The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-05
Spirit of the Press.
JUDGE PARKER's TACT AND MOD
ESTY.
Atlanta News.

Atlanta News.
The banquet last night at the Kimball
House revealed to the people of Atlanta,
and representatively to the people OF
Georgia, gentleman and a publicist of a
very unusual model
Each one of the several hundred repre-
sentative Georgians who during the day
had grasped the hand of Judge Parker,
of New York, retained a distinct and def
mite impression of a genuineness, poise
and character. In his personal appearance
and in hia mental and moral characteris-
tics. as Illustrated in his outer bearing,
the distinguished jurist of New York
bears easily and Enthusiastically the expla-
nation of his very remarkable and well
deserved popularity. Mankind, in the
aggregate, is lxeenly discriminating in it's
judgment of men. and public opinion
rarely fails, when it settles strongly in
approval upon one man, to have funda-
mental basis of real merit behind it. The
qualities of simplicity, directness and
great frankness, Joined with strong and
manifest ability, are clearly the character
istics of Atlanta's distinguished guest
But the notable feature of Judge Park
>
mate tact and delicacy with which he has
managed to steer clear in his own manner
and to divert the remarks of enthusiastic
partisans from any allusion to the public
interest which wraps about his name. 1t
was indeed remarkable that this man,
around whose head and about whose name
there circles just now the most general
and comprehensive speculation as to his
political future and who at the present
writing is easily the foremost figure in
the list of those who are mentioned for
the leadership of great political party
should have been able to stand for full
day amid the strenuous politicians of an
historically political state without express
ing or permitting any sentiment that
touched upon his connection with these
possibilities or indicating his conscious
ness even OF any unusual atmosphere that
surrounded him.
The speech of Judge Parker at the ban
quet last night was thoroughly simple
and unaffected, SO entirely RELOCATING self
to the background, so utterly impersonal,
that in its very modesty and good taste
it made an almost incompatible appeal
to the respect and admiration of the unus-
udly duu representative duu-
fence that listened to it. Perhaps no occa-
sion like this has ever been witnessed be-
fore in Atlanta-the political capital of
state of politics-where great man, with
great political possibilities before him
and surrounded by an eager, alert and
capable band of lawyers and politicians,
should have passed the ordeal by his own
request without a single allusion, direct
or indirect, to the superb political horo-
scope which has been forecasted for him.
1t may be-as it has been said-that
Judge Parker is in no sense a politician.
but those who met him and those who
heard him at the banquet and in the
courts will agree that he is something in
finitely better than politician in that he
is sincere and straightforward gentle
man.
No campaign that an astute politician
could have waged for the capture of the
good will and the political support of
city and Of a section could have been even
as remotely effective as the quiet, dignifled
and unselfish bearing of this distinguish
ed jurist of New York.
We most heartily congratulate the city
If Atlanta on the pleasure and privilege
of entertaining so notable and admirable
a guest, and we congratulate Judge Par
ker upon the eminent success of his visit
to the Empire State of the South