Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1861-12-26
THE REPUBLICAN,.
EaIogy on Senator Baker.
By Ma OolrAx. N THE Horsr. Drc. Ii

MR. SPEAkER:-The funeral procession
OF tho departed Baker has passed through
ths crowded streets Of our Atlantic cities--
the steamer. perhaps to-day. is bearing its
precious burden between the portals of the
Golden Gste--the thousands who, with
enthusiasts acclaim, cheered his departure
as Senator, stand. with bowed frames.
and barred heads, and weeping eyes, to re-
coiye. with honor. but with sorrow the life
less remains thst are to be buried in their
midst land there deyol on rs, his for
mer associates. brought By the telegraph
almost to the side of his open grave. the
duty OF rendering also our tribute of affec-
fion TO his memory. laf -ifle1 II
To say that the deceased was an extraor-
dinaiy man. is simply to reitsratc what the
whole country has long since conceded
He carved out his own niche in the Temple
Of Fame. Hs built his own pedestal in
our American Valhalls. And II the French
philosopher. D'Alembert, was correct in
saying that there are but three ways of ri
sing IN the world--to soar, to crawl. and
TO climt-our friends history is striking
exsmplifration of the last and worthiest OF
thsse three Ways. The hand loom weaver
boy Of Philadelphia. -the friendless lad.
withAis whole fortune 10 a meagre bundle,
tu5l khs face to the West-the patient
jodfl foossore and weary, over mount
aims charlottesville Deputy in the Clerks
Office at Carrollton. patiently mastering
the principles Of the law-his rapid rise in
4 L. -.
from the Capital of Illinois--his volun-
teering in the Mexican war. and raising.
e9uipping and marching his regiment with
in sourtesn days---his charge at Cerro Cor
do. when following up the victory which
his ippesuosity and dashing heroism had
mainly won. he pursued the enemy for
miles with fearful slaughter his removal,
on his return. to another Congressional
District. which he carried by his wonder
full eloquence. agains; its previous political
cohvictions--his removal to California
his thrilling grafton over the murder 81
Broderick--his triumphant canvass in Or
egon-his election to the Senate By Lee
gislature. majority of which differed with
him IN their political associations--his
brilliant, but impromptu, denunciations OF
traitors. who, in the Senate Chamber, he
prophetically hurled from tho Tarpeian
rock-his exchanging the robe of the Sen
ator for the sword Of soldier daring
struggle TO wrest victory, against over
wbelminS odds. from fate itself, and his
death at the head of his column. literally
with his back TO the field and his face to
the foe; what an eventful life to be crown
Ell by such glorious death. 5es
We know not but that death may have
been as welcome TO him as life. especially
when he fell in such cause. Some men
long TO die on the battlefield, knowing
that it is appointed for men once to die.
and that he who dies for his country is en-
shrined forever upon thousands Of patriot
hearts Others. who. If We could put a
window to their breasts. we would find
that they carried burden of care and sor-
row through life, and feel that the shaft of
death. when sped by its messenger. would
have no pain for them. And with others,
life is 60 joyous that the hour for their de-
parture is one of gloom and thick darkness
encompasses the path their feet must tread.
Bat for our friend. who had won his way
TO his highest ambition, AMI who fell IN
the very zenith of his fame. in defence OF
the Constitution and the Union. charging
al the head OF advancing columns. careless
of danger. of odds, or of death. leaving be-
hind him a glory. which shall survive long
after bis tombstone has mouldered into
dust-ws should rather weave for him a
garland of JOY than a chaplet of sorrow.
/ know there was sadness in the family.
which no earthly power can assuage. ]
know there was sadness at the White
House. where his early friends mourncd
thcir irreparable loss / know there was
sadness at the Capitol-sadness on the
Atlantic coast-sadness in the Valley Of
tho Mississippi-sadness as one of the first
messages flashed along the wire ne had SC
earnestly longcd to see stretched from
Ocean to Ocean boro to the Pacific the ii
dings of their great loss There was sad.
ness around the camp-6res of over . hall
million gallant volunteers, who. like him
had offered their lives to the country in
Its hour Of trial. So, too. If the legends
OF antiquity tend to commemorate some pa
triotic sacrifice of life. by the story oil
Curtius leaping into an open gulf to save
the Roman Republic. there was sorrow
doubtless, at his fate. And sadness, too
when Leonidas at the head OF his feeble
band. looked death calmly in the face. and
gave up his narrow span Of earthly life, tc
live immortalized in history.
Bot though there may be sadness such a.
this. let us rejoice that our friend has left
behind him such record and such fame
heightened by his magic cloquence and
hallowed forever by his fervid patriotism
For doubly crowned. as statesman and q
warrior,
From the top of Fame's ladder,
L. 81 H. L.