Ellsworth American., 1875-12-09

Obseq uies OF the Wee President.

Fellot- Citizens. AT the request OF HIS
Honor the Mayor 10 participate ia tho sHFr~--
sion Of public Feeling consequent upon the Of
fetal los. that has been sustained b. the coun-
Try 10y the death OF ice President Wilson. and
tine remembrance Of a somewhat intima'e
quaintancc with hun for period Of thTty-tyr
YEAR, IN some measure AZ an associate and
Trend, i my apology for assuming the part
that has been assigned Ia me. The death OF 4
citizen OF the United States who i clothed with
the high functions OF n Presidential Office.
whether II be held primarily or secondarily, IL
a national calamity and sorrow. This high po
sition has never fallen TO the lot Of any msn
from personal aspirations or from partisan i'll
terest or support. IL has an eleS alton that
places il beyond the reach Of personal entreaiy;
like the spirit Of the buried majesty Of Dep
marx, II Will not Dc commanded, and \ man
therefore, who Is worthily and con.titutionally
advanced by the people 10 this high Office en-
bodies in himself some Of the most approved
qualities OF citizenship. and something of that
destiny which has always attended the affair,
of Government from the foundation Of civil
society. Notwithstanding the facility with
which under cur Constitution. vacant plsCe
/. filed. still The severance of an official tenure
and the substitution OF one public officer for
another by death Is u source Of poignant nation
al regret. 1t dl-turbs the relations which the
whole people had established or accepted, il
revive. III some measure apprehens ions wh ich
have been generally slayed, it removes from
public service one whom relentless scrutiny
hsd pronounced TO be worthy, and II disap-
point. hopes that have been universally shared,
tApplause) 1t is in the presence Of such death
this that We are called upon 10 mourn the
loss OF the distinguished citizen W no ha, pass
ed away. 1t is the choice and the privilege OF
every man in this country 10 fashion hi. own
career. Ii is the birthright OF every American.
the grandesi that has ever been youchsafed 10
man. Mr.. Wilson made his choice and work
ed his career. He devoted his life TO the eman-
eipation Of the people from every form Of thral-
dom and -eryitude. 1t was u majestic, multi
tudinous and perpetual constituency OF which
he became Immediately one Of the most con-
spicuous and dalntless representatives:
LET the earth change on,
Still must endure,
While earth Is earth,
One cherries race-the poor"
Ii was 10 the preservation and the emanci-
patton of the rights of this class that he dedl-
Gated the best years of his life il was this
cause of humanity that became III the begin
ming and continued TO the end the essential e.
istenee of his character. No man in public life
can for any length of time maintain in the eyes
| of the people more than one character, and il
was TO this life and this idea that Mr.. Wilson
| gave his strength and his whole support and
| his duty. Massachusetts, has been called often
| in the last quarter OF a century to mourn the
| loss OF its most distinguished sons. The State
| record is luminous with the names OF Adams,
| Webster, Everett, Choate, Rantoul, Mann,
Burhngame, Andrew and sumner. In The
presence Of the greatest, the most illustrious
| Of these men, apart from all official honors and
official station, Mr.. Wilson is entitled to be re-
membered and honored as one Of the best.
iApplause.) Indifference. sir. As to public opin
ion. fidelity to his convictions, an incorrect an
| ticipation of results or mistake in the charac-
ter Of men with whom he might be associated
may have led him from time TO time in the
| critical and over jealous judgment and obser-
walton Of friends, TO temporary or n momen-
tary departure from the great principle Il
which he had given his life: but in every in
stance he always returned to il with unfailinS
| fidelity and maintained it with dauntless forti
| tude.
In his knowledge Of the character and opin
ions OF the people by intimate association will
| them. Mr.. Wilson stood eminent and superior
| TO any man OF his time. He was a man OF in
cessant activity. He had an energy in the dis
| charge Of his duty that would have been Al
! honor TO man. He has left Q spotless reputa
tion, an honor to his country and its people, nj
example which should be cherished and imitat
ed.