The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1875-12-14

people among whom he had grown mp.
When he entered upo his public career
there were but few politicians In the
country who felt or recognized con-
soience as On element in politics. Ex-
pediency was the guiding star OF our
great statesmen. Webster, Clay and
Everett were apologists for slavery,
and champions of the Fugitive Slave
Law; and they did not believe that the
people cared much about the moral ell
ement in the struggle. They made q
great, and to them, fatal mistake.
Henry Wilson came into politics fresh
from life long association with farmers
aud mechanics. He believed, in COM
mon with them, that right was right.
and wrong was wrong; that they dad
change their nature with change OF
circumstances. He was an able casu-
list; but he knew, he felt, that slave
holding and slave hunting were crimes
against God and man; and he said so,
| in every presence and on all occasions.
He denounced slavery aud the Fugitive
Slave law in the State Legislature.
When he became a senator Of the Unit
cd States he lifted up his voice in bold
and ringing tones against the same
|
in the spring OF 1856, his colleague.
Charles Sumner, was struck down In
the Senate Chamber for words spoken
in debate. Henry Wilson denounced
the act as brutal, murderous and cow
ardly." On another occasion, when q
Southern fire eater menaced him with
o revolver, he said, Threats have no
terrors for freemen. am ready to
meet argument with argument, scorn
with scorn, blow for blow. 1t is time
the champions OF slavery in the South
should realize that the past is theirs.
the future ours." Through the whole
of tthat tremendous struggle Henry
Wilson was leader. And the people
Of Massachusetts, aud Of the North
sustained him, for he was one OF them
selves; and they felt that his voice was
their own. 1t was indeed the voice OF
the eternal law OF God, sounding forth
from the conscience OF the people. In
this case, certainly, the oft-peryerted
saying was true-"Vox populi, vox
Del"
Henry Wilson taught the American
people one great lesson; how and when
to bolt. He bolted from the American
party because it was pro-slavery. He
bolted from the Wing party because IT
was pro-slavery. Both those splendid
parties were disintegrated and brought
to nothing by conscientious boilers.
SO let every corrupt party perish
Let us remember that Henry Wilson
was the sort OF statesman that our
American people love and trust. We
like men OF broad common sense, OF
integrity, OF spotless morals, of moral
courage, and great power of work If,
in addition to all this, We get man
who is eloquent polished, learned, we
accept him with gratitude and pride;
but we demand tho more solid and
practical qualities first; those are in-
dispensible, the others are desirable,
but we can manage to get on without
them.
Not only did Mr.. Wilson gain and
keen the confidence OF the people by
his outspoken moral convictions, on
great national questions, but by hi,
upremitting application to his ans's. =. = =
worker. He had been trained to hard
, work; that was the best part OF his ed
ucation. Probably no public man OF
, our time. gave himself so little rest
: indeed he did not know how to rest
hence his premature death. just sucl
a man was needed at the opening and
/ during the progress Of the late civi
war: He happened 10 be ut the TIM
r Chairman Of the Committee on Militia
5 ~ affairs, and in that position he con
' tributed more to the efficient organiza
: ton Of the army, and TO its ultimat
t success than any other man, always ex
T cepting the great War Secretary, Stan
q ton. Gen. Scott declared that Mr.
4 Wilson had done more work in one ses
: sion Of the Senate, than all the chair
4 men OF the military committees ha'
9 done in twenty years. His prodigiou
Q labors during these years would hav
n exhausted any man who had not bee'
. Injured to toll from his earliest yeavs
Be sure that Providence knew what
n was about when it gave Henry Wilso
l. his birthplace among the granite hill
% OF New Hampshire, aud had hi
}. "bound out" to q stalwart New HamE
II shire farmer. And the people kne'
II that he was hard at work when |
+ Washington. They did not hear
,. him that he sat late over his wine, or
It the card table; they did nst hear
sr him AS freauenting ball rooms, thei
q tres and races, and OF turning OF III
te work on clerks and lobby-men. Du
4. ing the war we find him now IN Bosto
ID in consultation with Governor AndreV
" anon Mt Annapolis, Mt Baltimore,
K, the camp, in the committee room
v, the Senate Chamber, introducing bl
at after bill for the increase, equipmel
and Improvement of the army, and II
r. the vigorous prosecution OF the we
oy While some northern senators stot
{; aloofi in their dignity, with folded ham
as criticising the President, or scowiii
he At him. Henry Wilson was always hea
w. and soul. ut work, in the great caus
en- Can We wonder that Massachusei
e; continued to trust him; and that.
IT length the redeemed and reunited
n ton endorsed him as worthy oil
al second. aud in certain contingenc
lie of the first honor in their power to
n stowp This is not all; the people kn'
In. that Henry Wilson was n man OF ste
lot and spotless integrity. Ii was impS
ng siblo even to suspect him OF corruptie
an As / have said, he was always poor, q
,ry that. in his case, was an evidence
Ell. personal honesty. He might, withc
vas scandal, have become rich. oPpor'
I'D mites and temptations lay in bis "
ay, thick As the leaves in June. But
rec gloried in his poverty, and the peol
o q eloried in it aud honored him for
ow He was among the few, in this age
hat s.rings" and gambling specuiatio
who are brave enough to be poor
,ls. Blessed are the poor for theirs Is
nto Kingdom of Heaven.
ing That kingdom was Henry Wilson
md He was a humble, devoted Christi
his During the last ten years OF his life,
tho walked with God. have heard :
,eir our civil war, with its incidents and
IVA. issue. convinced him Of particu
n a Providence, and finally led him to
inc foot of the cross. About ten years
hat he arose in a religious meeting at
felt tick. and in child-liks humility,
Iinp pressed his newborn hope and Joy
ion' the Saviour of sinners. Soon aftei
ted made q more solemn and public
heir fession OF his faith, aud became
/ "a earnest. active member OF the chul
Both at home aud at Washington
ling was decided out spoken disciple
,nti. Christ. His religion was not SUI
uls. fipe sentimeptalism, much less an
who CANT formality; but ot the hemeiy,
ID a fashioned type. IL was all, warp
ffers woof. of the firm. Puritan text
CEN and though gay, il was warm and '
who we'll II did good service on
tent days as we'll as on Sundays.
the He did not think il beneath his