The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-10-18
THE DEAD STATESMAN.
General Woodford's Tribute to The
Memory OF EE-Secretary Seward.

General Woodford's Tribute to The
Memory Of ET-SecretaTy Seward.
On Thursday evening Of last week, o
large meeting Of Republicans was held III
the Third ward Of Brooklyn, New York,
to celebrate the victories Of Tuesday
Among tho speakers called out upon that
occasion was General Stewart L. Wood
ford, whose eloquent address ut Lymans
Hall, in this city, on the 4th instant, will
be well remembered. In tho course Of
his brief remarks, General Wooliord
spoke as follows of Mr.. Seward:
1should DO glad to speak to you Of our
great victories, which 80 certainly assure
the reelection of President Grant; glad to
discuss the ideas and principles ofthe Re.
publican party, whose past success has
done so much for the welfare and honor
Of our country, and whose continued sue
cess promises so much for tho develop
ment oil our industries, the elevation Of
labor and the stability of all our great
financial interests.
But tonight am too sad for such con.
graduation. With the sunset the light
ming has whispered to us that one more
OF our great statesmen has passed from
earth. William Il. Seward lies dead at
Auburn
In the first hush Of this great sorrow we
but recall that Lincoln and his great War
Secretary, Stanton, are now Joined by the
spirit Of tho great Secretary Of State. We
recall how much we owed to each in bis
place Of work and duty. How patiently
and faithfully Lincoln labored on, bearing
the burden of ihe struggle, until an eman.
cipatcd race were given rs his reward
and crown Of glory. How bravely STAN
ton stood, amid delay and disaster, until
victory in the field answered his effort in
the Cabinet. How wisely and how un-
weariedly Seward negotiated with Euro
pean powers until the threatened dangers
OF foreign Intervention had passed away,
and our people were lett to crush rebel
lion, unburdencd by the added agony OF
foreign war.
Reverently We speak these names, Tend.
erly we keep these memories. Gratefully
we enshrine them among our heroic dead
l0revermore. When the struggle in arms
had ended, there came IN hour when
Secretary Seward felt mselfconstraiued
in adjusting Methods OF settlement, to dit
fer from the great body OF citizens with
whom his public lie had been so closely
allied. He followed his convictions. We
followed ours. Each sought to do our
duty, as we saw our duty, in that trying
time. To US the victory was given. But
his love Tor the great Republic never Ial-
tered. His faith in the future ofOur nation
never wavered. AS your cheers over pol.
itiCal success have strangely mingled with
my personal sorrow, | Can but remember,
and this remembrance gives me comfort
amid tho shocking personalities of this
heated canvass, that the last published ut.
terancc of the departed Secretary on the
subject Of our national politics, was the
recent letter to friend in California, in
which he expressed his belief in the Wis
dom Of continuing the present admins
tration.
We stand by the ashes Of an honored
statesman. In the solemn silence of the
nations sorrow, let US gather into our
heart at least one abiding lesson Never
in oil the animosities Of partizanship did
Secretary Seward ever utter one bitter
word Of malice toward an opponent, or of
hatred toward any portion Of our broad
Republic. Such example let US follow.
Such inspiration Of true courtesy and
chiValric gentleness let us bear into the
discharge Of our duties as citizens. While
we must as men and patriots, act earnestly
and in the best light of conscience and
reason, let us at least be Just to the per-
sonal worth and the sincerity Of the con-
victions of our opponents. Let us labor
for party, only as party shall mean the
true welfare Of our country. Let US stand
for men, only as their fitness and worth
shall illustrate and energize true ideas
and pure principles In government. Par
ties pass away. Men die. Even nations
decay. But liberty and justice shine on
as the stars through all time.-GYereland
Leader.