Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-11-26
HOW SOON NE ARE FORGOT
TEN,
fcleayeland Herald.

had taken place III thnt BODY during
the last twenty years, and makes some
pregnant reflections upon the ephem.
eral character Of political fame in this
country. How few, il says, remember
John Forsyth, Of Georgia, ono OF the
most gifted aNe e!oquen. men ever in
the Senate Of tho United States vii.
liam G. Preston, of South Carolina
William T. Barry, of Kentucky Felix
Gruny, of Tennessee, eminent for his
legal knowledge and great eloquence
ut the bar and in Congress; General
Sam Smith, of Maryland, who for
thirty-nine years was member of
Congress or Nathaniel Macon, Of
North Carolina, thirty-seven years in
Congress, Speaker of the House, Pres.
ident pro tenn. Of the Senate, President
of the Constitutional Convention of his
own State, dying as late as 1887. Yet
we presume large number Of our in
telligent readers have scarcely heard
a word concerning these gentlemen,
once holding SO important positions
in the history of the Republic
The list of American lawyers, jurists
and statesmen who were distinguished
in their day for talents, learning and
valuablcpublic service, and whose very
names have faded from the minds of
our people, would fill closely printed
column of this paper. Who but few
lawyers and careful readers remember
anything of William Pinkney, of Mary
land Yet he died as late as 1922.
During his life he stood at the head of
the bar Of the United States, and
his splendid talents vast learning,
and magnificent oratory made HIM one
of the most conspicuous men of his
age. A member of the convention
which framed the Federal Constitu-
tion, a member of Congress, Commis-
missioner TO England, Attorney. Gen.
eral of the United States, Minister to
Russia, and member of the Senate, he
filled and adorned these high stations
SO as to satisfy his admiring country.
men. In the Supreme Court Of the
Nation he stood without u rival, and
Websterspeaks Of him as the mightiest
lawyer of his time. Yet almost all the
fame he so justly acquired while living
seems buried with him in the tomb.
Who recalls the history of honest John
Davis, of Massachusetts,, n man who.
during his life, was honorcd and be-
loved, and walked at will among the
mountain ranges of power2 Ten years
in Congress, four years Governor of
his State, fourteen years q Senator of
the United States. Take the two most
brilliant and mastery orators Of mod
ern times, Rufus Choate, of Massachu-
setts, and Thomas Corwln, of Ohio
how rapidly does the public forget
their wonderful talents and marvellous
eloquence. As death stilled the magic
of their tongues and buried them out
Of sight, so is their once great fame,
with which a nation rung, slowly dying
and the memory of it passing away.
How few think Of Governor Marcy, of
Edward Everett, Caleb Cushing, or
Roger b. Taney. But the grass has
scarcely had time TO grow over their
graves. Yet these were among the
most learned, gifted, useful and accom-
plished men that lived during the
century.
Take the great Offices of the Gov
ernment, the places in the Cabinet for
which men eagerly strive and which
are regarded as among the highest re-
wards of strtesmans ambition.
Does anybody know of the men who
filed these high places, from Washing.
ton 10 Hayes5 Surely tho names of
these distinguished citizens, compris-
ing, as the do, portion of they very
flower OF the human race, should be
remembered like household words.
But if We were to print in large letters
the list of Secretaries Of State, Treas.
ury, War, Navy, Postmaster Generals
and Attorney Generals from 1889 TO
the present day the larger part of the
long catalogue would scarcely awaken
the interest Of anybody at this mo.
ment. Tho men, their history, and
their works, are completely forgotten.
1t would be natural that the former
Justices OF the Supreme Court should
be remembered by the public, as these
gentlemen held their offices for life,
and their decisions often affected the
gravest interests Of the entire Nation.
Some Of the Judges were men OF the
loitiest character, profound learning
and overshadowing ability. Yet few
citizens, except the members of the
bar, can give the names of dozen
men who occupied the bench OF the
Supreme Court twenty years and moro
ago. The names Of William Gushing,
james Wilson, John BLAIR, Robert II.
Harrison, Thomas Johnston, William
Patterson, Alfred Moore, William John.
son, Thomas Todd, Smith Thompson,
Robert Trimble, awaken no associa.
tions in the public mind. They are
dead-and "the dead know not any.
thing, neither have they any more
reward for the memory Of them Is
forgotten"
Jefferson, in his play of "Trip Van
Winkle," often moved his audience to
tears by hispathetic utterance of these
words; "How soon we are forgotten
when We are dead" They find response
in the bosom Of every man. Our daily
experience warns us that this is to be
our fate and doom of all around us.
The great statesman, the brilliant ora
tor, the gifted scholar, the learned
Judge, the brave soldier, the patriot
and friend of humanity, iall by our
side and are gone. The gnpa made by |