Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-12-07
PancgypicS.

death 6nd panegyrists. To humber mortals
belopg the brief obituary notice and the modest
mortuary inscription which tells the age Of the
departed, and sometimes asserts tersely his
virtues. But orators, more or less eloquent,
hear testimony to the political ability, scientific
,ttsinments, or exemplary piety OF men or
mark, and the fervid eulogies, sometimes iul-
soms and absurd, are duly chronicled in the
columns of the public journals. Nevertheless,
let one 90 what one will it is as impossible to
give dignity to coarse nature as to add cubits
length TO the stature of a dwarf Yet the
thing has been attempted more than once
in these days. and never more consplcuousiy
than by the Hon. Samuel Galloway IN his re-
cent discourse at Columbus on the death OF the
late Governor Tod, of Ohio.
The war has turned out so maRy heroes
that the public mind is becoming Satlated with
the cooked hated and shoulder strapped idols,
and in presenting the claims Of David Tod, a
civilian, to an Immortality OF tame,a new illusra-
ton has been ngiven Of the old remark that the
world does not know its greatest men.
TO the Hon. Samuel Galloway belongs the
merit of making the astonishing, yet grand
discovery that in David Tod, tamlllarly known
as Dave Tod" Ohio has lost, and the whole
Republic has reason to NOUN, "a remarkable
man." He was so remarkable that nobody
knew it until Mr. Galloway found 1t out, and
proved ito his own satisfaction, at least
by showing that the eminenee or the de-
ceased politician consisted IN the entire ab-
sence of every quality that would dlstin-
euish him from the common run OF mortals.
''He yas not genius, says Mr.. Galloway
emphatically. He was neither literary nor
scientific. He was not even an eloquent speaker.
Not being auy of these things, but only
"common-sense" sort of man, with good deal
Of that political adroitness which Mr.. Galloss
Vav dainty describes as "a rare combination
of talent and TACT" the latter is decidedly OF
Opinion that by reason of these negative quail
ties the lste Tod is entitled to q niche In the
same temple adorned with the names OF an
Alfred, Washington and Lincoln "-espe-
cally, he might have added, of-A Lincoln.
The croYning merit Of David Tod, says Mr..
Galloway, vas his fiial affection. His love
for his mother was intense, almost ''idola-
trous." He called her his 'Sainted Mother,
his Precious Mother; and when she passed
away, "he mad no doubt that she scared with
the scraphs and sung songs Of the ransomed.
When mundane affairs roub ed the aged moth
er, Likewise the aged father, and their son was
in debt thousand dollars himself, be actually
world not rest until he got kind friend to
assist his parents, and, wonderful to relate
this act of manhood and love was afterwards
crowned With 3rich compensation IN the dis
cOvery of coal mine imbedded in the Brar
Hill premises "
The moralist will here note bow beautifully
fial virtue, vicariouSlv assisted, met with its
appropriate reward But the most remarka-
BE thing IN the life Of David Tod was, that
Mrs. Tod, his precious mother, brought
up" jesse Grant, the father OF Ulysses, and
that it vas ct her instance the aforesaid Jesse
'beearl9 y tanner.
Young David Tod was himself destined for
the vOestion Of blacksmith, but took to other
pursuits. The smithy Was abandoned. be
studied l2a end had, we are told, the remarka-
BE facqlty Of detecting charlatans OF every
sOsgo5 ''Oy mere inspection. - He knew very
little Of lett.2s, not much Of law {; but by mix
as vita ell sorts Of people, he attained TO
uOsclar knov7ledge OF men. This knowledge
csIicd hin into Congress, got his appointment
Is United States Minister at Rio Janiero, and,
apsIly, made him Governor of Ohio. lie was
shrs~d politician, had fund OF anecdote,
Mud told good story. His capital IN trade
vas small, bu' it was such as suited the popu-
i'r taste, acd nos, IS Mr. Galloway sagaclous-
y remarks, although nobody knows where
Moses died, - "the body of David Tod
aeS cold end notioRless in the family vault on
ihe banksot the MahopiDg. There let US leave
1-Bat Gazette