The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-03-10
ME MORTAL SERVICES.
Gary, Aiken and Ti||man in Congress Pay Deserved
Tributes to the Character and Public Service
Of the Late Senator A. c. Latiner.

When elected to Congress he had never held
office and knew not the arts Of public speak.
ing. But the good name OF an honest and
strong minded ancestry was bis herltage, ana
with these be lin ked~ frankness OF speech and
that energy that commanded success. Real
izing the great opportunity afforded 10 the
observant man by service in Congress, ne SET
himself to the task ofseli-lmprovemept. -. NO.
Congress, but be developed into one OF the
most efectual stump syeakers IN MS State.
He knew we'll the channel OF bis capabilities,
and be seldom yentured beyond, but with
this channel.
stranger than fiction ia the fact Of mortal
existence. Some men spend their lives IN
q few climb TO the.eagle's crag on the cloud
shaded summit. =,
And they die an equal death-the.idler and
When death claimed Snaator Latimer on
the 10Th day OF February, 1908. he was strong
and vigorous OF mind'and body. Rlpenlng
experiences had made him q safe counselor
the appeal Of bis people and e%ffectual In exc.
cutting their wishes. Humanity speaking, we
would stay the dread messenger who would
strike man in the prime OF his usef1lness
when from bis vantage ground. he could d.
rect the steps and tighten the burdens OF the
struggling masses. This Senator Latimer did
for his fellow men, Individually and collect.
poor, who have been lifted BY him to better
things. HIS heart was tuned to sympathy's
appeal, when in the struggles OF bis youth he
felt her gentle touch. He ~championed the
cause Of the masses, n there he found That
generous response that elevated him to po-
sition and stimulated him to higher and no
bier epdeavor. =.
"He held bis seat; q friend to human race"
When the shadows gather, when the waves
of eternity break at our very feet, we pause ID
awe for q little moment, n with bowed
head and with bated breath and In sorrow we
lay our dead TO rest. Blu what is that which
we do notI andJcan not bury? Yesterday II
moved and animated this helpless mass,
holding 1t up face to face with God. In whose
image II was created. This is the spark OF
divinity, the real man. And is IL dead? NO
more than the steam dies that yesterday
q%uickeded the giant locomotive. Returned
to its original elements yes; but not dead.
Scientists tell us that annihilation Ia tmpos-
sible In nature. Our thoughts, our words.
our deeds-these are but evidences OF the OK.
listing soul. These live when empires have
crumbfed. Then who will say that the fonn.
tain from which they spring has perishedf
Who will say that nature, constant In all
things, in this one instant reverses It's law
and permits the humiliation OF the soul? \ .
No; IN the essentials of being, our friend
still lives, n will live throughout the cease
less ages, Addison, the greatest OF English
critics. said Of the soul:
"The stars shall fade away. the sun himself
Grow dim with age and nature sink IN years.
But thou shalt flourish In immortal youth,
Unhurt amidst the wars OF elements,
The wreck o mattet,and the crash OF worlds"