The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1879-02-28
GIN. JesErH LANE.
BY H. il. WELLS.

To estimate the character of man
who has been 80 prominently before
the American people as Gen. Lane
requires some knowledge Of his pri-
vate life. This cannot bc derived
from the record OF his public career.
1t must be obtained from acquain-
lance, conversation and other asso-
Citations. We may observe that a
man who Is truly great In public ca
pacity will also display his eminent
qualities In his private life. Gen.
Lane was pre-emincntly q great man
in his public relations. Ia his pri-
vate life he has shown that he pos
sesses In a great degree tho material
out OF which great men are made.
Without even knowledge OF the
common branches OF nm English cdu-
cation, at the early age OF eight
years, he entered into the active
scenes OF life. He did not possess a
brilliant mind, but On3 Of strength
and comprehension. When he rep.
resented the State of Oregon in the
Senate Of the United States, unlike
Il large proportion OF Senators, while
he guarded we'll ami faithfully the
ipterests Of the State which he rep
resented, he labored for The entire
Union. His mind was broad enough
and deep enough 10 comprehend the
lgl.ole Union; he believed he repre-
sented Maine as well as his own
State.
Through the grit In his nature,
Gen. Lane acquired ii perfect knowl-
edge Of men and things, and when
he came into contact with the na-
tion's Representatives. in the stormy
arena OF debate, hc was fully pre-
pared To sustain t..c character Of Sen
ator. 70 day, Glen. Lane j. tt pri-
waite citizen Of Rosebure, Oregon.
In his treatment OF all those vino
come In contact with hiE, he dis
plays the spirit OF true chivalry. No
one can listen TO the old :nan as he
converses upon the topics "f the day,
or relates some incident IN the ma
tion's history in which he had
prominent part. without being i'm
pressed deeply with The ftct Of his
greatness. Although the General is
now 7S years OF age, he possesses
all the powers of his mind, and his
eye will flash with enthusiasm and
cheeks glow with excitement when
upon fIvorite. theme. Ills physi-
cal preservation Is wonderful. and
few men of his age can boast OF his
health or vigor. TO pass nm hour
or 80 with him in listening tfor yon
must listen) one Is carried over the
scenes OF American history with Il
n feeling rs II excited by the reality.
On his table will be found the latest
publications OF the day, and the old
hero Is as much of student OF
American history to-day rs ne was
twenty or thirty Years ago. No man
Ia the State OF Oregon who knows
the General but loHes and admires
him -loves him for his noble nature
and admires him for the exalted
grandeur Of his character. lie has
studied men on the plains of the
''Grcat Vest" he has studied men
at the campfire; he has studied men
on tho battlefield, and In the halls Of
Congress. Gen. Lane u not an sold
fogy;" he Is as progressive rs most
men are at the dawn of manhood.
In recent speech he said; 81 rare
ly forget that little which / have
learned. l rcmember-I retain it.
My brain has never been injured.
My memory Is good and my brain is
clear; and never was burned by in
toxicatiBg drinks"
1t was under the care of Gen.
Lane, as Governor, that Oregon era
died its infancy. In that capacity,
when the Stale was beset by
hostile Indians, he displayed the
same energy and decision of charac.
ter he after showeds when he was
Senator. He has made life a grand
success; he is truly self-made man
"a living model after which men
should shape and fashion their lives.
His grey old head, crowned with the
glories of rs years, is now beyond
the reach Of envy, and even those
who were his political enemies speak
OF him with reverence approaching
veneration. When he shall have
passed away, his monument will be
the affection of the American
heart.