The Portland daily press., 1869-07-01
Extract.From an Address by HI. w. Beech
faA er MT MIR. Raym onss Fnncrat.

er nj Mr.. Ksaym onds FnncraI
After the singing the Speaker arose and
placed his band on the casket preparatory to
delivering the address from which we make
the followrnS extract. He spoke with
voice thrilling and low, which could be heard
in every part Of the Church.
1t may not be improper that should indul-
ge in eulogy nor even that l should attempt
to recount the prominent acts in the history
OF him who is gone. But few days ago he
walked in manly vigor and unceasing activity,
and to-day not when he was born and was in
his cradle was he so week as now-this man
ofstrength and poweriin his coffin.y So sud-
denly and instantly was his fall, as OF
some mighty tree that had filled the air.
wide and broad, with its strength, and rich
ness, and in an hour it has felt the wood
mans ak and the place that knew it knows it
no more, and will not, forever. 1t Is seldom
that any one passes from life, holding no pub
lie position, except one built up by himself,
around whose departure there has been such
concentration of regret, and for whom there
has been SO cordial an expression of good will
and admiration, and grieyed affection, as in
the case OF Mr.. Raymond. A warrior, he was
called to sphere of conflict; but scarcely had
the adyices of his departure been flashed
through the country before, with almost
hSubhuS ilkC cULlcS DdCk testimony
the leading, and chiefest Of all, of his very
antagonists. aid scarcely behind that of his
personal friends; a testimony 10 his goodness
OF nature, to bis fidelity, to his almost inordi-
nate industry, to his great capacity, to the
purity of bis motives, to the greatness of the
work which he has done in this community
and in this State. It is seldom that animosi-
ties are so suddenly laid aside. And it is tes-
timony to the goodness, to the real goodness.
OffllS that fbooQ Al
those whose hands were lifted up, with the
pen, were the quickest to let down the pen
and write his eulogy, to express their admira-
tl0n. Ior ne was a man without hatred.
might almost say withot aniInosities. He was
man whom tho more nearly -you came to
him and the more perfectly you knew him
the more you esteemed him, the more YOU
loved him. You trusted him if YOU knew
him, and loved him and it is no small thing
to say in this selfish world. s'He is one to be
leaned on There are two things which /
wish to emphasize Of his public career and
only two. He stood on this widest pulpit
that now is known in modern society. The
lawyer has narrow sphere before him; the
Senator and the Representatives. walls |
nedge In their voices; the minister has his
parish walls about his church. But there is
a pulpit that now has no limit is the press.
There IS, literally, the voice of one that cries
IN the wilderness; for all across the populous
iand, out into the Territories, and to the very
Pacific Ocean, the daily papers speak, and
there is not, in modern civilization. place
OF power that can compare with this. And
among those that have been the builders up
Oh tnis great modern engine of civilization,
not the founders but the finishers, he stood
the most pre-eminent Aside from the gen
eral ability with which he conducted the
press, marked how singularly free his whole
career has been from bitterness; how he re-
fused 10 gain strength by adyocacy of the
passions; how he neither used the malign
passions himself nor excited them in Others.
But, rising to higher mora sentiment,
Dreathed it in his work, and addressed those
higner feelings in those to whom he uttered
Now he has departed Look back upon his
career. If he welded this mighty engine in
behalf OF pure moral sentiments. it covers a |
multitude of imperfections. And this work
ne dld. And this is no small praise. have |
1t IN my heart, also, to say, because in COM
mon With all of you, have heard his insta- |
Dlllty cited. have heard it said he was |
weak, trimmer" but never believed it.
recall that time when this nation shivered
IKE an aspen leaf. 1 recall the time when
one man was worth armies-those pivotal |
days when what we needed above ali other |
Things, was hope and indomitabe courage. /
And 1 remember-I shall never forget to be |
grateful to the example of this mamie in
stantly, without moments hesitation press
ed to the very fore front, and let his voice |
ring out clearly, without one moment finch |
ing, to the very end of this great conflict |
which has moulded, again, our national life,
and gave courage, and hope, and cheer to l
TINS great people. II this be etrimming," o! |
that there had been more trimmers. That /
duty and service, of itself, shonld enshrine a |
mans memory in a country's history, and |
make his name dear to all the people,