The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1917-06-08
Honoring The Last Of the
Old Guard.
BY r. w. Thompson.

by II. w. luOlHpSOu.
Washington. d. c., May 4.-Two
hundred members of the race, repre-
senting the flower of American man
hood, participated Saturday night in
delightful reception and luncheon
at Odd Fe lows Hall rendered to
former Governor z. B S. Pinchback
in commemoration of the Eightiefh
Anniversary of his birth. The occa.
sion is conceded to have been the
most notable of its kind ever held in
the nations capital. An even more
elaborate affair had been planned by
the friends and admirers of the Last
Of the Old Guard" of Reconstruction
days, but at the suggestion of the pro-
posed guest of honor and in recogni-
ton of the prevailing war conditions,
the intended formal state dinner was
set aside in favor of a modest recep.
ton and luncheon. The function
grew in spite of its managers and de-
veloped into truly national proper
tions, in keeping with the size of the
The responses to the necessarily lin-
tied number Of invitations sent out
by the committee were prompt, en-
thusiastic and inspiring. The direc-
ton of the affair was in the hands of
a committee headed by Judge Robt.
H. Terrell, chairman; r. w. Thomp-
son, corresponding secretary; w. j.
Singleton, financial secretary; ]. Fin
ley Wilson, recording secretary. and
Ill WI cd
by auxiliaries for various depart
ments of the work. Right royalty
did each perform his duty, and the
result was gratifying alike to the
guest of honor and to the Loyal LIE
gion" which came out to testify their
love and esteem for the races grand
old man." 1t was indeed feast OF
reason and a flow of soul" Besides
the Washingtoniars in attendance,
quite a number journeyed from far
away points and a score or more sent
kilograms of congratu ations to the
Governor upon attaining his four
score years of life and regretting
their inability to be present. In
one way or another, practically every
State in the Union was represented,
with Louisiana leading the van.
Judge Terrell as Master of Cere-
monies.
Judge Robert H. Terrell, of the
Municipal Court of the District of
Columbia orator, scholar, jurist and
racontour, acted as master of cere
monies and set warm pace at tie
outset by his wit, humor, ready grasp
of situations, and felicity of utter.
ance in introducing the various speak
ers. The races only judge of a rec
ognized court enjoys an enviable re
putation throughout the country as o
POSTMASTER" and added new laurels
to his brow on this occasion. Ills
opening speech and tribute to Gov
ernor Pinchback was gem Of per
sonal appreciation and reservoir Of
historical lore, worthy of preserva
ton in pamphlet form.&s
The addresses which followe! were
pitched in one key-that OF venera
ton and respect for the Last of the
Old Guard" hoard recognition o.
the great work he has done fur the
uplift of his people, sympathetic
appreciation Of the countless sacri
fees he has made in his battle fol-
our constitutional privileges and
equality of citizenship as 10D per cent
Americans. His constructive labors
as a soldier in the civil war, his proud
record as the chief executive Ut a
sovereign State marve GUS III the
light of more recent events--his cleo
ton to the legislature of his great
Commonwealth, then his victorious
campaign for the post Of Congress
men-at-Large, and finally his brilliant
Gesh for the United States Senate
to which he was fairly and sIuarely
elected--all came m for exhaustive
and laudatory review. His telling
services to the race in other federal
positions. such as Surveyor of the
Fort at New Orleans and as spe
tial agent for the Bureau of Internal
Revenue and member Of the New
Orleans Board of Education, were
also given prominence. Not only this
but his study allegiance to the or
carnations that cohtended for the civ
ic advancement of the race-such as
the National Afro-American Council
was extolled. The thrilling story OF
his sensational race with Henry C.
Warmoth, claimant for the Louis
lana Governorship, was told amid
cheers. In the speed-test as to which
cou'd reach the Pelican State first
and assume the reins of government
resulted in Pinchback's favor, and
made a luminous page in the nations
history. The vivid and fervent mar
rations "red-blooded" Of men OF all
callings surrounded this skeleton Of
facts with such life and color that
but a faint conception can be con
veyed here of the real human ele
ment that made the occasion memo
rable.
Noble Americans Extol Pinchbaek's
Many Virtues.
The virile manhood Of Gov. Pinch
back, his unfailing courage under a.
circumstances, his loyalty to the
flag of his country, his wonderful po
litical sagacity, his fidelity TO his
race, his rugged honesty in his bust