The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-01-13
Francis T. Nichols is Dead
Grand Soldier and Citizen, Lawyer and
Jurist, Confederate General, and
Louisiana's Most Beloved Gov
ernor Passes to His Eter-
nal Reward.

AT MS Qne OlQ nome III 1iliuo-
daux, La, at 1920 O'Clock on
the night of Jan. A, 1912, Judge
Francis 7. Nichols, born at
Donaldsonville, La, in 1884, de-
parted this life in his 18th year.
A veteran of two wars, he was
twice Governor of Louisiana, and
twice a member of the Supreme
Court, and goes to his grave the
most beloved character in the
eyes of the whole people of any
man that ever trod upon Louisiana
soil.
Many beautiful and tender eu-
logies have been passed upon
Francis 7. Nichols, and we feel
altogether incompetent to add
anything to the splendid tributes
paid to his worth and memory.
From among them we select the
words of Senator Murphy j. Fos-
ter as expressive of the univer-
sal esteem and love felt by every
Louisianian.
SENATOR FOSTERS TRIBUTE.
When the news flashed over
the wires that Francis Tillou
Nichols was no more, a whole
state was plunged into grief and
mourning. Knowing the man as
l knew him, / do not have to be
told that he met the last great
enemy with the same serenity
and and splendid courage that
animated him when he galloped
into the midst of the leaden hail
on many a battle field in his be-
loved Southland. =
I'm my opinion, Judge Mich
oils was the noblest contribution
Louisiana has made to American
civilization.
las a private citizen his life
was blameless, his example up
lifting and ennobling, and his in
fluence was exerted always on
the side of truth and righteous
ness.
! "As a soldier, julius Caesar
was no less a stranger to fear
than he.
| ''As a patriot, in his humble
sphere he was as single minded
and as 'pure in heart as Wash
ington or Lee.
AS governor. no other man
| in Louisiana's history has shed
so much luster upon the execu-
tive Office.
| 'As chief justice on the bench
of the states highest judicial
tribunal, his inherent love of
| justice and his profound know
ledge of our law met and blended
with his marvellous human sym
patty, and these, combined with
an extraordinary endowment OF
common sense and clear discern
ment. made him the ideal judge.
i las a friend, he possessed the
rare faculty of binding to him
with the unyielding letters of
sympathy and love those whose
friendship he coveted and nc
man ever had stronger or truel
| friends.
In his home life he was gen.
tie and true and chaste as the
driven snow.
In his personal department,
dignity, honor and genuine demo.
cracy enshrouded him as with a
garment, and when Louisiana
men speak of chivalry and cour-
age instinctively they think Of
Francis 7. Nichols.
/ las a Christian gentleman ht
hated shams and hypocrisy, his
character was as transparent al
the light, his conceptions of truth
and righteousness were clear as
crystal and his devotion to duty
and honor were constant and un
yielding.
Such was the truly great mar
whose death all Louisiana mourn!
to-day, and whose passing viii
recall to many thousands in al
portions of our common country
the man who met great 'crisi,
bravely and grandly and over
came by the sheer strength of ar
unconquerable will and the nigh