The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-05-11

invite the wrath of God by acts of OPP
preston to the weaker race. Our chill
dren to the remotest genera lions must
be grateful for the enlightened civic
record which their fathers have made.
Theirs was not the bearing of the
lesser breeds without the law"
They did the best they could. AT the
outset there was little to bestow wheth-
er upon the son of the African or An
glo-Saxon. The war between the
states lasted for sixteen years. Dur
ing the first four years it was waged
with blood and iron, resulting in the
surrender of our armies and the aboli-
ton of slavery. During the last
twelve years, it was Waged with other
weapons that were scarcely less de-
structive to the material interests of
the country, and resulted in the tri-
umph of the Anglo-SaXons who at last
regained control of the state govern
ments. Neither in this dark period,
nor at any subsequent period, has a
single Southern state faltered in the
policy Of extending the same advan-
tages to both races. 1 trust that we
shall always maintain this policy.
As Educator.
Seeing that we were heavily burden
ed and that our resources had been
sadly crippled, Mr.. George Peabody
came to our assistance in 1866 with
gift of $500, 900. This large fund was
administered by a board of trustees
who shortly elected Rev. Barnes Sears,
d. D., president of Brown University,
as their general agent. He retained the
Office until his death in 1881 when Dr.
Curry, James Thomas, Jr.. professor
of English in Richmond College, was
chosen to succeed him.
~,
was a Congrega tionalist, while Sears
and Curry were both Baptists. It is
not necessary here and now to declare
the exact relationship of these two de-
nominations, but they belong to one
and the same family type, and in this
instance we have occasion to be proud
of the achievements of the family. 1t
purchased unto itself a good degree in
the service of God and men.
Peabody, Sears, Curry, these three;
but the greatest of these is Curry. Each
of the three wrought nobly, yet 1t
seems clear that Curry excelled them
all. There was a pre-esta blished har-
mony between him and the office to
which he had been called. He was on
a footing of Free-Masonry with the
Southern people; his energy never
slept; his eloquence was enchanting;
his temperament was hopeful; his SEN
timents were enlightened; his judg-
ment was trustworthy; his enthusiasm
was inspiring; his bearing conciliatory,
and his social form complete.
a Man of Great Force.
He swayed great assemblies; he con-
strained grave senateS; he wrestled
with obdurate committees; he persuad-
ed unwilling officials; he believed in
helpless childhood; he had visions of a
coming millennium Who is left ha-
hind that is able to bend his bow? He
stands among the highest forces of his
generation. His fame will grow and
grow in all the years to come. The
mighty educational revival that Is now
abroad owes much to the impulse
which he conveyed: 1t is the glory
of his closing days, the noblest achieve
ment of his life.
On two occasions he laid aside his ac-
tivity as an educational reformer
to serve his country in the
sphere of diplomacy In 1885 he
accepted from President Cleveland the
mission to the Court OF Spain. Strong
efforts had been made to discredit him
and excite against him the prejudices
OF the Spanish court and nation, but
II was not long before he was a prime
favorite in Madrid, eXerting an infiu-
ence not far below that which Frank
lin once achieved in Paris. Questions
that had long been pending We're short
ly removed out of the way. The bril-
liant orator was Unexpectedly found TO
be a careful man of affairs. and his
success in pushing the interests OF his
country became proverb both at home
and abroad.
AZ the Spanish Court.
In 1902. when the young King OF
Spain attained his majority and enter
ed upon his reign, our government was
anxious 10 find a suitable representative
az the coronation ceremonies, and Cur
~ was again selected He was in an
eminent degree persona grata. and he
was duly commissioned. The task was