The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-18
Formal Unveiling of Monument to Martyred
 Newspaper Man.

did life and a life of unceasing service to his State and community.
 The granite monument which was erected by the Gonzales Monument As sociation was unveiled to-day and al- though the ceremonies were held dur ing the busiest part of the day there was a very large gathering present to hear the addresses and to witness the simple ceremonies. There was a gen eral gathering of the people of Colum- bia. Business men left their places to join in the tribute to the editor to the wonderful industrial development and growth of Columbia. Time has not in the least dimmed the high ap- preciation of the great work of N. 0. Gonzales, but 1t has rather intensi- fled the recognition of what he has ! done for his people. his State and his city.
 The exercises were brief and the su- perb addresses so well rounded that 1 there is no need to say more by way of introduction.
 The exercises were held at the site of the imposing granite shaft which has been erected at the intersection of Senate and Sumter streets. A select choir sang the opening doxology and then President Wash | ington A. Clark. of the Monument As sociation. presented Bishop Capers. the I friend of MT. Gonzales. who delivered the opening prayer.
 | At the conclusion of the prayer the choir sang My Country, Tis of Thee" Mir Washington A. Clark, President of the Gonzales Monument Association, who for so many years worked hand in hand with MT. Gonzales for law and
 order and for the industrial develop
 ment of the State. delivered a brief
 but finely rounded address in which he said:
 | Address of Mir. w. A. Clark. l Members of the Gonzales Monument Association, Ladies and Gentlemen: To-day we unveil a monument to the memory of N. c. Gonzales. The occa-
 sion which we celebrate is one of large | import to the good and law abiding
 people of the State. The monument
 perpetuates the memory of one who
 served us faithfully. and fs intended
 to commemorate cause to which he
 devoted his best energies.
 N c. Gonzales was known as a
 strong and vigorous writer. He was | recognized as distinguished editor. Always true to his convictions of right, he never failed to denounce victions of the duty of the editor. and
 his ideas of the freedom of the press, constrained him to denounce all forms
 of lawlessness.
 The most timid can follow the null
 titude and join in the applause of that | which is popular It requires d man | of courage to stand for the right, even | though 1t puts him on the side of the minority. Gonzales was such man, | and because of the di5cnargo of this
 high calling he suffered death. You i all remember the shock that thrilled
 this community on that occasion. and
 with what horror the news of his un- I ffu1a1x daQfh rharhpd fha of the
 admiring public. At once the thought
 was suggested that his memory and
 his work be perpetuated At meet I ing of the law abiding people of this city the Gonzales Monument Associa-
 tion was organized for the purpose of
 putting this plan into execution: and tthe erection of a monument suitable to his memory and fitting the cause for which he died. Subscriptions l flowed in from every part of the State;
 so >that, speaking for the Association. which have the honor to represent, I can truly say that the monument
 which we now unveil represents in
 deed the sentiment of the law-abiding
 people of the State.
 While he lived his pen was a po- tent factor for good. He never hesi-
 tated to denounce wrong, and his pen
 was never more eloquent than when defending the cause of the most hum
 
 wrong. We erect to his memory this granite shaft, and may it stand as
 lasting as the great principles for
 which he labored and for which he
 died
 Of the merits and works of the dis
 tinguished editor another will speak.
 The monument however perpetuatcs
 the memory. not only of the man. but i is intended to remind us of those prIn-
 ciples characteristic of his life and of
 his death. Of them shall speak
 briefly.
 The past history of the people of | South Carolina was devotion to law" There never lived a more law-abiding g
 people. There never lived a more in- | dependent and freer people. So cul- tivated and refined that they could en- joy freedom, and not abuse 1t. Their Il devotion to law. and at the same time, | their jealous regard for the rights of
 the individual. created in her people
 the highest and purest type of individ- ual liberty. Such liberty by its re-
 action, created in her citizens, the highest type of the individual. And so we lived and moved in pure atmos-
 phere of 'individualism'' and 'obe- dience" Such were the marked char
 acteristics of our people for a century
 or more.
 Alas. the change. which our changed conditions has wrought. We now mourn unrestrained individualism, un- bridIed license; broken laws. We mourn an age in which human life no longer stands as the pearl oi great price" precious above all things save virtue and honor; to be guarded and protected. We mourn that senti-
 ment which permits the individual to
 redress wrongs. real or fancied. We
 mourn an age when law Is no longer
 respected or obeyed.
 We, however, cherish tho hope that
 the day Is not far distant, when once
 again law shall be enthroned, its man date obeyed and it's officers respected When none will be so high that th'
 law may not reach up to punish. ant when none will be so humble that thu | law may not reachdown to defend When we shall be known as people obedient to law. and commanding th' respect of the world as dignified
 law abiding people. When all rignti , will be enforced and all wrongs re dressed through the medium only o constituted authority. When the con cealed deadly weapon will be denounc
 ed as a sign of barbarism, and he whC wears 1t will carry with him the oadg' of the coward.
 This monument perpetuates th'
 memory, not only of a distinguished editor. but stands for a principle. Ma. it prove a lasting, though silent pro , test. against all forms of lawlesspess . and a constant plea for the return O that day. when once again law shal } be respected, obeyed and enforced. It is my pleasure now to introduce YOU to the Rev Samuel NJ. Smith, Sh' intimate friend of the deceased. thu