long, of Graham.
Tho nortrait. which is a speaking license
If The lamented physician was painted
NV MIR w. G.. Randall. of Greensboro,
and is an excellent portrait. No man,
outside of the doctors, except his former
comrade and friend, General NJ. w. Ran
som. was allowed to contribute to the
purchase of the portrait. BY invitation,
General Ransom presented the portrait
in splendid eulogy of his friend
If was a distinguished audience that
greeted General Ransom. All the mem
hnrs of the Raleigh Medical Society, with
visiting physicians and prominent citi-
zens frc,m Raleigh and other portions of
the State. He entered with Dr. Knox,
Dr. Picot, DR.. Whitehead and DR.. Long
and was received with warm applause.
Every seat in the Chamber was occupied
and not even when the Senate is in ses-
sion were the seats filled by Senators.
DIR. PICOT'S INTRODUCTION.
DIR. L. j. Picot presided and gracefully
introduced General Ransom. DR.. Picot
said:
"As a representative of the committe
having in charge the execution of the
portrait of DR.. OHagan, have the honor
to introduce North Cardinals foremost
citizen, greatest statesman, and greatest
orator-the life long friend and comrade
in arms of our dead friend. He comes
here to give loving tribute to his mem
ory.. to pay his tribute of respect to
North Carolina's foremost and most be-
loved physician.
General Ransom was received with ap-
plause. He looked every inch the grave
and reverend Senator as he bowed his
thanks for the warmth of the greeting
He spoke in part from notes and read
portion of his eulogy. He will write
it out in full for future publication in
the News and Observer and in the North
Carolina Medical Journal The following
is an imperfect synopsis with copious
extracts from the address:
GENERAL RANSOM'S EULOGY.
81 have been requested by the Medical
Society, representing the physicians and
surgeons of North Carolina, to present
this portrait of DR.. Charles James
O'Hagan to be placed in the State Lii
brary among the likenesses of our emin-
ent men who are there commemorated In
association with the monuments of
science and letters. No more fitting Sc
lection for niche in that high temple
could have been made. No profession
among men is more distinguished for dig
nifty. worth, intelligence, virtue and doing
good than that of medicine and surgery,
and this great profession could not have
chosen a more beloved and hOnored face
to represent it's history, character and
excellence and the hallowed walls of the
State Library. In all of the qualities,
faculties and actions which constitute
great and good men-in intellectual power
and attainment,--in strong moral endow
ment; in benevolence and charity; in
courage, firmness and true manhood; in
gentleness, tenderness and sympathy for
suffering; in tenacious and unyielding
performing of duty; in pure love of hui
manity and sublime devotion to his
diment of these elements of a man, DR..
O'Hagan truly represents the character
of the physician and patriot in the best
sense. Mankind has always felt the
highest admiration for it's soldiers. In
that exalted sentiment they have often
failed to render just and proper homage
to their equally great benefactors in
science, art, craftsmanship, philosophy
and labor. IN all of these fields. both
civil and military, of usefulness Or.
O'Hagan was singularly eminent. He
was a scholar Of very large learn
ing, a surgeon of rare skill,
practicing physicion of The best or
der a writer of vigor and grace
an attractive speaker at all times,
Conversationalist of surprising brilliancy
"a man with profound knowledge of the
principles and history of government.
He was a soldier of extraordinary great
ness. His inuence was only limited by
the sphere of his acquaintance. He was
unique, very unique, but constant, uni
form, invariable in his singular individ-
atty. He loved the truth His faith was
in the truth. He followed it's light to
whatever heights it might lead. Simple
ity was the rule of his life-be abhorred
ostentation, he despised affectation, he
abominated pretense, he spurned cant, he
hurled his thunderbolts and crushed
pretender where found. Rectitude was
natural to him-he moved on it's lines
with the regularity of nature and the Ger
tainty of clock work. He was absolute
ly without malice-had no personal envy,
jealousy, or revenge. Pure and simple
justice was almost his idolatry-he ad-
mired, loved, practised it. On that altar
he was always ready to sacrifice He had
his prejudices and passions-strong and
vehement like his whole nature, but his
sense of justice rose superior to his inn
pulses and controlled and regulated his
life. In the height of his just indigna-
ton against an offender, when informed
or reminded OF some good act of the OBJ
jects of his denunciation he would in
stantly retract and express kindness for
the victim. He wronged no human be-
ing. He was always trying to lift up and
help the unfortunate, the down trodden,
the afflicted. He was always the sincere
friend and helper of the poor Admitting,
loving, aspiring to excellence himself, he
was the soul of charity to others-he re-
cognized the infirmities of our nature