The Adair County news., 1905-03-15
John n. REAGAN.

home in Palestine. Texas, will
long be honored by Southern peo-
pie, as well as by their Northern
neighbors. He was known lat
terly as 1.-THE last surviving mem
Der of Jefferson Davis Cabinet, +"
but his title to his country's es-
TEEN was best demonstrated by
his course after the war, by his
services in the House of Repre-
sentatives and the Senate and by
his influence as a good citizen.
Beginning life in poverty, the
future statesman passed through
various experiences as a farmers
boy, woodchopper and an In
dian fighter. Then he studied
law, settled in Texas, was elect
ed a Judge and soon made a nam e
for himself by his vigorous en-
fOrcement of the law. In 1856
he was sent to Congress. When
the war began he voted for the
secession Of Texas, and when Mr..
Davis organized a Cabinet he was
appointed Postmaster Generals
Later he became Secretary of the
Treasury. When Jefferson Dav s
fled before the advance of Gen!
Grant, he was accompanied by
Judge Reagan, who was captur-
ed with him and held a prisoner
of war for several months.
1t was after the war that Mr..
Reagan showed the sound judg-
ment and fine qualities that made
him power for great good. He
preached friendship between the
sections, He urged his people to
let bygones be bygones. He call
ed for a reunited country. Ac-
cepting the result of the war as
final, he believed it was the part
Of wisdom to shape all public leg
islation accordingly. So ardent
was he in championing this pro-
gram that he wrote an open let
tor to the people of Texas urging
the passage of laws for the pro-
lection of negroes and the grant
ing to them or both civil and po-
litical rights, with an educational
qualification.
The people of his State felt too
deeply the sting of the war to
support Judge Reagan's generous
views, and they subjected him to
the severest criticism and denun-
citation. In 1874, however, their
sentiment underwent a change.
They realized that he was right,
and they sent him to Congress as
a member of the House or Rep
resentatives.
At once Judge Reagan took a
prominent place in the national
legislative halls, He was espec-
tally active in framing the Inter-
state Commerce Act, at the same
time standing up strongly against
any clause that might endow the
National Commission with power
to fix railroad rates power
which the National House that
adjourned last Saturday showed
a disposition to grant and which
President Roosevelt is understood
as desiring for the body. On
March 4, 1887, Judge Regain en-
tered the Senate. Here, too, he
was a conspicuous leader. He
was a member Of the Committee
on Coast Defenses, Interstate
Commerce, Post-offices and Post
Roads. He cared nothing for the
social life Of a Senator. He be-
lieved in work. And he followed
his gospel. In 1897 he retired
from Office and returned home to
a quiet life in Palestine.
Judge Reagan was fearless,
honest, wise, generous and,
strong. In public life he was a.
giant. In private life he was an
ornament. In the course of an
eventful career he had been called
upon to perform great tasks. He
performed them we'll, and he now
lays down h lis work, leaving a be-
loved name. Courier Journal.
There are husbands who are