Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-02-25
GORDoN,s FAREWELL.

w udt OcbRtOt 4(CPSW -
the most uniqus fare1ell ever delivered
10 the Senate chamber was heard there
Yesterday when 1T the close OF the session
aud st the end of bis term, SeDst>'
James Gordon, of Mississippi, said goOd.
by to the senst 1rs with whom he hsd
served for the past 60 days.
CoIouel Gordon spoke for perhsps hal
an hour sad when be had concluded Sena.
tor Depew addressed the chair, So. log
he never hsd heard or read any speech
of the kind which vas 80 unique and 90
impressive as the one which had luit
been delivered to the Senate. The New
York seuator said be was sure be 70 ced
the sentiment Of ell the members OF the
Senate when he expressed regret over the
passing OF the Mlssssippiau.
"No matter" he said, show wonder
ful collesgus succeeds him be cannot
b james Gordon Of Mississippi"
Practically the entire Senate listened
wi b npt attention TO the address Of
the venerable Mississipplau. He stood
back of bic own desk, on tie extreme
right OF the vice president, and In homely
phrase and almost without gesture
talked to his colleagues ss II they had
been oldtime friends. Twice be quoted
ir"m his own book of verse, which be
sl.erwS.d presented to the vice pres
dent. His remarks were frequently
puucluated with applause and laughter
The & galleries were veil filed aud toe
occupants Of them joined freely in the
Manifestations of approval on the floor.
Beginning With the statement that the
deadlock in Mississippi had been broken
aud that Mr.. Percy had been chosen TO
take his place, Colonel Gordon said that
he hsd felt desire to express bis fee'-
logs toward the Seoate before returning
to bis home 10 Mississippi.
al WAS born a multi millionaire"
ssid Colonel Gordon, "but never was
happy uotil l got rid OF my surplus
money. spent much oft on my slaves
and the rest OF my funds | spent like a
gentleman and got rid of my entire In
cumbrsDce.
al have listened with Interest to the
speeches here and the more hear Of
them the soirier sm for the million
aires. Why, II there is fellow 10 the
United States that l sm sorry for, II is
Rockefeller, becsuse be has more money
than anyone else. That is his misfOr-
tune. He can't go on the street with
one of bis grandchildren unless he 10
afraid that someone might kill him.
Wby,sI know that be loves one Of those
children much bitter than he loves all
the money he bas got.
81 think M. Rockefeller is a good
man. 1 see bis employees speak we'll Of
him, and l sm told that be never had q
strike. / am told also that be has given
much money 10 churches aud education
Now l don't suppose that everybody
will like that, but those who don't like
1t can pat 1t In their pipes and smoke 1t.
I'd like fox Mr.. Rockefeller to come
down to Mississippi and run his pipe
lines through my land. He could have
the right Of way for all the lines be
~auted, for | know that in my time coal
oil bas been reduced from 40 cents to
10 cents per gallon"
Referring ID the fact that he had been
q Confederate soldier Mr.. Gordon
said:
"I fought aud ble1, but didn't die.
However, skedsddIed frequ entity"
He then told OF some OF his exploits
10 the war and OF how he had captured
General Ooburn, of Indians, and Gene.
raj Shafter. Shafter, be ssId. had Cred
at him FIVE different times during the
Confederate charge without hitting him.
Paying a tribute to soldiers of both
the north and .oulh, Colonel Gordon
said;
"You may as well try TO storm the
heights OF heaven and pluck the disdem
from Jehovah's crown as to take away
from either OF them any oil the glory Of
the recoIj IS of the two men who stood
under the tree atAppOma t)x and brt lsht
the war to q close.
"This Is the finest body of men that l
ever associated WITH" be Continued,
speskiug OF the Senate itself, and be
b,amsd upon bis collesguss.
Referring to Senator Heyburn's re
cent protest agsinst General Lees statu,
ksirg allowed 10 remain in Stsluary
Rsll, OoIopel Gordon invited Senator
HEPBURN to visit him on his plantation,
and said that he was sure that siter the
Idsbo teuator had seen the south through
bis spectscles he would lake of his bat
70 Lee, as be (GordoD) was willing to
dof bis to Grant,