Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1875-09-09
WILLIAM e.. R.ALSTON.
Tributes to His Worth aud Memory D.
the Pacific Coast Press.

Tributes to His Worth aud Memory by
the Pacific Coast Press.
The Estimates Placed Upon His Char"c-
ter and Services in Nevada snO ~ait-
fOrnia.
from the Territorial {Ncv) Enterprise August Isl
a great hush fell upon the hundreds who
thronged G street last evening when It was
whispered from one to another that w. q.
Ralston-his great heart broke-has taken
the shortest path to stop detraction and dis
arm malice. There was but one expression,
and that was profound regret and sorrow;
and men who never saw Mr.. Ralston, but
know something of the kingly soul he pos
that he was dead He was like none OF the
other money-getters Of this coast. There
was nothing of the miser in bis nature. He
liked to make money for the excitement the
getting gave him, and for the good he might
do with it, but lot to hoard it. lie was q
fearless and far-seeing man, and, lured Dy
the very danger which was an incentive to
him, he was perhaps sometimes not careful
enough but he never meant to wrong any
human being, and ten thousand times he has
stopped down to raise up friends whom no
other would aid He has been representa-
tive man of this coast for many years, and
has carried forward probably more enter
| prises than any one man here. 1t was his
courage and faith that supported Mr.. Sharon
| in Virginia City when held could be found
| nowhere else And. in like manner, that
| courage and faith have left monuments from
British Columbia to Mexico. This was his
public life. In private he was the personll-
cation OF al that was noble and true. His
house was the home of all his friends, and
his hospitality was munifcent as king 8.
| The evil day came, the great house at which
| he stood the head went down before the
storm, and he turned the fierce drama which
! has been performed during the past few days
| into tragedy as startling as ever shocked
community. We do not think it was because
he lost his fortune, or his place as the tore
| most banker on the coast. He would not
have given up his home ties and taken his
! life for any such causes. But he knew that
| if he survived he would be misjudged, and SO
determined to leave to his children name
upon which there was no stain, and to prove
| that he, at least, wished to keep nothing from
| his creditors. It is the saddest death that
ever happened on this coast, and will cause a
deeper sympathy than ever moved this people
| before. His was one of the grandest natures
| that ever existed; and one Of the warmest
| and biggest human hearts that ever thrObbed
! grew still when he died. God pity his stricken
wife, children and brothers! They were rich
| while he lived; now they would be poor If
! they possessed all the wealth in the world.
He lived like the most gracious of soverigns,
and when he had done all he could, and al
! last the alternative was presented OF death OF
dishonOr, between the two he hesitated not q
| moment, but went to his death like Roman
of the grand old days.
| From the Sacramento Record Union. August 2s]
| The sudden death of w. G. Ralston under
| circumstances which afford a moral certainty
that he destroyed himself, puts climax upon
| the excitement occasioned by the failure oi
the Bank of California. Ensuing as this ap'
| parent suicide did upon the compelled resig-
nation by Mr.. Ralston of the Presidency and
| Dictatorship of the bank, opportunity will be
afforded for the widest surmises as to his
motives. l1r. Ralston, as the world knew
him, and as he appeared in the business cir
cles where for so many years he moved a
prominent figure, was recognized as bril-
! liant but over-audacious fnancier, a man OF
restless enterprise, infinite resources, consid
erable power of organization, sanguine tenn
perament, and sort of pagan lustihood Ol
| life. Unquestionably he was representative
man. and faithfully followed the old French
maxim-seyez de g0tre siecie. What he has
done that may reflect dishonor upon his mem
ory we do not as yet know. Let it suffice to
recall, as this moment, the services which be
has rendered to the growth of this young and
exacting State. We suppose there can be nc
question that to his energy and activity are
due in large measure the business vigor OF
the community. He led the way in counte
nancing and fostering home industry. he
cleared place for it, and kept off the as
saults of competition until it was able to stand
alone. He shamed many gripping, misery
money-bags into the adoption of q policy
something loftier than the corner grocery
system of trade through which they amassed
their dollars