Excerpt from The Speeches, Addresses and Writing of Cassius M. Clay, Jr.: Including a Biographical Sketch

In politics Mr. Clay was a Democrat of the Cleveland type, a firm believer in and an able advocate of the system of checks and balances provided for under the Constitution against the irresponsible rule of a majority. He was a con stant advocate of a Tariff for Revenue only, and of a sound fiscal policy, adhering to a gold basis. He held in just contempt the heresy of a double standard and treated with scorn the craze of 16 to He held that the great dan ger of the future would be Communism and Socialism, and hence opposed all insidious efforts to break down the bar riers which protect life and property through the gradual extension of Government monopoly in the field of govern mental domain.

One of the most conspicuous features of his character was his utter impartiality. This perhaps grew out of his strong sense of justice, his clear intuition of truth and his adherence to principle. No one ever suspected him of selfish or nar row motives. He was charitable in his judgment of others, conservative, even-tempered and controlled by high ideals of life and of duty. He was simple in his tastes and wants, courageously cheerful in sorrow, reserved in business and private affairs, yet capable of strong and deep affection, standing steadfastly by his friends. During the later years of his life his health was precarious and required close atten tion, but even thus, no duty was neglected and no obligation left unfulfilled. He was closely identified with the various agricultural and business enterprises of his native county. Only a few days before his death, though weak and just out of the hospital, he attended a meeting in Paris of an impor tant association of which he was a member. His death occurred after a brief illness, November 27, 1913.

Mr. Clay was thrice married. (1) to Miss Sue E. Clay, who bore him two sons and two daughters. The sons, Junius B. And Samuel Henry, predeceased their father, theformer dying at the age of 33 and the latter at the age of 22. Of the two daughters, Anne L. Is the wife of W. Rodes Shackelford, of Richmond, and Sue E. The wife of Dr. Cyril Goodman, of Cairo, Egypt, where he has been in the service of the British Government for many years. (2) After the death of his first wife, June 6, 1880, Mr. Clay married October, 1882, Miss Pattie F. Lyman, who survived her marriage a little over a year, leaving a daughter, who died in infancy. (3) In December, 1888, Mr. Clay married Miss Mary Blythe Harris, of Madison County, who, with two sons, Cassius M. And John H., survive him.

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