Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-04-21
by MYRON Fl. McCORD.

delivered in joint session of the legis
lature on the death of the late Senator
Matthew H. Carpenter, Mr.. McCord
said:
Mr.. Speaker need not remind
you that the season through which we
have recently passed has been one of
extreme inclemency. Storm has fol
lowed after storm in quick succession,
sweeping over the face of our fair
commonwealth, until her form was
deeply robed in the pallid habiliments
of death. The vital spark seemed to
have fed from Nature, and she lay in
her winding sheet ready for the grave.
It was most fitting that the outward
world should thus appear at time of
great bereavement. 1t was highly
proper that the spirit of the air and
the spirit in man should utter in
unison a sad lament over the departure
of our political idol; for truly the
silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl
IS broken.
1t had been known by most of US
that Senator Carpenters health was
poor. that he had been struggling for
several years to throw off disease
that must, ere long prove fatal, if
not arreasted in its progress against
the citadel of life. We had witness
ed the sad change that had come over
his once magnificent form; the lines
of suffering that had furrowed his
expressive ceuntenance; the decrepi-
tude of premature decay which
characterized the movements of his
person. Yet the splendor Of his in
tellect remained, and flashed out in
occasional CLEANS Of surprising bril-
liancy. Moreover, his sublime
courage lowered far above his suffer
ings; the lion hearted suffered alone,
altering no feeble moan to betray how
near he was to final dissolution He
was determined to live. But few
days before his death he rallied so far
as to leave his couch and visit his
friends. This was only the Pickering
of the lamp ere the light went out
Yet by it we were deceived. We did
not expect lse was so near the grave;
hence the shock which we experienced
when the wires bore from the national
capital the sad intelligence OF our great
loss. And now how feeble is language
when we seek to utter our SORROW.
How feeble is lanoua"n to describe
the genius of that giant among men!
The tongue of this modern golden
mouth is stilled in death, and no other
remains to do his talents justice.
The mantle Of the orator, Rufus
Choate, fell upon Mathew Hale
Carpenter, and the disciple surpassed
the teacher. No one can ever con-
ceive the Alpine heights to which
impassioned eloquence can attain until
he has listened to the words of fire
which burst from the lips Of oul
lamerted during those four years Of
Americas terrible civil strife His
speech during that period was the
speech Of inspiration; the listeners
were swayed by his oratory as are the
trees in the pathway of the nigh J
tempest! Demosthenes seemed tC
have returned to earth. The orator
said, "Let US march against rebellion
let us battle for liberty, let US conquer
or die" The bugle notes of Cicero
were once more heard from the forum:
Catiline was again denounced IL
public, and treason forever rendered
0dious to the American heart.
The story of Senator Carpenters
congressional career reads like {
romance. Entering the senate cham
Der without the experience derived
from holding public Office. he made
himself felt from the first, and before
the expiration of his first term wa,
acknowledged the peer of any, ant
became by general consent, president
pro tempore of that august body, com.
posed of the great statesmen of this
generation, statesmen enrolling among
their number, a Bayard, a Conkling, g
Morton, Sumner and an Edmunds
But why do l seek to dwell upon
the story of his greatness? His name
is household word in Wisconsin;
his fame Is the heritage of the nation
Our state acknowledges him as hel
most illustrious son. All classes and
conditions were drawn towards him,
and believed in the integrity Of his
public honor The common people
heard him gladly. His fellow citizens