The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-12-02
HON. HENRY WILSON.
AT THE CHURCHES.


We have here standing out couspicuously at
| this early point IN the scripture record one OF
| the gra ndest characters presented to Us IN any
| part of the inspired history. TIE prophet Sam
| uel was great man in various ways-great Dy
virtue of mis- positions as the Inauguration OF a
school of prophecy system OF pre- aching, OF the
exposition of truth Of moral influence rs dstln
guished from the violent and military measures
employed by the Giddeons, Samsons, Joshuas
| and the long line of I'll commanders who had
| preceded him. He was great also by virtue OF his
ouality as a man, his uprightness, his uncor-
rups ed and incorruptible integrity staadlng out
| az he does here in his old age, and appealing to
| The people to bear witness that his hand had
been unstained Dy fraud or oppression, and his
ewes nnblinded DIV brides. We talk about eyolu-
| tion of human life, as we'll as of fishes, frogs,
repti es. birds. oppossums and monkeys; but
rom such man as Samuel down 10 the prince
| of a modern whisky ring, is long descent, an
evolution the wrong way. Let Us take this man
Samuel az the type OF the great and good man,
whom the nation mourns to day, our late vice
| President. Henry Wilson. He stands out con-
spicuously among the public men of our time.
He was the prophet of grand cause. de did
large work in the an slavery reform and as an
antl-slavery speaker ne was one of the fore most
though not the first to take up the cause The
far-sighted pioneer in the cause of freedom was
William Lloyd Garrison. Mr.. Wilson belonged
at first to the ola Wing party, but when ne saw
what was the spirit controlling the Wing pres-
Dental convention at Philadelphia in 1846, he
became disguised and left the convention; and
ody n 4nfi
slavery political action. Mr.. Wilson was very
able speaker and in the IS years OF his pubic
life gave more addresses il is said, on the plat
form and stump, than any other man In the Uni
| ted States. He was not ge MUS, but something
better-a Statesman OF we'll balanced mind and
practical common sense. Better than all ne was
an honest man. Many Of our high public men
are aarmingly corrupt but in Mr.. wilson there
is no spot or blemish. His was practical career,
| unsmirched by fraud. Another important char
acteristic Of Mr.. Wilson. was his life OF temper
ance In view of the many examples OF intern.
perance among Our public men. this trait in Mr.
Wilson's life is the more to be rejoiced in.
Throughout his whole career he maintained his
consistency as total abstinence man refusing
on one occasion TO accept the wine cup at the
dinner table of so eminent man as John Quincy
Adams Mr. Wilson SAID 1t was very hard to cay
lo that time, but it was always the easier to say
no after that, even in Washington. Mr.. Wilson
is to be held In honor also for his religious char
acter. All men In high positions become con-
! spicuous. aud If any of them are irrelgOus, the
sight is a very sad one. When we see Mr. Wilson,
in middle age, on his kne es at The anxious seat
in revival meeting, asking for the prayers OF his
friends and neighbors saying chat be had been
trying to promote the good of his fellow men,
| but he felt that he had not done his whole duty
| till e had done all he could for his God; them
we say he did the greatest and noblest act of his
life setting an example to other men in pub tic
positions worthy of emulation. Summing up the
character of this honored man, W may see strik-
lingly illustrated two things first the value of
industry AT an early age be was apprenticed to
a farmer and served eleven years-and a tough
service it was. Working often from five in the
morning till line at night-some Of the time
without even hat to wear-so exceedingly
economical was his employer; he yet found time
during this period to read thousand volumes
of history and biography. Thus he stocked his
mind with the great lessons OF history and the
great examples of men, and accumulated intel
lectual resources Tor his gr eat public career.
Finally, Mr.. Wilson'S career is noble illustra-
ton of the power of character. Very few public
men have been so thoroughly trusted by the peo-
Pile as Mr. Wilson. Few have held position OF
such commanding moral power. Why is this
His eloquerce-his talents-no Da2iel Webster
was greater intellect. Yet Wilson stood higher
in the public regard at his death than he The
reason was, his life unstained by dishoaor.
He spoke to The nation by the whole power OF
La round,A complete. true and unbroken manhood.
| Young man, remember this, that character, a
good name, is your beat capital; for by this, not
by your money, not by your eloquence, not by
your TALENT not by your learning, but by your
character by what you are Ia the texture and Hbre
of your moral life, will you speak and work me- ct
nightly and efTectuaily among your fellow men
AT the Baptist Church, in the morning the
Rev. hi Clark, took for his text, 'sRelp, Lord
for the Cody man ceaseth for the faithful tai,
from among the children of man." Psalms, 12-1.
THE Reverend gentleman referred to the largo
number of prominent and useful men, both in
the pulpit and among he officials of our country.
who have died within few months past. He
spoke more particularly in reference to the Hon.
Henry Wilson. who from lad who had knocked
and been knocked around his native village, dur
ing the early part of his l'fe-whose father was
dssipated man-whose brother was OF so vicious
nature that he at last landed into states prise
had, by his own industry, temperance and per-
severence attained TO the second Office in the Gift
of mis- fellow ccuntrymen and reputation for
honesty and Integrity unsurpassed by any in the
land He reviewed the life of our late Vice
President from his boyhood-his first prominent
act being the cutting loose from his unfortunate
family associations, oy changing his name-his
selt-education, and labors III the politics, war;
and peace of his coun ry. Held him mp as an ex.
, ample worthy of imitation by all our young men
J Drew lesson from the life and labors of Henri,
IL Wilson-what The country needs at this time
-nhna 1na Of in hiuh and