The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1882-09-30
A TRIBUTE TO GEN. AND MRS
LANE.

Written for the fifth annual re un-
ion of the Pioneer Society of Southern
Oregon, by Mrs. w. j. Plymale.
There is no name more intimately
associated with the pioneer history of
our country than that O.: General Jo-
seph Lane. He it was that organized
the territorial government of Oregon
and for succession of years represent
ed the struggling interests of our un-
developed country in the halls of Con-
gress, meeting and combating the OBJ
jections urged by older and more ia
| vored sections, and at the same time
| watching with affectionate yearning
and anxious solicitude, the progress of
the various Indian wars that broke
from time to time with CHASTITY horror
onour land, where with others, his we'll
beloved wife kept tireless watch around
the hearthstone, Drawing the dangers
of early pioneer life in her fearless en-
deavors to lay the foundation in these
luxuriant western wilds, of our now
peaceful and happy homes. All
through our pioneer history is delicate
ly interviewer the public acts of this
truly great man, but how few of us
knew him in the grander and m ore ex-
alted character of his home life. To
know him as a friend was living tes-
tlmony of the great simplicity of his
life; and withal he was generous as he
was brave, ready at any time to sacri-
fee personal comfort to render assist
ance wherever the necessities of hu-
manity demanded it. His devotion to
principle was part of his very life,
but he ever conceded to others the in
dividual right of opinion, and accorded
them the greater respect the more
strongly they maintained them. As
the years wore on and he was called to
higher stations in public life, the same
magnanimity and courtesy ever marked
his intercourse with opposing parties
Those who were once his friends were
his lifelong friends, and during the
long months of his last painful illness,
which was greatly aggravated by
wounds received in the Mexican war
and by Indians in this valley in the
war Of 1853, he often spoke of his pio-
nser friends and sent for many of them
to visit him. One Of the most beauti-
full and touching characteristics of his
life, was his unvarying devotion to his
wife, with whom he lived in the most
perfect harmony for over so years; and
how incomplete his history apart from
the grand, true woman who through
all those trying and eventful years was
the light and inspiration of his life,
and who With spirit of heroism and
self-abnegation guarded and guided
their mutual interests through sun
shine and shadow, keeping tileless
watch over the beloved treasure of
home, while the husband and father
periled his life on the held of battle, or
watched our public interests at the
then far distant Capitol, requiring
months of dangerous journeying by sea
or land to reach. None but woman
can realize the anxious waiting of those
weary years, the proud unflnching de
votion to the husband who crowned
her life with loving kindness; sustained
her through all the trials and yicissi-
tudes, while she kept brightly burning
tie beacon light of home, around which
husband and children were irresista-
bly, drawn by the power Of her love
and devotion. The grandest tribute
that it were possible to receive was ac-
corded her when General Lane was
elected to the Senate and many of his
friends from the thinly settled coun
try around their home had called to
extend their congratulations. He took
his wife by the hand and with trem-
ulous voice, modulated to the most
touching tenderness, said: Friends,
to Polly, my well beloved wife, I owe
all the JOY, all the success Of my life,
and am proud to honor the sex by
bearing this testimony to her womanly
love and devotion In all the sue.
cess Of LIS eventful life, varying from
1.-The carnage-covered battlefield to a