Smyrna times., 1878-04-24
Two Dead Men.

TweediS death last week ureached ,
sermon which every fool or child coulc
understand. Not the less forcible, either
because everybody showed the natura,
KINDLY impulse TO cover the sins of the
dead, to put him and his life and its mora
decently and quickly out of sight. A few
weeks ago man died in PHILADELPHIA as
prominent as Tweed, the meaning of whose
HE was as broad and pithy, but it was one
whIch everybody was eager to hold up to
view and make much of. For il Is n
curious fact that even vicious and weak
men are proud of another mans life which
they believe to be thoroughly pure and
genuine, and feel themselves and the
world the better for it. If old Plutarch
were alive, he would have held the two
men up for comparison until we could see
the lines OF their characters in shrewd and
terrible contrast. There were certain cir.
cumstances in common in the lives of VIM
Welsh and VIM. Tweed which would have
justified such a comparison. Both were
men of great original force; both followed
the path they had marked out for them.
selves uninfuenced by others; both were
born in the atmosphere Of commerce and
began business life in early boyhood with
very scanty education both amassed great
wealth and made their way to leadership
IN the affairs of their native cities. But There
the likeness ceases. What Tweed was we
all know-honest and industrious probably
IN MS youth, until the greed for show, for
money, seized him; then a thief. the
ooidest, most gigantic and successful in his
swlndling operations that the country has
ever known. Eight years ago his prosperity
and wealth seemed invincible; diamonds
literally gifted upon the shoes of his
chlldren, and many Of the prOudest and
most honorable citizens of New York paid
homage to him. Last Friday the white.
halred old man lay dead in a prison.cell
and Of all his followers there was none az
poor to do him reverence.
William Welsh had neither ponips nor
scholarship to give him eminence: he was
SIMPLY Christian. The force he brought
to bear upon the world was that of
brotherly love and stern integrity. He
never held an Office to which a salary was
attached. Yethe rescued the vast financial
interests confded to the City Of Philadel.
phia in trust, which had else become tho
prey OF Rings as INSCRIPTIONS as Tweed's.
and controlled their management for wears
on principles of strict economy and honor.
lie was known as the friend of the Indian
IN every tribe. He gave a powerful helm. |
ing hand to every enterprise which would |
strengthen or elevate the criminal. tho |
poor or the wretched. For thirty years. |
while carrying on one of the largest and |
most complicated trades in the country.
his man never neglected to 90 once |
week to the orphans of Girald College. to
ak to them of God and life and heaven
IS loving father would to his bows. He
iled week or two ago without a moments
warming, in hospital surrounded by the
Door and blind, to each one of whom he
lad been a friend. The whole citv stood
lis mourner. From the Indian tribes.
rom distant countries, came lamentations
rom countless human beings whom he had
and helped.
Both OF these men had great wealth. but
wing dead to-day, neither has taken n
ollar with him. In the words of Mr..
Welsh, nothing lasts in this world but
haracter." In the world beyond. To
'hlch they have gone - But there our
urIous eyes have no right to follow them.
We want to call the attention of vounp
nen to these two lives and to their cnrions
,lustration of certain old truths of the
'lole which do not often find their wov
nto the daily journals. Put them ont Of
lght as we will, their awful Justice is no
ess alive and omnipotent. Reward or
etrlbution does not wait for another life
hey come here and now. They ara at
Iork to-day in our lives as certain and in.
xorable as in those of these two dead men.
~. Z. Tribune, Of The 18th inst