The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-13

lSiiSOiu, i@CCf Oliicl IDiOS oph-
ical Addresses" by Judge Emory 6peer.
(Neale Publishing Coz
This splendid book dedicated ITO my
soft. first saw the light when friends of
Ogfethorpe were in vigorous life; Erskine
but three years gone; Hamilton, still de-
plored by many comrades of Yorktown
and Valley Forge; Marshall with eight
years to live, Lincoln and Lee were lads.
and Brown and Grant. little boys-this
book is lovingly inscribed"
1t must be grateful, delightful
thought to Judge Speer of the United
States Middle and Southern district of
Georgia court to know that he was able
to lay in his now dead mothers hands
such charming tribute to her goodness,
her sweetness. Mrs. Speer, ST., died only
a short time ago.
In addition to the addresses on Lincoln,
Lee and Grant, there are in this splendid
volume addresses on James Edward Og1e-
thorpe, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas
Lord Erskine and Joseph Emerson Brown,
the latter as Known to be the War Gov
ernor' of Georgia, afterward senator of
the United States from Georgia.
The address on Abraham Lincoln was
made on the centenary of Lincoln's birth,
at the armory of the Twelfth regiment of
the New York State National Guard,
February IL. 1909.
The address on Gen. Robert f. Lee
was made at Emory college, oxford, Ga,
June, 1905, and at Yale university New
Haven May, 1906. OF this address Arthur
I. Hadley. president Yale university.
wrote Judge Speer: II am delighted TO
hear that there is a prospect of our see
Ing your addresses in book form. / re-
member with quite unusual pleasure your
address upon General Lee. which cannot
fail to be of great service as we'll as great
be made accessible to an even larger aud
fence than your voice can reach"
The address on General Grant was made
on Grants birthday under the auspices
OF the Grant Birthday association of Ga
lena, ILL.,. where the Grafton was deliv-
cred April q, 1868. Among the authors
who had delivered addresses on previous
celebrations of General Grants birthday
we're William Mckinley, Luther l.. Mills,
Chauncey Depew and Theodore Roose-
yeIt.
In addition to the brilliant biographical
addresses the Introduction to the book,
written by Charles Ray Palmer D. D.,
at New Haven, Conn, August /, 1909, is In
itself thing of beauty. Listen to how
DR.. Palmer starts off his his introduce
ton
Sl odiltS olepileH WrOth some W years
ago, "A chain of splendid biographies con-
stitutes the history of past histories. "
Dr. Palmer explains Sir Stephens state
ment at length and adds:
1T Is hardly necessary to speak so con-
spicuously before the public as the Judge
OF United States court. or of so striking
a personality as Judge Speer. II is never
theless true that these addresses, even IL
they must be regarded as by-product Of
his life, derive Significance from his spe-
cial relation to his time. Born just be-
fore the middle of the nineteenth CEN
fury, the son of Clergyman In the EN-
pire State of the south in the last year
of the civil war, a Confederate soldier,
but 16 years old at the date of the SUR
render, he acquired such education as
was possible for him in the disastrous
years succeeding that struggle and sd-
dressed to himself to the problem of his
life with most ereditable courage and res
olution. Graduating from the University
of Georgia in 1869, he, wa $ soon. admitted
to the bar. His progress was such that.
In January, 1873. he became solicitor gen
eral OF the state, under the FIRST demo-
cratic governor subsequent to the war
In the midsummer of. 1876 he resigned his
office, resuning private practice. In 1878
he was elected to Congress as an indie
pendent democrat He was reelected In
1850 as an Independent with republican
Affiliations. He was again a candidate
in 1882, but failed to receive certificate
of, election. On the day after the explra-
ton OF his second term. In March 1888,
he was appointed by President Arthur the
United States district attorney In his na-
tive state. and within two years after
ward to the position which,. with growing
reputation, he has since continuously
held. OF his professional attachments 1t
does not become a layInan TO speak with
confidence. hut his repute is that of an
upright. efficient and fearless judge, full
filing his high calling with dignity and
success. Incidentally to this honorable
career, he has done valued educational
work as the head of the law school in
Mercer university and published volumes
Of interest to the profession and to law
Students
To show how gifted Judge speer is. In
presenting facts, facts only. in pleasing
manner. 1t Is only to quote a few things
said by those Interested. For instance,
Robert II. lincoln. president OF the Pull
man Car company, wrote Judge Speer,
and among other things said:
II have your letter sending me a copy
OF your address. and l assure you that |
appreciate in the fullest manner your
kindness in undertaking and performing
SO great a pdlt IN lnt cenleHtidl ceitDFo-
ton. OF my fathers birthday-and. Il am
very grateful TO you for It. The eio-
quence and patriotism of yous address
were Of the lofty, character to be expected
from you. and the expression of your
feeling toward my father is deeply affect
Ing me- particularly" And $50 on.
Gov Joseph NJ. Brown, present execu-
tive of Georgia. son of the War Gov
ernor, Joseph Emerson Brown. among
other things. wrote: -
IT am advised you will soon publish
your addresses in book form.
| am greatly gratified to learn th is,
for / know of no one whose writings
combine more than DO yours, correct