The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-02-27

who stood on his platform or SUB
scribed to his creed or embraced his
views, Gentlemen of the House. |
would commend this splendid trait OF
that noble character. as worthy OF all
emulation. Nothing is more fatal TO
a man or a people than intolerance Of
opinion and prejudice OF sentiment
The broader our mental hospitality
and the more generous our judgments
of others, the more majestic will be
the manhood of land and the wis
er its constructive craftsmanship.
Everybody admires a magnanimous
man. And again. MIR, Speaker, our
noble and magnetic friend had in an
eminent degree that quality which you
called special attention-a superb
moral courage. He dared to do right,
as he conceived it. whatever might
be the fate Of his political fortunes.
There were testing times durilg the
last years of his professional and po'
litical career that brought out this
radiant characteristic and commanded
wide admiration. He did not effect
any singularity Of opinion, and never
a%ttitudinized for leadership, or posed
for cheap martyrdom, but on the other
hand he never surrendered his honest
judgments or compromised his convic-
lions in order to be with the major.
ity, or to win popularity. Gentlemen,
this Is the virtue that marks the di.
viding line between the politician and
the statesman. and needs to be clear
ly drawn. The one is ever eager to
discern and follow the popular will
to tack his sails for every favoring
breeze and ride into the harbOr OF
temporary success. The other, under
standing the profound philosophy OF
political history. holding clearly de.
fined views on great questions of gov
ernmental policy, and scornilg to adj
yocate measures that are not essen
TALLY right and for the best interests
of his country, has the lofty courage
to warn the people against impend-
ing danger, though he may have to go
down for awhile under the ban OF
popular opinion. | honor the man
who has the courage to be in the mi
nority~-who stands for the right
though the thunders rive him and all
men forsake him. Sometimes the
penalty of true leadership Is to be
lolesome-and to be misunderstood.
But only such as can %serenoly endure
the strain are worthy the SURFACES
of their countrymen.
"'Once to every mar and nation comes
the moment &c decide,
In the strife of truth with f%alsehood,
for the good or evil side;
Then 1t is the brave man chooses,
while the coward stands aside,
Doubling In his abJect spirit, tin his
Lord is crucihed.'
Mr.. Russell was a genuine patriot.
He loved his couutry-and the whole
country. While in perfect accord with
the interests and better sentiments
of the great section in which he was
born and to which his life was deyot.
ed, his patriotism was not bounded by
party or sectional lines. He honored
the past, but had his face to the fu-
ture. He patnetically loved the South,
but sincerely revered the flag OF the
nation. He cherished the herioc deeds
of his fathers, but had a heart Of even
larger IDpb lDI Lltll WpltuJ ophos
"All of you who knew that great
hearted man. will agree with me, that
his highest ambitions were for his
country's good. He desired no prefer
ment if at the expense Of. what his
people regarded as the wisest admin.
istration of their public affairs.
But, gentlemen, | must not longer
trespass upon your time. My only re-
gret is. that sufficient intimation was
not given, so that | might say some.
thing worthy Of the great Mississip'
pia1, whose untimely death W 9 all so
deeply deplore. Genial, tovial, hon.
est, magnanimous, magnetic Jud Rus.
sell, when shall we see his like again!
He had few faults, some frailitlea and
many virtues. Let us avoid the one
and emulate the other. May the dews
fall gently and the winds sigh softly
over the peaceful grave Of n who
served his Lord and loved his fellow
men"