University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1911-04-06
Henry w. Grady as a Journalist
many lines of industry.

in many lines OF industry.
His pleasure trips were often timer
aries in behalf of the section he was
visiting" 1t is said of him. From one
of these trips to the southern part of
his state he sent home stories TO his
paper with these suggestive captions:
Berries and Politics." THE Largest
Strawberry Farm in the State" "a
Wandering Bee and How 1t Made the
LeComte Pear" The Turpentine In
dustries.'
Naturally service of this sort was
not long in having an effect; it awak-
ia people We; suffering from the de-
Ivas station OF war. More than one line
of development of the South's natural
resources owes its birth to the pioneer
efforts of Mr.. Grady in his work as all
editor--notably the great iron industry
of Georgia. Like all true editors, lie
was identified with every movement
which had fol- its purpose the better
ment or upbuilding of social or eco
nomic conditions of his city or state.
journalism was not, to Mr.. Grady,
the stepping-stone to political power, a
means for personal exaltatiOn. On
the contrary, he unselfishly applied
himself as journalist to bringing
new light 10 his people of the South
and to those of the North as well; to
a healing of the sectional differences
that were retarding the redemption
and progress of the South. Always he
was constructive in his leadership and
purposes; always were his plans con-
ceived in kindness. in an encompass
ing love for the. nation as one people,
and executed in n.elfish devotion to
his ideals.
Once Mr.. Grady received a petition
from large number of citizens to be-
come a candidate for Congress. His
letter declining the honor makes clear
his remarkable loyalty and devotion to
his life's profession. and gives us the
vision he had of the opportunities
which that profession offered for use
fulness:
Il have come to believe earnestly
that no man, no matter what his call
ing, his elevation or his opportunity.
can equal in dignity, honor and useful
trn in,rnaIiSt u-hn cnn1nrahnpI.
his position, fairly measures his dn-
ties. and gives himself entirely and un-
selfshly to his work.
Mr. Gradys all-tOo-shOrt life-histOry
shows how fully and cOnscientiOusly
he measured up to this high standard.
Below is an extract from this re
markable letter, as indicating the in
Ifluence he felt to be his as an editor
of this type:
Il shall be satisfied with the labO"S
of my life if. when those labOrs are
lover, my son, looking abroad upon 4
better and Grander Georgia. Georgia
that has f1led the destiny God in
tended her for-when her towns AMI
ICities are hives Of industry. and her
lcountryside the cXhauStleSS fields from
which their stores are dawn-whcr
lcvery stream dances on its way to the
music of spindles, and every forest
cchoe~ back the roar of the passia-
ltrain-whan her valleys smile with
abundant harvcs:s, and from her hill
sides come the tinklinS of bells "a
her herds and ilocks go forth from
their fOlds-when more than two mil
lion people proclaim her perfect inda-
pcndence. and bless her with their
| lovc-I shall be more than content,
say. il MY son, looking upon such
scenes as these. can stand ur and say:
My father rcre part in this work
and his name lives in the memory .:
this people
What was the secret of the marve!
Gus and enduring place Mr.. Grad:
came to hold in the hearts of hi
home people of the South? AS an or
atOr it is true. he had few equals brt
Oratory alone does not win loyalty |
such as was his share. AS an edito- |
rial writer his style was luminous and |
his gift of expire sion marvelously |
magnetic; yet even these qualities.
winning and convincing as they are, do
not account for the homage. the love.
the abiding faith of his people.
The simple answer is. that back
of all his cratory. the inspiration o.
all his wonderful rhetorical weavings
was a soul unsullied. heart that had
never thrObbed falsely to trust. new
er shirked duty. His oratory was
sincerity itself. and in harmony with
his life-honest. fearless, charitable,
and abounding in optimism and love
for his kind. +. W. c.