The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1909-05-28

burg, ministering to the physical as vel
as the spiritual needs Of the people, re
gardiess Of condition or creed or pre-
vious condition Of servitude, and will
Bennington, the young Naval officer
and the other heroic volunteers who
braved and met death at that time, hi.
name was published in the list OF those
wao had fallen. And. although he VA.
spared for work in other and wide,
fields and the after years were full Of
labors and full Of honors, nothing could
endear him more to the hearts of those
Who knew him then than his work Of
that time.
i Wise in counsel and conservative In
Judgment, he was bold and fearless in
leadership whore any moral question
was involved. A Mississippian himself,
native and to the manner born, reared
in Mississippi and educated in her state
university, he fully understood and was
in thorough accord with the sentiments
OF the people Of Mississippi, though he
had little patience with those who
sought to make political capital of their
preiudices.
Some Of You may have heard, and most
Of you have read, his great grafton on
Jefferson Davis, delivered at our State
University on the 3rd Of last June, ard
you know his discriminating estimate
and exalted opinion Of the great Presi-
dent OF the Confederacy. Yet this high
esteem and deep veneration for Mr..
Davis did not deter him from entering
the field and shivering lances with that
great Chieftain when he deemed it his
duty to defend the cause Of prohibitions:
and that, too, when the prohibition
cause was not the popular cause and
when mems hearts were still wrung
with the anguish Of the four years war,
when Mr.. Davis was the idol Of his peo-
pie, the embodiment Of their blighted
hopes. And yet, though boldly and fear
lessly he entered the lists, you will re-
member with what knightly courtesy
that great controversy was conducted.
Charles B. Galloway was the recognized
leader Of the prohibition movement in
Mississippi. At the time he took that
leadership the liquor traffic in the state
was an organized force, which was at
once the shame and despair Of many
good citizens. 1t infected the state
with poison and with death. 1t whis-
pered In the ears Of Legislators and Off
GERS and political leaders, and they fell
down and worshipped. Its corrupting |
touch was felt everywhere. 1t even
laid it's impious hand upon the school
house and essayed to teach the youth Of
the land that without its continuance
and perpetuation the school-room would |
be closed and the door Of learning would
be shut. On the other hand the prohi-
bitionists were generally regarded as
impractical cranks and political par.
sons. But, undaunted, this fearless lead |
or kept the field, his white plume Of
christian manhood ever waving in the
front. He knew
"A fair cause stands firm and will abide /
Legions Of angels fight upon her side.
Bold and fearless when need be, yet
cautious and conservative when re-
quifed, he realized that he was fighting
an enemy which had been entrenched
for centuries; that no reforu could be
wrought BY statute; that public officers
we're just such ~ arc elected and de-
by the people: that no law can
be- enforced without an educated public
sentiment behind 1t, and, In spite Of
criticism within his own ranks, he was
not precipitate, but surely moved on
from precinct to precinct, from county
10 county, kept aloof from all political
parties, and treated the question as
great moral issue. He recognized the
lscts Of mans composite nature. He
understood that mems feelings, their
hopes, their fears, their memories, their
loves, their hatreds, their sentiments,
,onnt for . great deal in human affairs,
ind tho appeal was made to the con-
science Of the citizenship Of the state,
Ind today, - the result Of his leader
hip, moro than to anything else, is due
he fact that this intolerable infamy and
svil has been driven from our state.
Though in no sense politician, be
never deemed it his right and privilege
ind duty = ! christian citizen to make
himself felt and heard on philanthropi-
,al and moral questions affecting the
welfare Of bis state. Hence II was that
luring tho sessions Of our Legislatures
md of our Constitutional Convention he
~ frequently consulted by the leading
neu at those bodies and welded N wide
ia beneHcient influence npon our ley
slation. Many Of you will remember
III sermon upon Christina wcmanhood,
lellvsrsd q Crystal Springs Camp Nsst
~, dsring ~ ssssion Of the Ccastita- ;
|losal Convention, aad it, eject upon
- movement for woman's suffrage,
shlch 81 that time looked formidable.