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ALBION W. TOURGEE.Albion W. Tourgee is dead. The Reaper has claimed one of the sweetest and bravest souls the world ever saw. The law has lost a brilliant child. Literature has lost a genius. Humanity has lost a champion who never quailed before the enemy, nor equivocated, nor stammered, nor sacrificed in public speech or writing one principle of liberty. He excused nothing wrong. Nothing to him was expedient unless it was right; nothing was right unless it was expedient. The history of all ages may be searched in vain for a braver or more virtuous man. The plaudits of the nation never turned him from his duty; the aspersions and threats of his enemies, who were also the enemies of Heaven, never deterred him from a fixed conviction, which he dared maintain like Garrison, and Phillips and Sumner. These men were his friends. They could not but love him.Tourgee for years was the star of hope to the black people of North Carolina, if not of the whole country. They never looked to him in vain for counsel; they prayed for him as they would a redeemer. He was true to them, as he was to himself, to mankind, to Heaven. He wrote for justice, he spoke for justice; he died from a wound he received while standing on the battle field facing hell, in order that this nation “might have a. new birth of freedom,” and that a “government of the people, for the people, by the people” might not perish.As a writer, Tourgee ranks with the great reformers of the world who have appealed to the pen; as a lawyer, his ability is written in the evolution of the judiciary and constitution of North Carolina; as a soldier, his effective service is reflected in the freedom of this nation; as an orator, he was as eloquent as Grady, as truthful as Sumner, as able as Ingalls; as a man, his fame is in the stars. America has produced no stronger man; the world did not know him well.When the history of Reconstruction is written by truth-sayers and not prevaricators; when the deeds and words of the great men of that time shall be recorded, the name of Tourgee shall stand alongside the names of Grant, Sumner and Lincoln. But even now, his name is carved in the hearts of the few remaining men of this land who have not yet sold their souls for notoriety, and who still believe in truth and despise error; who know that this nation can edure upon its presentfoundation no more than it could endure upon the foundation of slavery.To black people the world over, his precious and inspiring memory shall be cherished like so many rubies, and his name shall be softly spoken. Millions of these people shall rise up and crown him with love and admiration. Out of the mouths of babes shall rise to him praise and gratitude. Albion Tourgee is one of the few immortals who were not born to die.—Colored American Magazine.PERSONAL.Miss Emma Houston, who has been attending boarding school in Portland since last Christmas, returned home last Monday. Before returning home she took in the Lewis and Clark exposition, and was much pleased with it. Washington, she says, has the best building on the grounds. Thefair on the whole she thinks quite up to the standard, and well worth yourattending.Mrs. R. W. Butler is still quite ill with 110 signs of improvement.Rev. and Mrs. S. S. Freeman, of the A. M. E. church of this city, are visiting in Spokane this week.Mrs. Samuel Burdett, who formerly lived in this city, but who now resides in Benton county, passed through the city one day this week on her way home. She has been with her sister in Portland, for the past six weeks, who has ben very sick.Mrs. J. A. Davis and granddaughter wish to thank the friends and acquaintances, who rendered them assistance in their late bereavement. The funeral of Mr. Davis was held last Sunday, and was largely attended.Mr. J. E. Hawkins has been confined to his bed with rheumatism for the past two weeks.Mr. J. E. Shepperson, of Roslyn, passed through the city en route to Portland today (Friday).Two of the White messengers in the postoffice at Memphis, Tenn., quit the office because a Negro special was employed, whereupon, Mr. Dutro, the postmaster, just allowed them to re main quit, and added another Negro messenger to the force.
Newspaper Details
Seattle Republican
Seattle, Washington, US
Fri, Jun 23, 1905
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 03 Feb 2022
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