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_From the “Middle Georgia Progress.”_
ONE week ago yesterday morning woe folded her dark and gloomy pinions
and settled over our fair and sunny Southland! He, who by his love for
us, by his incessant labor for the advancement of our material progress,
whose voice was raised to dispel the shadows of hate and prejudice, and
bring the North and South into a closer union, whose heart was filled
with charity, and whose hands were ever performing deeds of kindness,
the eloquent and gifted Grady—the knightly and chivalrous leader of the
peaceful hosts of the New South—was called to a brighter home in the
skies, where all is peace and joy and supernal bliss. The whole South
laments his death “and may his soul rest in peace” is the sentiment of
every heart. His virtues are sung in sweetest song, and his worth
proclaimed by lips tremulous with emotion. Young in years, but matured
in wisdom, he grappled the great question that affected his people, and
with matchless eloquence presented their cause on New England soil and
told of their loyalty and love, still cherishing and remembering the
traditions of the past. His death everywhere is recognized as a national
calamity. Every public utterance and every public appearance, whether in
New York, Boston, Texas or on his native soil, amid “the red old hills
of Georgia,” has been greeted with applause and demonstrations of
delight. Made fatherless in youth by the cruel ravage of war, he struck
out with a stout heart and strong hands for success—how well he achieved
it, the praises showered upon him from every quarter forcibly
demonstrate the fact! Who has not felt the warmth of his sunny
nature?—it glows in every stroke of his pen, and shines in all his
eloquent utterances, and brightens his memory as his name and triumphs
pass into history. Mr. Grady, by his pen and eloquence, has done more
for the South than any other of her sons, and their love and
appreciation is attested in their universal sorrow. His gifts were rare,
his eloquence wonderful, and he bore in honor and peace the standard of
his people, and they will ever keep his memory fresh and green.
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