The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-06-03

and he was then, or soon thereafter,
elected to the, house of representa-
tives, where he certainly played a
prominent part for so young a man.
Other high political honors were be-
slowed upon him also.
But it is of George Johnstone, the
lawyer, that we had desired more es-
pecially to say a few words. 1t was
at the bar that his greatest triumphs
were achieved. Here McGregor was
on his native heath. At ne zenith of
his career his practice and fame were
statewide. He was engaged in many
of the most important causes that
were ever tried in the courts of this
state. While he was acknowledged
by all to be an able lawyer, it must be
said in entire candor, that his breth-
rem of the bar never regarded him as
close student of the law. 1t was as
an adroit manager of causes that he
will be. longest remembered. There
he lowered high; was foeman wor
thy of any mans steel; with serene
confidence in his own ability, was rea
dy for all comers. Young lawyers
were amply rewarded for close atten-
ton to his conduct of an important
trial. His cross examination of hos
tile witness was very searching but
often too severe. It reacted on him.
His advocacy was unique. In sting
ing sarcasm and inimitable ridicule,
he was terror to his opponents;
with talent for marshalling the facts
of a case, which compelled the ad-
miration Of all, he could yet follow
that with the most splendid declama-
ton. At times, indeed, would he re-
mind his listeners of George Eliot's
magnificent tribute to the genius of
Savonarola. Said she in her descrip-
ton Of the great preachers oratory,
that ''from the fiercest denunciation"
he could "glide insensibly into tones
of the most irresistible entreaty." A
lawyer does not have the option to
elect the causes which he will prose-
cute or defend. For the most part
they come to him ready made. A
little doctoring must be allowed, of
course. But F. J. Cameron was
doubtless joking when he said to the
foreman, of the jury respecting
case which he bad just lost, and which
the presiding judge had appointed him
to defend, on the spur of the moment,
that if he had had time "to manufac
ture a little testimony" he would have
cleared him. Given, the case of a
Shylock, however, seeking to rob a
hapless man con the Rialto" and
none could excel George Johnstone
in throwing between the oppressor
and the oppressed, the shining shield
of his eloquence.
He was indeed a restless man. To
him the rush of the torrent was far
more engaging than the flow of the
placid stream. He drew upon a
boundless energy with reckless prod
igality. At last, after forty years of
tireless activity, the hammer of Thor
fell upon him; but oh, inscrutable
Providence! The fall was broken.
Napoleon said at St. Helena, "a bullet
should have gotten me at Apsterlitz.
Death at best is tragic enough, ample.
But~to halt on the very bosom of the
river, and tarry there; that indeed is
the irony of fate. For long his con-.
dition had been truly pathetic; IN
health a broken and exhausted man.
Finally, in sheer WEAKNESS of the de-
lay, he paid the grim boatman the
balance of his fare and passed over.
All in all, and with due allowance
for inevitable human faults, which the
uncharitable may say were neither
few nor small, it may be truthfully
said of him that here was as fine a
specimen of forceful American man.
hood as was ever bequeathed by the
nineteenth to the twentieth century.
These, Mr.. Editor, are but few
scattering thoughts, which we have
deemed it not unmeet now to express,
touching the career and personality
of most remarkable man.
G.. W. Ragsdale.