The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-01
DEATH OF OUR PUBLIC MEN.

That fame and fortune are not dependent
on the accident of birth is a truism which
obtains ample illustration in the life of
Charles O'Conor. Born in 1904, the son of
an Irish emigrant, left an orphan at the age
of twelve years. receiving only such an ed
ucation as the common schools of New
York afforded, he studied law and was
admitted to the har in 1901. ---' - - A.
practice of the strlctest integrity and the
most unwearied industry, early gained
place among the leaders of the bar and died
the foremost lawyer of the country. His
success in life was due entirely to himself.
He received no aid from family or friends.
His race and religion were against him.
His fame was not due to high official posi-
ton, for he was neither an office holder or
an office seeker-the only offices that he
ever held, or would consent to receive,
being that of United States district attorney
for some fifteen months, at the express So
licitation of President Pierce, and a men,
bership in the New York constitutional
convention of 1864. His most important
cases, and those ON which his national rep
utation mainly rests, were those of the
Slave Jack in 1886, the Lennon slave
case in 1855, the Lispenard, Mason and
Parish will cases, the Forrest divorce case
and the several Tweed ring suits. The
dates and facts are meagre, nothing but a
mere fleshless skeleton, but they teach a
more impressive lesson to the young men
of America than does the life of the most
favored official of the land. That lesson 10
that fame depends not upon the offices q
man may hold, that strict integrity and
unwearied industry will conquer the obsta-
Giles of birth, religion, DEFICIENCIES of early
education, and win, in the end, an enduring
success.
The condolences, if we may so term it,
of Charles O'Conor's death are somewhat
remarkable. 1t is but a few days over
three years ago, that the country was en-
gagged in bitter and exciting political
campaign. There were three tickets in the
field, each of which received more or less
of the popular support. Each ticket was
made up of entirely different material, but
upon each was the name of q man whose
personal integrity was unquestioned, whose
private worth. was conceded, whose pure
patriotism was undoubted, and whose per-
sonal reputation was never assailed by,
even, the breath Of calumny Horace
Greeley the candidate of the democratic
liberal party for president Charles
OConor, the democratic candidate for the
same office and Henry Wilson, the repub-
lIcan, and successful, candidate for vice
president. These men, having filled the
measure of their fame, perhaps of their use
fulpess, have now been gathered to their
fathers. The first to go was Horace Gree
ley, November 20, 1872, just as the smoke
had lifted from the battle field and showed
him his utter, perhaps final and irretriev-
able, defeat. Three years, to day, from
his death, witnessed the death of one of
his antagonists, Charles O'Conor, whose
candidacy, nominal though 1t was, was an
important element in his defeat and, on
the same day and hour. the lifeless body of
Henry Wilson was taken from the capitol
of Massachusetts and, by the authorities of
the state, conveyed to the town of his resi-
dence for burial.
If anything more was needed to impress
upon us the uncertainty OF human life and
the vanity of earthly pursuits, we have 1t
in the remarkable mortality among our pub
lie men during the period bounded on
either side by the deaths of Greeley and
OConor. In Massachusetts, alone, 1t has
been noteworthy, almost appalling. Com
mencing in May 1878, with the death of
Cakes Ames, just as he had retired from
a ten years service in congress and while
smarting under the O. edit Mobilier exposures
and congressional censure, he was quick
ly followed by William Whiting, men,
Der elect of the Forty-third congress by