The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-06-27
0regon's Senator.

volclng the thought ol all ayes
that posthumous fame alone does
Justice to the memory and the ,
merits of men.
Among the many names that we
of this coast delight to honor, not
even the name of Broderick, of
California, excites more reverentlal
remembrance. than that of Colonel
Baker. United States senator from
Oregon, who fell, as the world
knows. while leading his men in
the fight at Balls Bluff, Va.
On the Both ult., Congressman
George. of this state delivered the
Decoration Day. address at Balls
Bluff. and, in eulogy of the gal
lant spirit, he said: "He was
wonderful man-oHe of those gen
fuses of nature which fash thwart
across the sky of human existence.
Offoreign birth, ,he laid down his life
for the country of his adoption.
We were proud of him. Ny state,
the most distant on the golden Pa
ciGc, honored him with her highest
trust. He was our senator when
he fell. We are proud of our sol
dier, our orator, our statesman, and
our hero. Baker was patriotic and
magnanimous. His was the clar-
ion voice in the grand volume
of invocation which everywhere
rose to high heaven, "Spare
US from the madness Of disunion
and civil war;" and he was the last
OF the senators to give up the hope
that something might be done by
conciliation and compromise. He
hoped, be sympathized, he strug-
gled to the last, but ali in vain. At
the final moment he nerved him
self for the desperate encounter.
In the senate,in these words, he pro-
claimed his intention: 'Now, will
not vote to lay down arms till, with
out treaty,;athe flag of the United
States waves over overy portion of
its territory. Till then give the presi-
dent a million mer, give him the
whole revenue of the government,
the whole property Of the people;
do not refuse single regiment; dc
furl a single sail; do not abate a
single jot of all your embattled
gigor till that hour has come; dc
not make peace until the glory o'
the American flag shall be its own
defense. Why, SIR he exclaimed,
4 have heard it said that there was
time in Ireland when a virgin,
alone, uuguarded, could 90 through
all its length and breadth with a
crown upon her head and golden
vase in her hand, and no man dis.
turb her honor or rob her of heI
treasure. | desire, before / make
peace, to see the time when n vol
unteer drummer boy shall be able
TO carry the flag Of the United
States in every city and in every
wilderness where it has once float
ed, amid the enthusiasm, the SUBJ
mission, the profound reverence.
of every man, woman, and child
who gazes upon its stars He,
like Clay and Webster and Jack
son and Lincoln, was for trying
the strength of the consultation. His
soul became fired with military ar
dor at the attack upon Sumpter'f
walls; and at a mass-meeting il
Union Square, in New York, he
delivered an address which thrilled
the souls of all who heard it. Ht
there pledged his personal ser
vices to his country as soldier
and closed with these impressive
and eloquent words, which were
greeted with a thunder of ap.
plause: And if FROM the fal
Pacific voice feebler thar
the feeblest murmur upon its shor'
maybe heard to give you courage
and hope in this contest, that voice
is yours Today. And if a mal
whose hair is gray, who is wei
nigh worn out in the battle ant
toll of life, may pledge himself OF
such an occasion as this, and il
such an audience, let me say, a
my last word, when amid sheete'
FIRE and flame ] saw and led tn
hostc &c Nar Xorl, as they charn