New-York tribune., 1870-08-15
TIE DEATH or FARRAG UT.

In the midst of the din of war and the ex-
citement of a great European crisis, man
who has done deeds in battle as brilliant as
any that are likely to be witnessed on the
fields of Lorraine or the shores of the North
Sea and the Baltic, has passed away
quietly, dying lingering and painful
but peaceful death, surrounded by his
friends and family, full of honors, ana
mourned by grateful and admiring country
1t seems strange that such life shouId
flicker out so quietly; that one VINO
had passed through so many perils OF the
sea, and cast himself so many tlme
into the fierce fame of battle, should lail
at last by disease so cruel that the Angel OF
Death came TO him as in every aspect an Anger
of Mercy. He was not only the most success
full of our modern naval commanders, but ne
was perhaps the very bravcst and most auoa-
cious of the long line Of heroes whose
gallantry has illustrated our naval his
tory from the time OF John Paul
Jones to the present day. The personal IN
trepdity which seems so natural to the Amen-
can sailor was his to a most extraordinary de-
gree, and combining with this quality perfect
mastery of his profession, genius for eXpe-
dients. and the talent for combination which
forms such an important part of generalship,
he gave to his achievements practical value
which was only equaled by their picturesque
splendOr.
Such a man as this would inevitably capti-
vate the American heart, and FaiTagut was
indeed beloved more than any other COM
mandcT in the late war; He was loved not
only for his services and gallantry, but for
many private virtues besides. He was man
whom slander had never wounded and idle
gossip never asSaled We knew him for a
simple minded, honest gentleman good
! Christian, a hero above petty jeaousies and
| intrigues, man as delicate and amiabe III
| private life as he was terrible III the roar OF
| the conflict No honOrs that the country be-
slowed upon him would ever have seemed to
! his countrymen beyond his deserts, for there
| is no honor which he would not have adorned
| in the wearing of it,
Lastly, there is a point in Farragut's history
which Americans never have forgotten. By
| family connections and personal associations
he was as closely allied with the cause Of the
| Rebellion as any of the misguided men who
took up arms against their country. Loyalty
cost him severe suffering in the rupture
| OF family tlcS, anu we KNOW t1dt tllt StloHE-
est temptations were offered to draw him over
to the Confederate side. HOnOrs, friends, op-
pOrtunities for distinction were on one side !;
on the other he saw at that time only stern
unpleasant duty. That he chose the right
was not at all surprisng we cannot imagine
a man like Fanagut deludng himself, in such
a case, into an approval of the wrong; for he
was too true-hearted and straightforward
! gentleman to understand any process of rea-
| soning by which an oath to defend the United
| States could be construed as an oath to fight
against the United States i'll behalf of the
I State of Tennessee: hut the people hon
Ored him for being faithful amons tho faith
| less not the less because they knew him to
be so honest and true that fidelity was merely
part of his nature Lord keep his memory
green for David Farragut's life is one of the
noblest legacies which this generation can
| bcqueath to postoTity