The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-06-19


"He who 70 mountain tops ascend. shall and
The loftiest peaks most wsapt In clouds and snow
| He who sur2asses or subdaes mankind.
Must look down on the hate Of those below,
| And far beneath the earth ana ocean spread.
Round htm are Icy rocks. and loudly blow
Consen ling tempests on his naked head.
Add thus reward the toll that to their SUBMITS led"
In every mutation Of public policy in ey.
cry change of. administration; ia every ex-
tremity of his country's danger; he was
colossal pillar in the State. Early rising to
the majestic level of Webster, Clay, Calhoun.
Wright, and the great statesmen o, their
time, he maintained his proud position, until
one by one, his illustrious compeers have
passed away, and he stood almost solitary
and alone in his lofty eminencs. And now,
oh! melancholy truth! he too has passed
away. But in the bloom Of his majesty, he
too. has been gathered to tha home Of his
fathers. We may drop the bitter tear of
sorrow.-The unavailing sigh Of grief may
ascend to Heaven-,Panegyric fluent in long
stiacd praise may perform its ofice-The
warlike hosts Of gathered armies may beat
tho muffled drum and don the weeds Of woe
The whole nation may shroud itself in mourn.
ing and groan in the lamentation Of its be-
reavement; and yet we cannot repair the
loss; and yet we cannot break the peaceful
sluu,bers of the illustrious dead. From the
turmoils of strife, with the mantle Of patriot.
ism resting upon his shoulders, he has ma
jestically descended to bis everlasting rest
'Hs sleeps MS last sleep, y
He has fought bis last battle"
To US, his political friends, who have de-
lighted to honor him as our great leader, and
who loved him with patriotic ardo;, the
blow is almost insuppor,able Orr 'SSriisf is
Overwhelming. But it is not alone his po-
ltical friends that grieve. Around his bier
the nation congregates 10 weep. To The
hearts Of all that love their country. through
long engend, ,red prejudice and cmbitteredj
aniinosity, comes the melancholy fiding, to
stir their earnest, manly grief
As we assemble here to-day, to pay the
grateful tribute of respect and vencra. ion to,
the memory Of the illustricus deceased. for
the hour, political differences are forgotten
the slandercus voice Of the bitter partizan il
hushed and deal. and At the mention Of tn.
name, the spirit of Douglas arises to rebuke
the intrusion and drive the foul spectre back
to its hateful abode. Stephen A. Douglas
belonged to no section. Proud of his origin.
ne hailed from the people, and belonged to
the nation. A life long democrat Of the
Jacksonian school, he believed the Union
Of the States the palladium of our Liberty
and the cultivation of mutual friendship and
good feeling the surest means Of its preser-
vation. In the present terrible crisis, he be-
longed to no party that was not for his
country, right or wrong. and against her as
sailants, from without or within. To use his
own words, employed in his last speech
$50 long as there WIS hope of peaceful So
luton, and even after hope had almost dis.
appeared plead and implored for compko-
mise. can appeal to my countrymen with
confidence, that have spared no effort,
omitted no opportunity to secure peaceful
solution Of all these troubles and thus restore
peace, happiness and fraternity to our coun-
try. When ell propositions Of peace fail,
and war Of aggression is proclaimed, there
is but one course left for the patriot, and
that isto rally under that flag which has
waved over the Capitol from the days Of
Washington. and around the government
established BY Washington. Madison, Ham.
ilton and their compeers."
Thus spoke the honest patriot, and then
passed away forever. Itwill probably Be
long before the world win see his equal. Ey-
cry age is not graced with such man. As
at long intervals, planets Of extraordinary
brightness appear in the heavenly world, -
SO do such men as Stephen A. Douglas in
this. His splendid sun, after aE iflustrions
career. has but Just set; and as il sinks BE-
bind the horizon that divides the dark valley
Of the shadow Of death the whole armament
is illumincd by the resplendency of its ne
hected glory. From those who would not
grant the rectitude of his conduct--from the
injustice Of contemporaries. he has appealed
to posterity. And the appeal will not be in
vain. Its justice is already felt. Statues
will rise to his memory. Peans Of praise will
ascend. The generous streams OF heartfelt.
eulogy, win unobstructed low, and his name
viii descend to distant generations, bright
ening in its passage, and embalmed with the
universal offerings Of impartial posterity.-3
Then
/" s'fruta crushed to earth shall rise aeala
The eternal years Of God are hers
While error wounded writhes In pain, ~.
And dies among her vorshipers."
Years and ages may pass away. Customs
and fashion may change. This once happy
land be torn with civil discord and drenched
in fraternal blood. The Flag Of olr Country
be dishonored and disgraced, stripe after
stripe may fade away, star AFTER star may 90
utfrom its bright and waving folds. This
glorious Union of States may thaw and melt
away before Secession's unholy fires. The
great pillars of the Temple Of Liberty may
be broken down. and the bright lamp that
has burned upon its altar expire but so
long as the recollection Of our former Free
dom exists, there will be associated With
that recollection, the memory Of its true ad..
vocate and defender, Stephen Arnold Doug
las. ihni
Friends and coun.rymen it is noble TO