The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-08-14

! In 'ur last We announced the sorrowful
intellE ence that WILLIAM II. SYLvIs, the
below ID and honored chief of the National
Labot Union was no more. His death was
so aWEully sudden and unexpected that we
couldtnot realize the loss. But few days
had 9apsed since we bad seen him in the
vigOrlOf manhood, consulted with him on
planstfor the future, which seemed big with
hopek and received the assurance that the
great: cause which be had so much at heart
was ROgressing beyond all precedence. We
had 4rted with him with the promise and
expectation of meeting him in Philadelphia,
before the Convention. Bot, instead Of be-
ing Permitted to do 50, without almost any
warm except the bare announcement OF his
sickness, came the crushing blow " Sylvis
died shis morning at tOenty.fSs MsinStes to
sir o'clock" Truly the designs Of PrOvi-
dence are beyond all mortal ken
Nj Sch as We would Ike to dwell upon the
virtr es and worth Of our dsccaseI friend, it
is nc, our intention, On this occassoa, 1t
least to indulge in Paoy gerie- HIS charac-
ter las his best eulogium- To know him
was 20 love him, WhIe the opinions Of the
prest, and our correspondents, which appear
in tae present issue, called from hun ireds OF
othees Of a similar character. which We have
not tpace to insert, tell how widely and truly
bis iOss has been appreciated.
A I'D now that he 10 gone that the place
which knew him once will know him no
MORE, we may perhaps be permitted to refer
SON ewhat briefly to our OwO Immediate loss,
fOrswe feel il ID an almost irreparable one
Our relationship WiIh the de-eased we're If
thS most intimate character. He vas our
corr dential friend and associate, and We
thes efoTe, knew him as lew men had the
prisiege Of doing. We loved hun rs we
loved no other man. We loved him for bic
stesling virtues, bis manly independence, his
regard for truth and right, his indomiIable
via, bis untiring energy. We respected
bid for his splendid talents, his ripe jadg
m$nt, his executive ability, his cOntsOpt for
ot:Siaclee, his deter minAtlOn to couquer,-in
fatt, for the combination Of those quah6ca
ti3ns which peculiarly adapted him Tor the
arSluOus and responsible position which he
was called to I'll qualifications we had
Sver found in any other living man. Un-
osS entatious and unaffected, he regarded
neither the smiles nor frowns Of those in
p$wer. Conscious of bis own integrity, of
bis power, and the ultimate triumph OF his
cause, be allowed no reverse or smile of for
tune to swerVe him from the path OF duty.
On his to mbstone may truly be engraved the
description : " Here was inferred the noblest
work of God-AN HoSEST Man "
Friends in all sections. Let bis death
rs.rve US to a nobler strife, to more deter
Itined action. Let US emulate bis virtues
lit, US follow in bis footsteps. Let Us re-
sflve aud re-resolye, God helping US, TO finish
tSe work so molly begun to continue our
eSforts till the goal of his ambition Is reach
e, and the disenthI Alment OF labor from the
nds of capital has been secured,
Then, up and be doing;
TIE night has been long
Our forces weak,
And the ~ Fsnts' strong;
Z But while fortune IaVors
The true aud the brave,
Well pledge devotion
Der syVis' grave.