New-York daily tribune., 1865-11-22
WELCOMING DEATH.

This queer human life OF our has many
strange phases. The philosophy that sills Time
is the most popular, although when the years
lie dead around Us with their hopes, cares,
ioys, grcls, drsams, ambitions, and nothing left
but few experiences, struggling gray halr, 10
bundle "a letters tied with faded ribbon and a
daily tendency to lengthen the afternoon maps,
we rather ohido swift-footed destiny, and think
mournfiilly Of what might have been The
strongest hearts beat quickly amid grayc-stones.
Ashes 10 ashes, dust TO dust, and if We ere Alex
ander- we must come TO loan. III no oonsola-
ton was left but this, if We did not feel that
when the sordid body did It's work and was
cast away, new work began, the nature of
which we know not, but whose inspiration IL
with us always, life would be a calamity and
not blessing The stern theology of many
crceds would have US feel that these veins and
sinews. these slowly pulsng arteries, are but
80 much fuel for eternal boniires. We 10 not
discuss that now Whether we are to be burned
into crisp after the manner Of JOINT or a
hannch. or whether "the lake OF fire Is the
strong Oriental imagery for the torture Of re.
morse and the pain of contrition-more dread
fuu TO the true mind than any physical roasting
or toasting-it is not for us to say. We do'not
write now As a theological critic. We believe
in lfe-in the air, sunshine, fhe blue sea, the
green grass, good books and beautiful women.
We believe in it, and ask almost with wonder
whether any mere worldly men can think OF
welcoming death.
Life is sweet; but men may turn from 1t at
times and welcome infinity. A kind, genial
gentlemen, whose friends were numerous-who
had lived three-score peaceful and honored
years-a Senator-the companion and iriond OF
the President of the United States-the enyied
politician of Anterica--went down to the Hud-
son River one day and drowned himself Men
have committed sclf-slaughter before. Remorse,
disappointed love, care, WEAKNESS OF HE,
chagrin, poverty, shame, have induced mortals
10 dispose of their own fate BY sending theiI
bodies back To ashes and carrying an appeal
from destiny to God. This man had nc
such care. U all men in America he
vas the ono to live. den spoke o
him as the one III ten thousand u
whom life was o Summer dream, lie ha(
power. wealth, political influence. Men wen
TO hin and waited incense, and asked to b'
moved hither and thithar as though the!
wers 20 many chessmen. This vas the world
view. But now, when the waters are sobbia
orer his cold, dead form, and rude watermen an
digging and dragging end fishing for his boaos
now, when death has torn away tho draper
from his life. We see that even greatness has II
skeleton, and that fame may become hideous.
There were many things to make this genil,
man welcome death, aud here is TIE le6so
that we, a. pubic teachers, must apply. o.
American system has that about it that make
every man shudder, unless he has ", his natui
the most selfish instincts, and God has gifte
him with !he rare power of dissolving hi. ow
persona!ty, and making office and the duties
Office macbine'work. The late President was
man of enduring personal vgor. with an Ella
ttity and quaintness Of mind that made hi
resist the tumult Of American political lie, al
avoid many of jts haraSSing cares, Yet v