The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1903-06-19

and sweeps in solemn numbers through
the chambers of the soul And
/ through the passing days and years our
soft Southern WINDS give plaIntive
voice to America ceaseless sorrow
that the cruel grave claimed all too
early her mIghtiest master of eloquence
and persuasive speech. When only az
he Tell asleep, the world filled with
his fame, and a great nation gratefully
bending to the feet of his majestic
genius.
There was Lucius Q. G. Lamar,
whose stainless character and broad
craftsmanship and dauntless leader
ship Mississippi will ever proudly
remember and delight to honor. He
united in himself many of the listing
uIshing characteristics of America g
grand senatorial triumvirate. Web
sterian in his masterfui grasp of great
constitution principles, and as pro-
found and unerring as Calhoun in the
stately and steady march of his logical
processes, he could. at will, command
the imperial eloquence of Henry Clay
| in the illustration and enforcement OF
mighty argument. He was the first
Southern representative after the war
to lift the darkness of our national
skies and bring light into these de-
spairing parallels. The voice that
spoke over the dead Sumner, like an
other prophet in the wilderness, pro-
claimed the day dawn of our national
peace-the cloudless sunburst of our
federal immortality. Well has he been
called the inspired pacificator.
Pitiless Reconstruction.
"And, oh. those pitiless years of re-
construction Worse than the calami-
ties of war were the desolatlng turies
of peace. No proud people ever
suffered such indignities, or endured
such humiliation and degradation.
More heartless than the robber bands
that infested Germany after the Thirty
Years War, were the hordes of plum
derers and vultures who fed and fat
tened upon the dlsarmed and defense
less South. Their feIocious greed
knew no safety, and their shameless
rapacity sought to strip us to the
skin. AS Judge Jere Black, with
characteristic vivldness and vlgor has
said, "'Thelr felonious fingers were
made long enough to reach into the
pockets of posterity. They coined the
industry of future generations into
cash and snatched the inheritance
from children whose fathers are I'M
born. confagratlon, sweeping over
the State from one end to the other,
and destroying every building and
every article of personal property,
would have been visitation of mercy
in comparison TO the curse OF such
government.
"But no brave people ever endured
oppression and poverty with SUCH
calm dignity and splendid self re-
straint. And by dint of their own I'M
concuerable spirit and tireless toll, they
saw their beautiful land arise from the
ashes into affiuence The South no long
er speaks with patnos or sings the
m1serre. She has risen from poverty
and smiles at defeat. Out Of the fire
and tempest and baptism of blood, our
State has come undaunted in spirit
and with upfaulterlng faith in the
future. 1t is said that the green gra S.
peacefully waving over the field OF
Waterloo the summer after the famous
battle, suggested to Lord Byron, IN
his Childe Harold, to exclaim:
How the red rain has made the mar
vest grow W
$50 every battle plain that was once
furrowed with shot and shell and wei
with the blood of brothers, now waves
with the abundant harvests OF new
and larger life. The ret1ueDt wave
has set in. After long and bitter
fight the morning dawns. 1t is day
break everywhere.
"The Mississippi river drains an
empire of over million square miles
in area, which has a capacity to supply
with food and clothing one half OF the
inhabitants of the world. | doubt not
that at no distant day this wonderful
valley Will be the pulsing center of the
industry, wealth and power OF thls
great nation, Mighty possibilities
sieep ia this sacred soil and mighty
destinles await us, when brilliant
prophecy shall be converted into heroic
history.
ut is said that Henry Clay, when
crossing the SUBMITS Of the Allegheny
mountains on one OCCASION, algnteu
from the stage coach, and stood,
silently. reverently for some moments
as If listening for distant echoes.
Friends at length asked Mr.. Clay,
for what are you iisteningr Inc
great tribune OF the people replied
Il am listening for the footsteps OF the
coming millions. Brothers OF COM
mon heritage, that was not all a
dream. No doubt that prophetic
genius of craftsmanship and lofty
PATRIOTISM, heard the thunder OF the
mighty millions moving up and dowi
this valley of the Mississippi from its
source to the sea. and from the ROCKIES
to the Alleghanies, building and ex,
ten1,ng civilization that was TO OK
the glory of America-the miracle Of
h,story-the wonder Of the world.
The Negro Question.
II cannot withhold reference &c
another matter of vital and far-reach'
ing concern to Mississippi. A most
delicate and yet stupendous TASK hat
peen imposed upon us-a task growing
out of our relation to another race III
our midst, aud upon the right perform
auce of which our material prosperity
and even the security of our civiiiza
ton, largely depends.
"Mr. Brice, the fairest ana mos
philosophical foreign student OF oui
civil and social institutions, In thi'
American Commonwealth, na'
yeutured this candid opinion In'
.An