The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1906-01-02

capacity TO furnish without fail its
regular morning grist every day in
the week, day after day. week after
week, month after month. for twelve
long years. The mere volume is
something startling when YOU think
Of il.
Consider also the character Of this
vast volume Of matter. its uniform
thoughtfulness, the high level + it
sustained ability and its unfailing
vigor. Permit me TO say that ! was 2
regular reader of his editorials. Of
ten I differed from him, sometimes
very widely, but he never failed 70
command my respect for three con-
slant characteristics.
The seriousness Of his attitude.
The sincerity Of his conviction.
The c~learness and force with which
he set forth his views.
He was a man OF extraordinary
mental vigor and Of very marked NOR
al force. His style. too. was very
unusual. simple, dignified. clear,
forceful and remarkably pure and
correct.
As have intimated. read habi-
tually the major part Of his editor
ials. and | wish TO say that if in all
our southland ne had a superior as an
editor. il has not been my privilege
to know the q in my judgment he
was far and away the foremost Of
such as came within the range Of my
reading. and this primacy he obtained
before he had reached the full ma
turity Of his powers.
His Growing Claim.
We have been passing in review the
salient points of Mr.. Gonzales char
acter: we have found him a man Of
indomitable pluck. Of great bravery,
of high moral courage. Of very eXcep-
tional ability. But the possession Of
these characteristics alone. though
each in an eminent degree cannot ac-
count for the unusual honor %conferr-
ed upon him; such qualities are for
tunately not so rare among US that We
need s~ignalize the possession of them
By such q memorial as this. We must
go further to explain this tall shaft.
We have already noted the fact that
he held no publ c Office, but lived and
, died 4 private citizen. He was as Tar
removed from the politician as a man
could well be, both in tastes and IN
habits. He was no man to mix with
the crowd, the centre OF an adfnlflng
thrOng of 'heelers:" no hail-felloW-
well-met With h multitude.
Nor yet was he a gatherer Of hand
picked fruit from the trees Of popular
favor: never tho man TO
! the Individual as q curb-stone broker
- DO11lICS. a Vi 80 4N-
neither desire nor gifts for such Ell
cheney. Cannot you recall his figure.
familiar to as, as he went IN ana OUT
among US during those years OF force
/ fGl service? You have often seen nm
walking down the street. usually alone,
! quiet. reserved, dignified, self contain
ed; seeking 10 Col~npanionship, inviting
no condolences and imparting none;
| thinking his own thoughts, N ms
own keeping his coun-
sci; near-Sighted, With the usual alOOf-
ness or occasional intentneSs OF look
that uniformly accompanies this par
ticular defect Of vision: but however
myopic in bodily sight, acute and far
ranging in menta vision, overlooking
nothing and alert to every pubic IN
terest. Fol- while q private citizen he
was a very eminent citizen, q pufe pa
triot, loving his State With intense de-
votiOn, proud Of her traditions ana
! jealous for her honor with the sensi-
/ tive jealousy Of q lover; g man or
broadest public spirit, always awake
and alive to everything that made for
/ the material or moral advancement
of the commonwealth or OF the city
! Being such as we have described, quiet,
reserved. se~lf-contained, how did his
! patriotism and public spirit lind eX-
preston?
Though silent beyond many With the
tongue, he was unreseryed with the
pen; his alert observation. his thought
full bordering, his profound feeling
found regular vent in the editorial col
umns, ready, full, free, fearless. Here
whatever reserve that r his man
ner and speech found ample compen-
/ sation in a frankness that took the
world into his confidence.
All his influence found its ~unifying
entire in the editor. He was this first
and foremost and almost exclusively
| cannot recall even an instance in
which he addressed his fellow citizens
from the platform. Such unity and
concentration is very rare in American
life; the fact in his case emphasizes
Overwhelmingly his force in his call
ing; the volume, the depth, the power
of influence that flowed in that one
simple channel.
You note that the north face of the
monument designates him as
"A Great Editor,
An Eminent Citizen.
An Honest Man.
His eminence as a citizen was gained
through his work as an editor, his hon
esty as a man appeared in the obvious
sincerity ard marked candor that con
stantly characterized that editorial
work. He WIS al editor pure and
simple and had little 20 do with any
other part of the paper, probably kreW
- 49, 49, =
tble connection betWecn the editorial
department and The business depart
ment; they seemed to be not only en-
tirely separate. but absolutely indie
pendent. The editorial utterance!
sometimes had swift and sure effect or
the bushes" department. AS has beer
already stated, there We're editorials
penned and published with the certain
knowledge that support would b.
~2lienated and the business department.
suffer loss, but the business interest!
seemed to have no effect on the edi
tOrlal ~utteranceS: there was no re1e,
influence ever discernible: there wa!
no partnership betWeen principle anC
} pOllcy, no alliance of conscience will
cash. If a vigorous editorial had COS
the SuppOr of a whole cOmmunity, thi
tact mad nc effect other than to brins
out an editorial postscript in the mex
issue making the position of the pane
a little clearer if possible. and rub
ping II IN somewhat more relentleSsly
Abuse, warning and threats were fulfil
: pXnn11t To Ctiffn,- -,