The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1909-02-26
IN ELOQUENT WORDS
SENATOR GREER TOLD
OF HIS APPRECIATION
SPEECH IN FULL ON OCCASION OF
PRESENTATION OF HANDSOME
WALKING CANE.


The Herald prints below the speech
made by State Senator John A Greer
in the State chamber on last Saturday,
the occasion being the presentation
by Senator Holiday, of a handsome
cane, the gift OF residents of Maury
county, who approve the course Sens
tor Greer has pursued in the senate.
A copy OF the speech was furnished
The Herald through the courtesy OF
Journal Clerk, Cason, of the Senate:
Mr. Greer said:
Alr. Speaker and Fellow Senators;
Great is the human heart! 1t if
the seat of the intellect, the emotions
and judgment: the source of all evil
thought and action as we'll as of ali
good In it a thought is sown, de-
termination is reaped-in turn action
habit and character inevitably follow
And as is the character, so is the life:
either one of ruin, disappointment and
Ultimate failure, or one of usefulness,
success and eternal salvation. Indeed,
out of the heart proceed all the is
sues OF life,
In it is found malice. hatred-and
the green-eyed monster and yellow
eyed demon. jealousy; and all manner
of sin-hence evil thought, mean con.
duct, base habits and vile character;
individuals who disregard the rights,
wishes and welfare of others--lives,
fully bent and set on that which is
bad, who are seemingly children of the
flesh and the devil travelling the high
WAYS of this world as his fully author
lied and commissioned agents, IN.
taught and unmindful that there is any
considerable amount of good in man
kind, seeking TO subdue what there is,
and striving TO bring about reign Of
terror and lawlessness, when might
has superseded right and all regulated
government is destroyed. Horrible
picture we say! and so it is.
But in the heart is also found love,
sympathy patience, kindness, self
denial, and full regard for ones fell
lows. These are possessed by those
individuals who recognize the beneh-
cent results of a well organized, well
regulated and well conducted society
which is best maintained when the
good and most intelligent are in con-
troll in the high places as we'll as the
low.
There are those who are true and |
who love what is good and |
hate what is bad; who have conyic-
tons and are true to them; who will !,
not betray a trust committed them,
nor sacrifice personal respect and hon
Or at any cost, who count goodness
and greatness to consist more in serv-
ing than in being served, and In ad-
yancng the happiness and we'll being
IF others even if it be at the cost,
lerchance, of personal gain and am
)ition, rather than in disregarding the
wishes, rights and instructions of
hose whose servants they are and for
whom they are commissioned to speak
n order that self may abound. There
ire also those who respect, admire and
wen love such characters.
If my people whom l have the dis
iuguished honor to represent feel and
now that | have been true to them,
nd to my own convictions, as l feel
ssured they do in thus rendering me
his token of their appreciation OF
1y services rendered them in the Sen
tie of the 56th General Assembly Of
l have served them
conscienciously and wisely
s have been given the ability to see
ne right, then l am happy.
And If this be the spirit In which /
MS cane, a token and an earnest OF
heir appreciation of my services thus
endered them is offered. and am
ure it is for it is rendered by those !
HON l recognize and know to be my
lends, the distinguished yoemanry 7
{ the good county of Maury, then in