The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-06
Brighter, faircr far than living,
With no trace Of woe or pain,
sobed In everlasting beauty,
Shall We see thee once again!
Rv The light that never fadeth,
Underneath eternal skies,
When the dawn of resurrection
4 l. In Ia Ill

This fearful conclusion may have drawn
tears, but had John MoERIssEY heard II ne
would nave wept {" not a drop"
we mean to indulge in no feeling OF IT.
reverence. Death Is very serious matter,
notwithstanding that it is so common. It's
finality to this life, its completeness, save 1t
from dlsrespect or levity. Yet we cannot
but regard the displays oft made by the nv
ing as most inopportune and more like a
mockery than n decorous exhibition OF the
proper impulses that should be engendered
by the most solemn Of events.
We take not the case OF the memorial
honors to a gambler as peculiarly hitting 1or
calling attention to the customary eAtraVa-
pance Of funeral laudatiOn. We incline 10
believe that JOHN MoRRIssEY was better
than the average legislator. He was brave
man-that was something; and ne was
generous man-that was great deal. he
is said to have been ever faithful to MS
word, and that is said to be characteristic
of prominent gamblers. For these he de-
served and was accorded respect. But
when we consider that he was nevertheless
gambler, the lofty eulogies that were paid
him in Senate and House were calculated
to bring under sharp criticism the custom
of extrayagant honors to the dead which
prevails at this day. JOHN MoRRIssEY was,
we say, probably better man thau the
average legislator, but the elegiac offerings
to his memory could hardly be greater II
his character had been without stain ana
without reproach."
Nor does the inappropriateness OF pubic
eulogy stop at the halls OF legislation. Inc
courts and the societies are weighed down
with them. II lawyer dies, the lawyers
gather before the bench and vie with one
another in larishing praises upon the dead,
and the court adiourns. The words OF grief
should be few and sincere, and few because
sincere. The moment the euloslst grows
yoluble his speech indicates that ne loves 10
hear himself talk more than he desires TO
honor the dead.
Indeed, the custom brings all euloslsts
,,nder suspicion. The idea is that they are
making fame for themselves more than ex-
citing lamentations for the dead. The
nomn and circumstance funereal are per-
yerted to the benefit OF the living; not de-
signed for bestowins OF honors on nlm IN
transit to the grave.
On funeral occasions the congress, the
legislatures, and the courts, after vast VOL
ume Of eulogy, adjourn, the public BUSH
ness is stopped, and the poor dead body is
put away, while the survivors absorb all the
benefit OF the proceedings funereal.
When we first knew the legislature it was
customary to announce the death OF i men,
Der and for his colleague or near nelghbor
to pass such an account and encomium as
he could upon the character OF the dead,
and there an end. We do not believe 1t
was always u habit to adjourn unless the
member died in the city, and then the legls-
lature resolved to attend the funeral.
1t is time that check should be put upon
the funereal literature OF the times. line
Churches have set good example IL
sbonld be followed. One OF the most I'M
reliable OF things is the eulogy passed by a
too partial friend upon the merits OF the
dead. 1t is time to endeavor to change this
matter for the better. Men are made great
and good upon too small capital. 1t ls time
to impress more clearly upon the pubic
mind the true idea that none deserve eS-
ceptional distinction. praise. and the gen.
eral regret after death but the truly good
and just. To exhaust praise upon those
whose lives cannot, stand criticism is but to
attract public attention to their dement's
and to degrade the dignity Of public hon.
.ors By lavisbing them upon those whose hose
lives have been neither honorable TO them
selves nor beneficial to society.
SITTING BULL wants peace for himself and |
144 warriors and chiefs. He thinks the