New-York tribune., 1870-01-08
EDWIN M. STANTON.
WOMAN's TRIRVTF.

IHE TRIBUNE may seem something worse than
superiuous. Indeed the whole country appears bent
on making up in laurels and roses laid on his coffin
for all honor and love withheld from him while
living. But he that is gone my friend-my
friend for nearly quarter of century. and there
fore utter silence though ever SO sorrowful. would
almost to myself like forgetfunessand ingrati-
tude.
This death has depressed rather than shocked me.
looked for il as a sad certainty. The last time
saw Mr. Stanton, could see in him little of my old
friend except the eyes They retained to the last
their fulneSs and great beauty-Out of them looked
the old eOunc expression strong, fiery and master
ful. But the hand of death was even then at his
throat-he breathed gaspiugly and his voice was
faint. The muscles of that once-pOwerful and we'll
knit frame were relaXed-its nerves of steel seemed
shattered, while his step once so singularly char
acteristic, so full of assertion and subugation,
seemed to have parted with both vigor and will,
hghtness and weight.
He spoke then of having finished his work; sadly,
knowing that it all too Soon-too like going
down in mIdoccan, hut in no tone of unmanly COM
plant. and | can hardly believe true what l hear
affirmed that his death was FASTENED by keen and
bitter sense of the lack of just and general appre
citation of his labOrS and sacrifices believe he was
too great man, too proud and austere nature to
suffer to such degree from such cause. Never
for the lack of it. Indeed had ne possessed more
heahful human desire for praise more love of love,
1t would have been better happier for him. To
popular apprehension there little in the man to
call out that aiiectionate faith and sympathy which
Mr. Lincoln. almost from the first inspired. He had
little hold OH the hearts of the people for whom he
had endured and sacrificed 50 much, for whom he
tOiled so terribly, to whom ho gave the very heart
ont Of his life. They leaned on him in the hour of
- 4 -
They knew his work, but they scarcely knew him.
His death has shocked and soemnzed them, but
they do no; mourn for the man. with tender, per-
sonal sorrow Something of the awfulness of his
great work invests him still. Something of the
strange rcmotcncss of that great work removed him
from us even in life He had already taken his place
as a historical figure to greaten and soften the
years go by-to grow grand and gracious in the eyes
of new generations of frcemcn. By-and-by some
hero-worshping Carlyle Of biographer Will COM
plete his apotheoss.
The popular idea Of Mr.. Stanton is Of q grand
national watch-dog-a rough mastiff fery-eyed and
always on the alcrt-ferociousy faithful. having a
plowl Of warning aud grip of death for the enc
mics of the household and being by no means a safe
playmate for the most friendly. Few, perhaps will
have any cOmpuuctious vistings for having forgot
ten their gru guardian, as the long night Of
threatening and danger was oyer-many will think
he was sufficiently rewarded 10y the master coming
to pat his head. and call him by a new name as he
lay a-dyng.
lam thankful that all my recollections Of Mr.
Stanton are worthy and pleasant In all the years Of
our acquaintance l saw little of that passionate and
ver-bearug sprit--that irascibity, brusqueness,
aud guStiness for which he famed. In social life
a. first knew him, he was simple and earnest IN
manner, direct TO abruptness-in conversation, i'm
patient of nonsense, and sconful Of shams-given
to argument and analysis with opinions sharply
defined and somewhat aggrcsSvely advocated. He
had great grasp Of life-he was competent ndomi-
table-he was incarnate will. l surely counted for
him many years OF labor and honor on the frution
of the passion and purpose Of his strong manhood,
on green and tranquil old age. Most surely never
looked TO stand 10y the grave where he should lie,
smoOthed right nobly into his long rest after such
a toilsome tumultuous, hurried. hOhdaylesS lile-a
life oyer-ficd, though unfinished. He has gone too
soon. but he has lived much. find it strange that |,
of far fCchlcr mold and more uncertain WILL survive,
TO say of him, as was said of lreton, another
prodi igious worker, "One brave heart and subtle
working brain ended
This will say Of my great friend from the first
to tic last, from the time when knew him best in
the city OF his adoption, as a young man of very
positive though, as then judged, not brilliant ab
ty, Of more force than genius bold, yet guarded
thinker rising lawyer and politician-up to the
time OF ms greatest ellnence ana power L saw no
change in the Of Ar. Stanton. felt in it
touch of arrogance frost of hauteur. found him
always kindly though prompt and courteous, though
unceremonous always ready to counsel and help in
any good work. Ii is true that met him but uu-
frequently, true that never asked much, or often
sonever came IN conflict with his large plans and
his inexoraJle will, as l might have done,
had | been COnness-wOman OF Malor-Gcn-
eIalesS
This is mn memory of the great Cromwellian-
Secretary. will not let it be thrust aside for the
experience or impressions of any other witness of
his burGencd and stormy life In my portrait those
imperious eyes which flashed black lightnings' on
all traitors and sometimes blazed too much at ran
dom on friend and foe, shine always with clear,
cordial light which not even the dcathdarkness can
dim.
blessed the bride the sun shines on,
Blessed the dead the rain rains upon
We buried our friend under dark, cold sky, amid
rain and mist but every day since we have had SIN
Rularly beautiful weatheT-soft rich, relentng sun
shine. which almost seemed sent TO coax forth I'M
timely flowers. 10 brighten his grave turf so shall
il be with his memoIy-the grateful love of a free
people though it be little tardy shall yet dissipate
the cloud of misapprehenslon and blame. and stay
The storm of angry detracton. HIS country VIII
make haste like the earth. to grace his wel-earned
rest with flowers and fadeless green.
Ii is pleasant TO think that as Mr. Stanton was
never IN Congress. we have not TO look forward to
any great oratosical fed-day, any Congressional
funeral supplement, after the holidays. Here, a
moor great man subject 10 this custom, never seems
really buried and at rest. but somehow suspended
between heaven and earth, like Mohammeds coffin,
ill this pompous ceremony of eulogzing has been