The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-01-08
ny JUDGE W. u. STAPLES,
of ltOnnDkc.

Win the old year which has just
died the llfc and character OF John
~. Daniel passed to the Judgment OF
History. ana when th., history shall
nave been written by men who never
felt the power of his iuatchloss clo-
aucncc or tho influence OF tho swcc,
scntlencss which characterized his
manhood. his place in the hearts Of All
NirSininns ~ill he AS high and as Sc
cure as when !, few months since the
bells from every courthouse In this
state told her :orrowing children that
his body. freed at last from It's Ions
tenancy Of pain borne by the hands OF
those who loved him. was MOVING
slowly towards its grave.
lie was born on ,hc 18th day OF Sep
tember. 1872. at Lynchburg, which was
his home for siXty-ight years and is
now his resting place. Among Lynch.
turg's people he lived his simple. un
assuming life. and to-day. from all
alike, Its rich and poor. itn nigh and
low, no man can be found who has
ever seen him do an unkind or an an.
generous act For half a century lie
"as conspicuous factor IN Nirgimla's
history In tax bloody drama OF a
cruel war in the dark hours Of her
reconstruction. in the dawn OF hor re-.
awakening. ANA In the morning Of her
advancement, he has added lustre t.
,.
to her endurance. "a wise council 70 her
returning strength ana high honor TO
her achicScJnenis. This long term and
variety OF noble service Il unbrokcn
by one hesitation in the honr ~ sucri-
nee, unpoliutcd by ono Impulse Of
selfish interest. unstnned by one act
akin 10 dishonor. and unattended by
one fnrthing CT questionable profit,
Ills Service and Howard.
III his service has born his
reward has Seen glorious. virg!nia's
ovc, her pride. her honors have ever
been his portion Although there
nave been times when she has seemed
10 reject his counscls she has always
given him her confidence: and when
ever prcsumptuous drriagoycry has
dared to aspersc his motives. that as
persion has been answered from the
ocoplc 10 whom I, was addressed by
IN. contemptuous silence with which
/, was received.
~, the age of eighteen nc enlisted
In her military service as a private in
company OF cavalry organized IN
Lynchbur;. y brief training In Il mi!-
ltrry school ntted him Tor higher du-
ics. and he Was shortly elected and
commissioned as n second lieutenant
N the TwcntS-scTcutl! Virginia InfHn-
try: WAS made adjutaut OF his rcgi.
men, and served CALAMITY in the FIRST
Da!tis OF MA DuSSiS, WNeTt ne received
thrcc wounds, and left the field, using
the musknts OF two dead comrades as
vrutchcs. one OF these wounds was |!
tho hip, but /; kept him from service
bu, n short while. Ills boys heart had
learned a mans courage and stcadfaSt-
ness OF purpose. and few weeks saw
him again in the Held, elected md com
misSiGnod adjutunt OF the Eleventh Vir-
Elnia Infantry. Tie achievements OF
that gallant band of men arc written
In blood upon the unfading pages ~
history: its honors nrc his own. While
serving II he wns wounded ut Boones-
boro In September 1867 lie rcjoined
his regiment at Fredericksburg in De-
cember OF TINT same year, anu re-
NAMED. sharing its privations and
achievements. until in March, 1869, he
was made acknowledgement, with the
rank OF major, or the staff Of General
Jubal A. Early. serving with him in
very one OF his engagements, until
On May i. 1861, In The bloody Wilder
him cripple for life ana which
cloudcd every hniir for i've and forty
wears with constant pain.
Crippled and bcdriddcn. he followed
with his henrt and with his prayers
tho progress of his comrades: his spirI,
would light up with hope for "A causo
dcarcr to him than his life. ana
again he ciondcd with that DESPAIR
which must ever wait upon inaction.
hut through IL all he was tho SAM,
patient, enduring and submissive man.
Those who knew HIN can almost feel
The deep tension of his heart throbs
rs he heard the story OF that oprl; u.iI-
dcrncss of voc through which those
comrades, without heart and without
hope. marched from Yorktown TO An.
pomatto%.
at Lexington was fired the sbo,
heard around the world; but at Az.
pomatto% was sheathed an the death
less honor of glorious defeat n
sword a. spotless and as matchless n
Excaliber From there tho people of
tho South began their wandcrinrs
through their dark (iethscmano. They
emerged victorious over tho death OF
all their hopes and learned the lesson
that 10 nations as 10 men, pain and
suffering arc but tho angels OF God.
When ] stand in the presence of a
man who fought and suffered through
those four fearful years, bow my
head In tribute to the worlds greatest
military heroes. But when / tbinl, tina
these same men passed through the
darker hours Of reconstruction, OF
tfoir patience, their courage. and their
unwayering fidelity to ,neir native
States. yield my heart in reverence
20 the worlds greatest political mar
tyrs,
Was But tho Beginning.
~ Appomattox witnessed the end of
Virginia's willing sacrifices upon tho
% ltar of war, II was but the beginning
of her bitter endurance. Savages wore
set over her as taskmasters. The
hands OF thieves were ever at her
tltroat, and those combined with the
money changers Of the world to trait
nc In her pitiablo woe. Robbed of her
sSns. her substances. and her limbs,
when at last tho military despoLism
Was Withdrawn. lis lingering refuse
tbrccd their way into her unguarded
oliices of state and her Legislative halls
Al few of her own patriotic citizens
Ekra chosen to her Legislature, where