The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1903-02-21
A KNIGHTLY MAN.

death, pald the following tribute
to Editor Gonzales, who was re
Gently assassinsted by Lieut.. Gov.
Tillman, Of South Carolina:
He was q knightly man in his faith |
and in his f ariessness. His pen was
his sword, and in the early days Of
The Columb ia State, which he founded
with his two brothers in 1891, he
welded II with no pay other than the
pleasure OF loyalty to his principals.
His editorial salary was often less
than SO a week; but, like trinity of
spirits, he and his brothers perseverPd
until TO-DAY the State is power IN the
land. Men are to-day saying, Even
lis enemies must acknowledge his
stern virtue and integrity.'
He knew that the faithful advocate
OF political purity aud liberty must
devote his life to the risk OF loss IN
maintaining this cause. Civic right
eousnesS was his creed. This he taught
TO others, less by his strong, fearless
words than by his fearless living.
| His private life was gentle and
pure. His public life was the stern
prophet and unfinching martyr OF
civic righteousness.
All! a knightly man! grand
man, one of natures noblemen.
He knew what truth and justice
and honesty meant, and he loved
| them for their meaning. lie be
lieyed that true man was the
noblest piece of Gods handlWork.
He was true and loyal himself; de
voted to any cause he espoused
and he believed all Others were
like him. In that he was mistaken,
and while he may have realized 1t,
vet his nature was too ardent anu
sincere TO permit him to relax his
efforts, even though some OF the
men he had befriended proved false
in the general show down. He
was true to his friends and his
principles, even unto death, and
laid down his life sacrifice in the
cause he embraced.
Sad it is, but true, that there
are many prototypes OF Gonzales
Oh the press Almost everywhere
Brave, Ioya,-hearted, self sacritic-
ing fellows who enter into the
hottest political contests simply
because friend is interested, and
they throw the whole force OF the T
hearts and souls into the contest
and battle with all the vigor they
can command to advance that
friends interests and land him in
the soft job to which he aSpires.
Often when the contest is oven and
the friend enters into the enjoy
ment of the good things his berth
will provide, the staunch, untlinch
ing friends who stood by him SO
faithfully are overlooked and for
gotten and not even thanked
for the signal services rendered.
Such is human nature. OF course
it is Of a low grade, yet in most
instances the low grade predomi-
mates.
1t is generally admitted that
Gonzales, by the course he pur-
sued, brought the i'll fate upon
himself which resulted in his I'M
doing. Yet it is of record that he
was a candidate for no Office, hence
he was not actuated by selfish
motives. He simply got into the
trouble which resulted in his death
by standing by and unfolding
men he thought to be his friends,
in their aspirations for office He
may have been a little rash and
inconsidcrate, but the earnestness
and honesty of his soul urged him
| on in the cause he had espoused.
He believed his friends honest
and true and Tillman the reverse.
and he said so and offered to prove
it. Still lie is gone and his friends
are here. Some of them may be
, as true to him as he was to them
yet no one knows it. Of course
they were outraged over the man
ner of his taking off and made a
howl, but what they will do beyond
, that, remains to be seen ''Gon
: zales was knightIy man, alb,
yes! but he sleeps the sleep that
: knowns no waking, no arousing;
his knightly days are ended; his
goodness and purity only mem
ory and his name but an echo.
Another great life gone out.
Another noble soul sacrificed on
the altar of friendship! Peace to
his ashes. Honor to his memory,
Joy to his soull