The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-05

ship, but it interprets the sentiments
Of a State; we feel the glow of COM
radeship, but, too, we uncover the
heart of an absent host.
This representative assemblage
, bears high commission and this bril-
liant scene possesses a noble signifi-
canoe.
From the shadows of the far-away
mountains to the banks of the great
river, from the verdant wales that bor-
der on Kentucky's soil to the mineral
grit hills that mark the Alabama line,
we have gathered in willing heed to
the maternal mandate of a Common
wealth which, through our presence
and plaudits, would herald to the
world her pride in the prowess of an
illustrious son returning to her bos-
ON from fields where her name and
fame were enhanced by the knightly
service of stainless sword.
''As this scene, fellow-citizens. in
its foremost aspect, is without parallel
in the political annals of our State,
so in the finest sense, we may easily
foretell, it will dwell an inspiration
to its young manhood long after the
bright trappings of this hour shall be
but memory.
An IlIustrous Band.
THE walls of this historic build
ing have echoed the voices of many
of the mightiest figures in the records
of the Commonwealth.
I'VE pause for a moment. The last
soft note of the sweetest melody has
died away; evergreen and blossom
yield place to the withered laurels OF
the long ago; these mingling forms Of
sturdy men and women fair melt into
mist; memory rises from her restful
couch and summons the past into her
reverent presence. Obedient to her
magic touch, this vaulted arch fades
into the baseleSs fabric of a dream,
while the curtain OF time slowly lifts
upon the panorama of vanished half
century. We see the shadowy outlines
Of an illustrious band, statesmen and
orators, patriots and sons, names writ
large upon the page Of history, pass
ing in silent and solemn review; we
catch the faint sound of voices now
echoing down the dim and distant cor.
ridors of time which once charmed
the multitude and swayed the forum.
Within these walls where we light.
ly pass tonight, these great spirits
were wont to meet to receive the hon.
age of their devoted followers and to
hold counsel over the destinies of a
Commonwealth. They wrought grand
ly, and richly were they rewarded, in
the appreciation of their times and in
the respect of posterity; but, search
as you may, and yet neither in the CAP
ital of the State nor elsewhere In it's
borders has the last half century seen
so striking, so spontaneous and so
unself1sh a tribute to a son of Ten
nessee as this occasion embodies.
III, perchance, others may have had
as glittering pageantry to mark their
conquests, yet, be II remembered,
their most imposing honors came
when they wore the laurel wreath of
political supremacy, with sure favors
for the faithful and inevitable temp
tation to the obsequious But, here
and now Tennessee offers an unprece-
denied demonstration to one whose
feet have turned from the channels OF
public place to the quiet paths of
private life, and whom the wheel Of
fortune has stripped Of the power to
reward friendship with aught save
gratitude or to win applause save by
deserving It.
No Selfishness.
"The element of sellshness could
have guided no participant In the
which has here reached It's
pleasing elimination The purpose,
or even willingness to attempt herein
the political exploitation OF one who
neither desires nor needs II has new
or had the faintest existence in any
bosom concerned in his welfare; but,
rather, and solely, has this occasion
come to claim its glowing place in the
annals Of the State because there still
lay and lived In the bosoms OF Tonnes
scans noble chord which awoke and
to the touch OF noble ma
ture doing battle upon a splendid
arena with lustre worthy OF the
inest traditions of the Commonwealth;
a chord which thrilled to the specta-
Gle as It saw him. summoning into
swift play reserve powers OF mind and