The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-23

spirit OF ROOSeVelI Is the spirit or the
Whole Republican administration
the spirit of disregard for the funda-
mental law and the spirit of reckless
abuse of power" as the Virginian-
Pilot we'll and truly says.
Inc people Will take no step back
wards. Liberty once tasted, is forever
sweet:
TT, The strife begun shall never cease
lii all mankind are free"
SO much has already appeared in
me News and Observer, and in. other
newspapers, concerning the recent
death and distinguished merits OF
General Matt W. Ransom, that moth
ing remains to be said. Having known
MN personally well for quite fifty
five years-since 1S48 or 1849-I
wish to emphasize my high apprec1a-
ton or his accomplishments. superior
abilities, kindnesses, distinguished and
important services, and wide influence.
He was indeed, and / record my own
impressions, write of him as / under
stood and saw him, a very command
ing figure in the great State of North
Carolina, and was beyond doubt the
foremost man, take him all and in ali,
that has lived Within our borders
since the great Senator Vance passed
ava. At his best, in his mental and
physical prime, he was an orator of
yer impressive, attractive and pOpu-
lar gifts l do not know that he was
Ia great lawyer, a very vigorous and
successful debater. or profoundly
learned or widely read. My impress
sion is that after his entrance into
public life he gave up to a consider
aalc ex.en his earlier habits of study.
He was really accomplished, however,
and was Well-grOunded in the classics.
He was graduated with highest dis
tinction at the famous University of
North Carolina, and in the best class
possibly that was ever sent out from
that superior institution of learning,
he was only second in attachments to
onc-the Incompatible James john
ston PettigreW, recognized by faculty
and students as supreme. | heard
General Ransom deliver in 1S47, the
reception or English SaIutatory adj
dress to President James K. Polk, who
was accompanied by his most regal
looking wife. his Secretary of Navy,
Hon. John Y. Mason, of Virginia;
Commodore Matthew F. Maury. the
greatest man of science of Southern
birth, and others. 1t was a very fine
address indeed, and worthy of a much
more advanced and practiced speaker.
He was a fine looking young man of
twenty-one, then stately, graceful,
carefully and a capital written
best thing to my youthful and
Irecpetive mind, that 1 heard during
the entire commencement week, al
though PettigreW delivered the Vale
'dictory and Secretary Mason delivered
the Literary address, which was de-
cidedly interesting production.
| heard General Ransom few
years later in 9 political discussion at
Henderson, with General l.. OBJ.
,I0 % lcf9r -Hn II cd in
battle in the great war. General Ran
som appeared as the Wing elector,
and his opponent as the Democratic
elector. if l recall it correctly. 1t
was rather a drawn fight and, as L
remember it, neither of the speakers
displayed any "reater talents than you
can hear nowadays from some scores
of great speakers according to the
The speeches were ami
eloquent and strong.
General Ransom's speech in the L.
5. Senate, in defence or in behalf OF
the South. was indeed most memoir
able, of very rare rhetorical merit,
containing several noble and splendid
passages, full of passion, pathos and
beauty 1t was his greatest effort.
General Don Piatt, a mastery news
paper correspondent, man himself of
brilliant parts, and author of two
very clever books, said of it, that he
but very rarely so appreciated
speeches as to "pigeon-hole them
but that he had done this with Sena-
for Ransoms very charming and elo-
quent production. His address on the
death of Senator Vance, his colleague.
was exceptionally excellent and elo-
.quent, and the best, [ believe, that
was ronounced upon our great North
Carolinian by any member of the
Congress in either House.
In 1867 or 1868, perhaps it was, l
heard General Ransom deliver an ad-
dress at the Henderson air then in
Granville county. 1t was very judic-
ious, serene, statesman-like, full of
wisdom, foresight and eloquence-the
best | ever heard from him after his
graduation at the University. / never
heard him often. With a half dozen.
others he spoke in Wilmington in 1891
but his speech was not so memorable,
as another / heard from him in the
opera House here, in 1896, or later
it may have been. Senator Vance
carried off the laurels in 1880, ana.
Col Duncan X. McRae. who intro
duced him with very marked felicity
said to me as we left the speaking to-
gether: That was the ablest political
speech l have ever heard" And he,
too, was a very superior political
speaker. / thought IL WdS Tic dblcSI L
had ever listened to, ana so regard it
now.
| may mention that in 1872, while
editing the Raleigh Sentinel, | attend
ed the commencement at Trinity Col
lege, then in Randolph county. Vance
Ransom, MerrimOn Gall L. $. Senators
before they died), General Leach and
others, were there. General Ransom
gave $4,000 to Governor Vance, half
years salary iii the Senate, because
the latter was not allowed by the Re-
pubIicans to take his seat in the Sen
ate to wnich he had been sent by
North Carolina. General Ransom was
later elected to that seat, and hence
his generous division of the first year S
salary with Governor Vance. 1t was
done during the commencement week
Some friends were conferred with by
Ransom and Vance in the matter. II
was in every way most creditable to
General Ransom. / could detain the
reader with more concerning one of
the most remarkable North CAROLYN
ians of the last forty years-one of
the most gifted and honored, but /
have said enough to show my under
standing of his powers and services
my honest estimate of the eminent
Senator and citizen who has so recent
ly passed away, and of whom so much
that is kind and sympathetic and
l.; II. bn rfi tfr.