These resolutions were also unanimously adopted.
Mr. John T. Boifeuillet, representing the press of Macon, spoke as follows:
ADDRESS OF MR. BOIFEUILLET.
Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: The silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl is broken, and the most brilliant light in American journalism is veiled in darkness. The crystal spirit has returned to the bright realm from whence it came, as an evangel of peace, hope and mercy.
The star was rapidly ascending to the zenith of its greatest brilliancy and magnitude when suddenly it disappeared below the horizon, but across the journalistic firmament of the country it has left an effulgent track whose reflection illuminates the world.
Henry Grady’s sun-bright intellect shone with a splendor that dazzled the eyes of men, and made luminous the pages traced by his magnetic pen. The cold type sparkled with the fires of his genius. His writings breathed a spirit of sweetness and good-will. They were inspired by lofty purposes and earnest endeavor, free from all suspicion of selfishness or insincerity. No shadow of doubt fell across the sunshine of his truth.
Wherever a sunbeam wandered, or a tear-drop glistened; wherever a perishing life trod upon the ebbing tide; wherever beauty sat garlanded, or grief repined, there Grady was, singing his loves and binding rainbow hopes around the darkest despair. His harp was strung in harmony with the chords of the human heart.
When God in his eternal council conceived the thought of man’s creation, he called to him the three ministers who wait constantly upon the throne, Justice, Truth, and Mercy, and thus addressed them: “Shall we make man?” Then said Justice: “O God, make him not, for he will trample upon the laws.” Truth made answer also: “O God, make him not, for he will pollute the sanctuaries.” But Mercy, dropping upon her knees, and looking up through her tears, exclaimed: “O God, make him—and I will watch over him with my care through all the dark paths which he may have to tread!” Then God made man, and said to him: “O man, thou art the child of Mercy; go and deal with thy brother.”
So, Henry Grady, a ministering angel of mercy on earth, faithfully tried, throughout his life, in his conduct toward his fellow-man, to follow the Divine injunction given at man’s creation morn. His pen was never dipped in malice or bitterness, but was always lifted in behalf of charity, love and kindness; in behalf of progress, industry and enterprise; in behalf of the South and her institutions—his State and her people.