Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1881-01-14
SPEECH OF HON. r. J. BELL
Before the Jeint Convention or the
Nevada Legislature.
From the virgins Chronicle

before UB3R D0tub
Nevada Legislature.
From the Virgins Chronicle.l
In the Assembly Mr.. Waldorf of Storey
nominated James G.. Fair. T. J. Bell Of
Nye seconded the nomination, and in SO
doing addressed the Assembly as follows:
In seconding the nomination Of Mr.. Fair
for the exalted position Of United States
Senator, allow me to congratulate this hon
cradle body on the prospect of securing
the services of so worthy and able a citi-
zen. Twenty years ago a fifth OF q CEN
tury-the world was startled by the news
of %new-found silver mines in the western
portion Of the Territory Of Utah. Of which
but little was known, except vaguely as the
great desert of North America. The an
nouncement that silver had been found in
such quantities, promising to eclipse any
thing ever before found in either hemis-
phere, brought thousands of fortune seek
ers to the new Ell Dorado. In the excited
rush to reach the poor mans paradise,
men, young and old, rich and poor, left
their homes in the land Of flowers, and
rolling their blankets scaled the snow-clad
peaks of the great Sierra, bound for
Washoe. Among them was the distin-
guished person who now is in nomination
for United States Senator. Landing on
the Comstock at an early day, and pitch
ing his tent on the side Of Mt. Davidson,
he began O career that will endear him to
our children when those at present living
are known in history. He laid claim
to a portion of the treasures of mother
earth, and resolved to crush the tyrant
poverty or die a martyr at its feet. Coming
hara xvhap he AID whap tho crrinn hrdo
of youth had ripened into ~full-grown man
hood-he was in the right time to lay the
foundation of o future greatness. He is
not only a self-made man, but a Nevadan.
Here his children were born; and here
they still reside. He has grown up with
the country and become identified with all
her interests, and has honorably won the
exalted place he now holds in the esteem
of the people. He began life poor and
without influential friends, but by his own
industry and exertions has wound his way
III the stair-path of fame, until he is with
in n step Of the pinnacle of human am
bitions where he can view the present con-
dition Of his fellow men and speculate on
their future. For a number of years our
party ship has been drifting around, lost
and without a compass. Commanders
were not able to control the crew, and sue
cess was but a forlorn hope. But in the
hour of our greatest need, when darkness
and gloom were settling on our peaceful
homes, a little spark of news sped on light
ning's wings across the great Sierra, skip
ping from hill top to hill top and filling our
souls with joy, telling US that a leader
had been found whom the toiling thou
sands were ready to aid in running the
grand old ship into victory's bay. ! have
been repeatedly asked during the canvass
just closed: "What does Colonel Fair want
with the Senatorship? He has money
enough" ! have answered.: "Certainly;
but is money all that we live for? Have
we no claims one upon the other? Or can
a man, because more fortunate than his
fellew man, shirk the duties he owes to his
country" The country has demanded
his services and in obedience to duty he
obeys the call. His extensive business ex-
perience with all classes Of people in every
land and cline, from the hnmblest peasant
in Asia to the greatest monarch Of Europe,
and having filed all stations in life, from
that Of q common laborer like myself to
that Of being ranked among the leading
financiers Of earth, will enable him to do
justice to all. Having spent a year in
foreign travel, and in studying closely
the wants and condition Of other lands,
commercially and a~griculturally his ex-
perience thus acquired will be Of vast
service to that august assembly, the
Senate. Upon financial matters he will
be q ready reckoner, and an eneyclope-
dia Of general information. Our sister
States have men to whom they are in
debted for services rendered in their be-
half, but there are none who have
greater claims to the gratitude of
his fellow-man than ka who by bis indom-
liable will and almost sup ,Thuman fore
sight, has penetrated the hidden mysteries
of nature. uncovered the secret treasures
of earth, and taken therefrom three hun
dred millions Of dollars to enrich the
~world-giving employment to tens Of thou
sands Of his fellow-men, and rendering
happy and contented the firesides of the
poor. But this is not all rather the be-
ginning. After he has represented us in
the Senate Of the United States, and has
succeeded in restoring US to our former
prosperity, n returning, shall wear a
new crown OF laurels. won in the councils
Of the nation, we will then extend to him
a welcome worthy Of us as a grateful peo-
pie. and one that even earth's greatest po-
tentate might we'll be proud Of. While
representing us in that august assemblage
he will build q monument to himself thai
future generations will point to with CRATE
full pride-a landmark in which his chill
dren may recognize their fathers benefac-
tons to the world. And after he has ex-
hausted his three score years and ten in the
walks Of an honorable life, and retires to
spend the twilight Of remaining years
with his family and friends, may he then
review this occasion as the evergreen epoch
Of his eventful career. Applause.