The leader., 1905-03-08
/. @ 6. LAMAR.
Rev. Dr. ]. B. CambreII Tells Of the
Greatest Speech he Ever Heard.
Was Made BY Mr.. Lamar in Defense
Of a Negro.

Was Made BY Mr. Lamar in Defense
Of Negro.
Dr. j. b. GambreII in The Baptist STANDARD,
Dallas, Tex.l
IL was my privilege to live
some years in the same town with
IL. @. G. Lamar, an for a time to
Join lots with him. He was the
highest type Of and American citi-
zen, and the historian Of the re-
construction period will give to
him large place, az mediating
statesman. believe Mr.. Lamar
was the most useful man to the
South ID public life during all the
years he was in congress, and in
the cabinet of MIR. Cleveland.
| had many opportunities to
know the inner life of the man.
He thought much of young men,
|and as / was a young preacher
and student in the university, he
was particularly helpful to me in
directing my attention to helpful
books. He was not j politician,
mostly, but man of the finest
mental and moral qualities, and,
withal, a philosophic statesman,
living and acting in time when
real craftsmanship was largely
submerged beneath successive
waves Of fiery passion.
The incident / am about to re-
late illustrates some OF his finest
qualities. Politics were up to
bIistering heat. In the town, the
administration Republicans held
sway; in the country, the Demo
Gratis ruled; so, as it was common
to say, we had black spot on the
map. OF course, Republican pol
itics back in the early seventies
meant negro rule, and worse the
rule Of the carpetbagger and the
scalawag, than whom the world
has never seen harder set since
THE days when Verres pillaged the
Roman provinces in the name of
the Roman empire. We were
constantly on the eve of blood
shed, and right often in the midst
of it. Sometimes it was a real re-
lief to have Federal soldiers
around, though most of us were
fresh from the battiefelds, where
we had learned not to love the
sight Of them.
The town administration ap
pointed negro policeman to po-
lice the negro section of the town.
He was man, not at all liked by
the negroes, and not very popular
with the white people, of course.
III difficulty which occurred at q
negro church between some white
men and the negro policeman,
there was a regular fusilade from
both sides, and the policeman kill
ed one OF the white men, who was
Lin from the country, drinking and
behaving as outrageously as any
man could. The law and the tes-
ltimony was all for the negro, but
law and testimony never have had a
very good showing against redhot
lpassion.
Mr.. Lamar was universally y re-
Ispected, the negroes always re-
tanning for him, not only respect,
but love, because on every occa-
lsion he had shown them kindly
interest. The negro policeman
was il Jail, without money and
without friends, to be tried by a
| Democratic white jury from the
country. He wrote Mr.. Lamar,
Through the sheriff, stating his
condition, and asking him to tome
and defend him. Mr.. Lamar quit
Ibis seat in congress and came, It
was on the occasion Of the defense
lof this negro that Mr.. Lamar
made the greatest speech / ever
lheard.
Ii the trial no great deal Of
ltime was necessary to bring in the
levidence. It was literally all one
lwav. The negro was on his po-
lice beat. He was in the dis
Lcharge of his duty. He was fired
lnpon and returned the FIRE, and
killed the man; but the man who
/ was killed was d white man, and
he was 4 negro, and the man who
was killed was a Democrat, and he
Twas Republican. and what was
Imore, we were face to face, all the
ltime, with the question Of main
ltaining white supremacy, for bhe
persistent effort Of the carpetbag-
ger and scaIawag leadership was
Ito put the whole State under the
lheeIs Of the negroes. Ignorant.
ldebanched negroes under false
leadership were insoIent and out
lrageous. Never did q man 20 to
ltriaI under more adverse circun-
stances Mr.. Lamar fully reaIiz-
Ted Tie difficulty. and BE knew that
Iii he saved bis man, he must id
Isome way penetrate the intense
prejudice Of the country and oi
i the jury and make al opening
Through which justice could come