Idaho tri-weekly world. (Idaho City, Idaho) 1875-1875, 1875-03-17

Tim of the fearful, drama was IN the
prime Of life; man by no means des'
ltitute of those nobler qualities which,
though alas! too often limited in their
sphere Of operation BY the incubus Of
Ian unholy calling, are, nevertheless
the necessary conditions Of all mental
moral and social excellence; the true
investments of a gracious and benei''
cent purpose, and which not only
stamp our natures with high and sol
emn responsibilities, but which also
give character to all those movements
in society that aim at the Improvement
of this nature. l mean to say that
James Thompson was not a fiend, but
that he was q man of like passions
with US; that he was brother to you
and me, and hence the proprlcty not
only of these obsequies but Of our best
efforts to save him and the like OF him
| from what we now look upon as the
almost inevitable consequence OF the
/ life we knew he was leading. | there
fore impeach, in the name and presence
of this corpse of my friend. as chiefly
responsible for his death, that insld-
eous public sentiment that ridiculcs
and be|ittles all social reforms. II
Good Templarism, Odd Fellowship,
Masonry, and the better judgment Of
each individual backed up by the di-
rect teachings of Christianity, fail t"
save men. it is because the wisdom
and authority of their teachings are
over-balanced by lax and demora'ized
public sentiment. | venture Ia say
that, had the lessons of reason, expert
ence and religion inculcated by our
Order not been neutralizcd by that
pernicious maxim of society that no
matter how plain the precept or how
emphatic the INDUCTION, all men should
do the bidding Of their passion without
molestation or restraint, my friend
would have been living to-day.
| am not so enthusiastic AS to sup
pose that what shall say on this &C
casion will revolutionize public >cnti-
nent; yet, | believe the calm. sober
discussion of some of the social prob
lens of this place in the light of this
sad scene may aid in turning the scalcs
for some who are not yet beyond re-
demption. You will agree with nc
that this is an exceedingly delicate
case to dispose of to the satisfaction
of all. We are liable on one hand Ia
give offense where not intended, and
in trying to avoid this, we arc ii, dan.
ger, on the other hand, Of dcgcneratlng
into trifiing sentimentalism. iou will
excuse me, therefore. if | give utter.
ance to my own convictions irrcspcc-
tive Of tlattcry or frowns.
/ should feel that had been made.
quate to the occasion if, instead ri
dwelling upon some practical l,ic-lc~-
sons suggested by this event, shonld
wander off into mere dngnalis.n.
Whatever may be my religious "pin.
ion as to the future status ct the dead,
or however much it might CRAFTY Your
curiosity for me to publish that opin.
ion, | shall dismiss that phase of the
subject as unbecoming the hour.
Standing here, our inquiries may 20
out in two opposite directions. First,
In the line Of consequences: How will
this event affect this community? If
it is a loss, to what extent will the loss
be felt? There are, in my opinion, two
answers to this question. If it relates
to what the man might or perhaps
ought to have been, the community has
lost intellectually. 1t was certainly in
his power, as it is in the power of
every living man, to be of value in his
community; but it must not be over.
looked that this power implies its con.
trary, the power Of being an injury, a
detri'nent to the community. II, there
fore, it simply relates to what the man
was, the case is altered. l say it in
no spirit of reproach for the dead, but
because, my honest convictions lead
me to say: James Thompson was
worthy of a better memory than that
in Which he will hereafter be en-.
shrined. He will not be lnourncd as
ne deserves to be. The business in
which he was engaged and the dissi.
patton OF his life, more than the tragedy
of his death, will cast cloud over
HIM and forever shut out very much of
the true man that might otherwise
nave been the joy and admiration of
AL who knAsas him 49,. 4