Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-07-23
John G. Whittier's Tribute TO the Me-
mOry of DR.. Bailey.

y "nttAlef'S I'D tHc inCs
mOry of DIR. Bailey.
From the National Era. ..
From Mr.. Whittier, the Corresponding Ed
itor of the Era, we have received the follow
ing beautiful tribute to the memory of DR..
Bailey: .-........
GAMALIEL BAIELY.
The cypress shadows deepen. But few
days ago, we were called upon to lament the
loss of a world-honored and beloved friend,
Joseph Sturge, Of Birmingham. And now,
the last arrival from Europe brings us the
sad intelligence that our gifted and dear friend
and fellow-laborer, with whose name our own
has been so long associated in the National
Era, is no longer among the living.
Gas clouds that rake the mountain SUBMITS
As waves that know no guiding hand,
So swift has brother followed brother
From sunshine to the sunless land"
The death of Dr. Bailey will be widely felt
as public calamity. He was one Of those
men who mould and shape the age in which
they live To no one is the cause of Freedom
and Progress, as embodied in the Republican
party, more indebted than to him. Clear
sighted, warm-hearted, generous to fault,
frank in the avowal Of his opinions
without fanaticism, bold without temerity, ,un-
compromising yet courteous and charitable, a
gentleman always, never STOPPING to personal
invective or controversy-he has been en-
phatically the man for his place and time
His views were broad and statesmanlike-
he could not wear the badge OF mere parti-
san-and he held himself ready always to
censure his political friends, when in his view.
they were i'll the wrong, and to commend his
opponents whenever they took step in the
right direction. None but those who knew
him well, and understoo his social and genial
nature, and his strong love of appreciation,
could estimate how much it cost him to main
tain, under circumstances to which weaker
man would have yielded as to destiny, his
perfect loyalty to truth. What most impress
,ed us, in our intercourse with him, was the
total absence of all cant, cavil, or subterfuge
the transparent honesty and Christian
manliness of his character
In that dark period when his press in Gin
cinnati was twice destroyed by mobs, and in
the terrible excitement which at Washington
followed the capture Of the Pearl, with it's car
go of fugitive slaves, his courage never Ealter-
ed. With everything he loved in life at stake,
he disregarded alike the menaces of enemies
and the persuasion of friends, and refused to
make any confession or apology, and, strong
in his conscious integrity, challenged the clo-
sest scrutiny of his words and actions The
future historian of the anti-slavery movemcn,
will find fewer of nobler pictures for his can.
vass than that of the slight figure of the anti
slavery editor, alone with his family, unarmed
and unsupported in the heart of slavehold,
Ing city, calmly confronting ar,noI enG v:x-
cited multitude, declaring his determination
to i've and die a free man, and to speak and
print his sentiments freely and fully, subject
only to the laws of his country; and closing
with all appeal, at once touching and manly
to the better natures of his opponents, until
threats changed to cheers, and the really gen
erOus but misguided populace pressed to-
wards him, not to maltreat or inti.nidate, but
t. shake the hand of brave and honest man
Personally, we arc assured, DIR. Bailey hat
no enemies. His, genial, hearty, healthfu
nature, his righteousness, his delicate regard
| for the amenities and courtesies of life, his
unsrudging admission Of the right to differ
! his broad, catholic charity, endeared him to ;
wide circle of friends, among the warmest o
| whom were some who totally dissented from
his views on political matters, and the mora
character of slavery.
| Many thoughts and memories crowd upor
US, but our heart is too full for words. \
true and good man has laid down to his lon!
rest, after bravcly fighting the battle of life
leaving his mark upon the age, and a stainless
and honored name to his children. The worlt
wherein he labored is better for his sake. IL
will be greatly missed in the coming struggl
(Heaven grant it may be the last and triumph
ant one,) of freedom and slavery. But Goo
is over all, and no man is indispensable. Tn
broken ranks will be closed, and younger me
who have learned the lessons of liberty in tn
school of our lamented associate, will talk
up and carry forward to its glorious consum
nation the great work to which his life wa
devoted