Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1870-03-08

education and internal improvement, was de
voted to watchful care over the public inter
ests In all the departments of the government
and a cordial cooperation with the Legislativ,
branch, in all efforts to perfect and carry ou
the great measures of public policy previously
i adopted
! At the close of this executive term, Decem
ber, 1880, Gov. Trimble retired from public
life, carrying with him as large share of con-
hdence and respect as any man who has ever
served the public. Including his clerkship, he
had now been in official positions for twenty
one consecutive years, and in every position was
regarded as faithful, capable and honest pub
lie servant. He had aided in maturing and
putting into successful operation liberal and en-
| llghtened systems of policy that secured to the
State rapid growth and substantial prosperity,
making it worthy example as the first born of
the free States Of the Northwest.
In forming an estimate of the character of
Gov. Trimble we shall find, underlying all his
success IN public life, and more than any other
characteristic of the man, the source of his
| power, pure private character. Upright and
blameless conduct in domestic and social rela-
tions is essential to prepare man for the high
est usefulness 10 any important public station
| No one could have been more scrupulous than
he seems to have been from boyhood, to avoid
the prevalent and popular vices of the day,
and cultivate the higher faculties of the mind
and heart To have been in public life for so
long a period of time, and yet maintain rep
utation for integrity without spot, indicates a
nature of no common mold and virtue of the
highest order He seems to have commenced
life with lofty aims and noble aspirations and
to have utterly scorned the ordinary, easy, self
lndulgent ways OF life, SO common among young
men OF his social position He was a man of
frmness. The history of di tinguished men in
all ages attests the truth, that without this fix
lty and steadlness of character no great achieve
ment Is possible. There must be oneness of
purpose, slngeness of aim and an unWaver-
ing adherence to the great life-pursuit to which
our powers have been consecrated. or else those
powers will be trlttered away aud life itself gone
before any worthy end is reached.
Governor Trimble was early taught the lesson
OF self-Ieliance :paced in the providence ofGod,
In very early life, at the head of large house
hold, he found it necessary, no doubt to assume
responsibility and exercise authority with firm-
ness He was not quick to form purpose but
when formed, his purposes were not easily sha-
ken. There can be no doubt that in the vari-
Gus public positions he filled, this characters
tic was leading element of his success. The
man who is steadily true to his own convictions,
even though these be sometimes wrong, is the
man who, in the long run, will secure the lar
gest measure of public confidence and esteem
He was man of rare humility. Whoever
had reason to suppose that he thought of him
self more highly than he ought to think? that
In any respect he over rated his talents, his in
Huence, his services to the country or his piety?
If he occupied positions of honor, they sought
him rather than he them He was so evidently
humble and unassuming that, although for SO
long term OF years IN conspicuous positions in
the service of his adopted State that fact arous
ed no envious feeling among his neighbors =
They felt that his public honors were as fully
merited as they were wholly unsought. At the
present day, when there is so much selfseeking
and love of pre-eminence, and so much strife
for influence aud promotion, it is pleasant to
contemplate the life Of man who has filled
high places, and who, amid all, was clothed with
Christian humility: an honest, disinterested,
straightforward, guileless man; a man who
could participate in great undertakings without
any scheme for his own interest or honor-who
would say just what he meant, and do just what
he said. Such was the man who has been taken
from US.
He was man of integrity Governor Trim
BILE belonged to former generation, and one,
too we may be allowed to say, which put
higher estimate upon personal honor and incor-
ruptble integrity than that in which we live
A good name he esteemed above all price, and
not the least valuable legacy bequeathed to his
descendants is the spotless integrity that char
acterized his public and private life.
At the session of the Legislature in 1926 and
1927 he was authorized to select the half mil
lion acres Of land granted by Congress to the
State for canal purposes. This was very de-
lcate and difficult trust, and one which, under
ordinary circumstances, would be cOnhded to a
commission of several men, That appointment
is an illustration of the confidence reposed in
him by those who knew him best. In the ex
ercse of that sound judgment for which he was
remarkable through life, and with keen sense
of propriety, be called to his assistance, in the
performance of this duty, Mr. Lewis Davis, of
Cincinnati, a man eminently qualified for the
work, and they had the satisfaction Of receiving
the hearty approval of the Legislature for the
manner in which they performed this important
service.
Governor Trimble was Christian. There
is one circumstance in connection with death
which is very striking. 1t is the deep interest
which is felt by survivors in the moral character
of the departed. There is an eager inquisitive-
ness after the evidences of his preparation for
death. There is strong desire to know how
he felt and what he said in view of his depar
ture from earth. | am able to crafty this de
sire In the present case, and rejoice that it can
be done in the interest of Christianity.
ers within twelve months This produced very
great seriousness, but did not lead to his con-
version. According to his own Statement he
was awakened under the first sermon he heard
from the lips of his son, Joseph NJ Trimble,
who had just completed his college course, and
engaged in the work of the Christian Ministry.
This sermon was preached in this place, in the
spring of 1928 The Governor made no revela-
ton of the state of his mind, occasioned by this
discourse, until after second sermon preached
by his son in October of the same year. After
the election which occurred in that month, and
which resulted in bis reelection as Governor,
was over, he spoke freely and frequently of his
convictions With troubled heart he went to
the opening of the votes for the President and
Vice President of the United States. While
there he wrote to his son the following letter:
sMY DEAR SoN-I am here In accordance
with the law of the State to be present at the
opeping of the votes for electors of President
and Vice President of the United States. But
what shall | say to you, my son, on a subject OF
vastly more importance to me than any earthly
matter? I mean the salvation Of my SOUL Ever
since listened to your first sermon, have been
deeply convicted Of my sinfulness. But as l
was candidate for office, feared to speak of
it. lest it might be uncharitably construed, and
improperly used But your last visit and ser
mon opened afresh the wounds of my pierced
heart. Can you tell me what | shall do to be
saved? The only prayer | can offer with the
hope of being heard is, God be mercIful to me
a sinner!
Returning from Columbus he found quite
revival in progress in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He went one evening to the church
and heard sermon by Arthur ". Elliott, and
on evhortation bv John Collins who invited