Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-10-20


the natural ncct mIanin rni al his ad-
vaDced years, has assumed a serious
form only n week before.
With the exception Of Nathaniel
Greene and Oliver Hazard Per-
ry, no man, rince tie great founder of
the State, has done more 10 make its
name lonor,d Ihan Tristan rurc,s;
and nl Ills day, eighteen Years after
lie rrlir, men, from ublc lie, lis nan e
is better known Than that Of any living
man ia Rhode Island. We well knew
upon low many h, arts, attached TO him
through all his varying political lor-
tunes. proud Of him as Tie eloquent rep
resentative OF Rhode Island, the char.
Pion of The North upon The floor Of
Congress, tie announcement Of his
death will fall with deep regret we
well know The associations that It will
revive and the admiration that it will
kind!e anew. Al anoih,r time, aud by
an ablrr pen jusiic will be rendered 10
him. AT present we can only briefly
repeat the leading events Of his lie.
Tristan Burgess was horn on the
Goth day Of February, ITO. Had lie
lived TO February next, he would have
been 81 years Of age. He entered the
Sophomore class OF Brown University,
then Rhode Island College, IN 1893, and
graduated in 1856 with The fret honors
o. his class. Among his classmates was
the late Hon. John Holmes, United
States Senator from Maine. The ora
ton which he delivered at Commence
ment is familiar TO all who studied the
school books ior the thirty years follow
ing, and was justly regarded as one of
The finest Specimens Of the ornate style
oi oratory to which II belonged, and
which has been brought into dispute by
men who copy its faults without the
ability to reach its excellence. Ii gave
the young. orator such reputation as
has very seldom heraled the entrance OF
any young man into active life. He
studied law with Judge Barnes in 1899.
and was admitted to the bar, which was
tlen adorned by James Burrell, Asher
Robbins, William Hunter, Benjamin
Hazard and Nathaniel Searle. In 1901,
he married The daughter Of Welcome
Arnold, one of the most eminen, Her-
chants Of hs day. They had seven
children, Of whom they survived six.
In 1911, he was elected a member Of
the General Assembly from the town OF
Providence in 1915, he was elected
Chief Justice OF the Supreme Court,
succeeding James Burrell, who had
been elected to the United States Ser
ate, but change Of poIrics returned
him TO the bar the following year
soon after he was elected Professor Of
Ora,ory and Bellies Letters in Brown
University.
In 1925 he was elected member IL
the House Of Representatives Of The
United States, where his first speech
established his reputation at once, and
where his iervid ii Quence and his with
ering sarcasm soon placed him in the
front rank among the public men Of the
day.
No man ever represented New Eng.
land with more fidelity than MIR. Bur.
gss. Although he always adhered 10
the principles which unite the north and
the south under the Constitution, he
never permitted his own constituency
10 be alluded to with disrespeci without a
meri,ed rebuke. No person familiar with
the History OF his lii, Gao fail to recol.
lect his eloquent and successful appeal
in favor OF the survivors OF the revolu-
ton, and at all times and on all occa-
sions he wac ready TO defend the intc-
rests o! his constituents.
AS an orat r. Mr.. Burgess was one of
the greatest our country has produced.
His mind was early iamiliarIzed with
tie best models, and he thoroughly
trained himself 10 the art which made
him most known by the people. AT the
bar he was an able and effective advo-
cate, and salies Of ~it and sarcasm,
was as well as his eloquent and pointed
sentences. are daily repeated by his pro-
iessional brethren who survive him.
While Mr.. Burgess was in Congress,
Mr.. Cambreleng, Mr.. McDuffie and the
celebrated John Randolph were there.
How they were met, when the interests
oi the north vas sssailed, his speeches
will show. When he rose in reply 10
John Randolph, and exclaimed after
him "Hodie, Hodie, deidnda est Cariha-
60" to-day, shall New England be
destroyed" every man i.lt tha, We had
a representative.
Ii is matter of regret that Mr.. Bur-
ges should not have remained longer
in the public councils. His presence
would have commanded respec, and
influence that would have been OF last
ing benefit to the oun'ry.
Mr.. Burgess was firm believer in
the truths OF christianity. n constant
and life long student of the bihle, and
learned in all theological controversy.