The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-18
The Late J. l.. NJ. Curry

The sketches of the Men Who Have Made Alabama by the Rev. Dr. B. F. Riley, which appear in the Sunday Age Herald, are widely read and enjoyed. They are al once entertaining and instructive. No state in the south perhaps has includ- ed in it's citizenship a greater number of strong men than Alabama.
 I was particularly interested in pr Ri- ley's paper on Jabez l.. NJ. Curry, stat man. educator and author in yesterdays $ issue, because it was my privilege to be on terms of intimacy with that distn- guished gentleman. When l first knew pr. Curry he was in the prime of life and l was only a youngster. He was a min ister of the Baptist church, although as his biographer tells us he never would accept pastoral charge. Being a man of exceptional talent and rare magnetism he was naturally in demand as pulpit supply He preached with genuine fervor and although he was busy man with his educational work, he was always obligng when called upon to fill pulpit on Sunday. While his sermons vera usually addressed to Baptist congrega- tons, he was broad in his sympathies and was heard from time to time in Pres byterian and Methodist pulpits. One of the greatest discourses that I heard him deliver was in a Presbyterian church Although he was a D. D.. he objected to being styled Reverend"
 Dr. Curry took an active part In public affairs and was as brilliant in the political arena as he was in the class room or the pulpit He was master in debate and am told that in Virginia he was fre- quently mentioned in connection with the democratic gubernatorial nomination. He had distinguished himself in the Con gress of the United States before the war. representing Alabama from 1s53 to 1861. He would have made an ideal gov ernor.
 Dr. Curry was minister plenipotentlary to Spain during Mr. Clevelands first ad- ministration. Afterwards he was sent as special ambassador to Spain to attend the coronation of Alfonso XIII. While n member of Congress. Dr. Cury was se- lected by President Buchanan to defend him on the floor of the House against an infamous asperslon. Political opponents of the President had insinuated. if they had not boldly charged. that the chief executive had used his high office to make money for himself by collision with bankers In a bond transaction. Buchana II was a man of noble integrity. but de- famers were as intemperate in their ut terances in those days as they were when MT Cleveland was President. In a con- versation with me- Dr. Curry expressed his indignation at the vilainous charges
 
 The latter mightS have been a mult-mil- lionaire had he prostituted the presiden- tia office for his own gain, but as a mat ter of fact he was absolutely free from any financial scheming in his own behalf or that of his friends. MT. Cleveland was quite money maker as a lawyer in an honorable way between terms, but not withstanding that fact he was never worth as much as a million dollars: prob ably never as much as half million dol lars. pr. Curry spoke of the unjust ae- cusation against President Buchanan and the groundless accusations against Pres ident Cleveland as being parallel cases. An ante-bellum statesman told me that Dr. Curray's speech in behalf of Presi- dent Buchanan was strong and convinc- ing. It was certainly effective. because no word of offense against the PresI- dent was uttered after that
 The south has produced many forceful and scholarly men in recent times, but l doubt If any man of the present genera ton in this part of the country Is so varied in culture or capacity as was J. l.. M. Curry. If you failed to read Dr. Riley's sketch, look 1t up.