The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09
What Raleigh People Say
of Dead Senator.
ESTIMATES OF RANSOM
Prominent RaIeighites Give impress.
sions and EuIogies With Regards
Life and Character of Chira-
trio Soldier, Staieman
and Orator.

came known in the city shortly alter
rcon Yesterday. The news spread
rapidlv and was received with deep
regret by all classes of citizens, who
had known the soldier and statesman,
either as personal friend or during his
long career as sold er and a member
Of the United States Senate.
Soon after the news of his death
was received the flag on the capital
building was placed at half mast In
respect TO his memory, as was that at
the Soldiers Home.
Among expressions heard of per-
sonal character were the following:
State Auditor Ii. f. Dixon: In.
Passing through Weldon on my return
from Eastern North Carolina last
thursday, l saw Gen. Ransom. He
came UP to me and With warm clasp
of the hand, he said, Dr. Dixon. God
bless you'll l am glad to see you. 1
see YOU have been speaking IN the
Last That's right-give it to them L
l,ray for glorious victory for Democ-
racy this year. l found the General
the same courtly. kind-hearted man
that he was when he commanded the
brigade to which l belonged. l thank
God that He gave me the opportunity
Of shaking the hand and looking once
more upon the face of my old COM
mander before he passed down
through the valley of the shadow.
Fearless in danger, courteous and
kind, always the true gentleman every
where he was the idol of his men dur
ing the war; and North Carolina
mourns the loss of her greatest citi-
zen today"
30. az
som was one of the great men whose
life and virtues have shed lustTe upon
the history of this State. He was a
man of great ability, of the Hottest
ideals. OF the highest personal integ-
iity and of the most unbending pa
triotism. He served his State faith
fully, both in war and in peace-a SOL
died and a statesman. He was always
true - her.
characteristic was his judgment of
men and his influence over them. He
had an unfail.ng insight into the char
acter and capacity of men. He knew
always whom to trust and he had an
influences over men, native power OF
controlling them, greater than any
other man [ have ever known. he
possessed III q remarkable degree that
indefinahle quality or attribute We call
personal magnetism, and he drew mer
to him easily by its compelling power.
and held them.
'In his old age he lived away from
the hauntS of men. close to nature,
cultivating the soil and from this
simple and honorable life he has gone
to his rest, and now his name will be
Il blessed memory to every man who
loves his State and honors her illus
trious dead. Clarum eft venerable
nomen."
Il. H. Busbee. Esq: 1.-THE death
Cf Gen. Ransom is to me a deep per-
sonal sorrow For thirty-five years l
have been honored by his friendship
and his confidence, and have admired
him as a great North Carolinian.
This is not the occasion for a meas
ured tribute to the statesman. the law
yer or the man. / believe mis- great life
work for twentythree years in the
Senate was in contributing more than
any other American to the reconcilia
ton of the divided sections of his coun-
try. AS was shown in his great speech
or the Louisiana question, he was an
impassioned orator, second to no man
in the Senate. But his own ambition
was subcrdinated to unceasing efforts
20 unite in q more perfect union, the
lately warning States.
His courage and brilliant record as
n soldier. his success as q lawyer and
public speaker, his public record in the
Senate, and as an ambassador OF the
United States, his great work Us q
planter, in developing cotton growing
iii my opinion, are of less consequence
Than his work as a peace-mdke r
X. L. Gray: 1.-THE death of Senator
Ransom takes from the stage OF LIE
in North Carolina it's most prominent
and attractive figure. For half CEN
fury he had been an actor in all the
1<~ %11.,f mo l. a n
cial professional, military and politi-
cal history of the State. AS lawyer,
soldier and statesman, he ranked
among the first-if not facile princeps.
He bore in his figure and countenance
and exhibited in his demeanor the i'm
press and characteristics OF a leader
Of men, In his later years he enjoyed
the ease and dignity that belong to
loan of ample means, overlooking MS
LIoad acres and rejecting upon past
life full of good service for his country
ana entertaining no regrets that other
and younger men had taken MS place
On the active st?g
Chief Justice Stark: "Chief Justice
Clark. who had served on his stat: in
ISo2-'63, as Adjutant of the 35th. n. I.
Regiment, spoke feelingly Of Gen. Ran
SONS high courage and his cColness in
battle. He referred to his courtesy
ard consideration for all those un,i1T
him, and said that he commanded in
the most marked degree the confi-
dence, and indeed the affection of his
men, and this had followed him
through his civil career since the war
even down to the day of his death,
and had peen a powerful factor in his
success. North Carolina had never
forgotten his fidelity as a soldier. HIS
eminent abilities. his talents as an ora
ter and statesman were recognized By
all. He had besides fine business quail
Ffcations and since his retirement
from the Senate. like Cine matters OF
ola, he had displayed as q farmer the
same executive talents as when auICne
the foremost in the COUNCILS Of the
State and nation. Few men have, III
che day, combined SO well the suavite:
In mods with fortites-in~se. He pos
sessed a thorough knowledge of men
ana few men Sc we'll as he, howto ap-
peal to the hearts of North Carolin-
iGns."