The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-12-12

The following funeral Grafton, pre-
nOunccd by Col. E. d. Baker on thu
occasion of the burial of Senator Da
vid G.. Broderick, has passed into his
tory as one of the finest eulogies eve
delivered, The Senator was killed
by Judge Terry in a duel in Califor
MIA In 1859.
A senator lis dead in our midst
HI is wrapped in . bloody shroud
and we, to whom his cares and toll
were given, are about to bear him t.
the place appointed for all the living
It is not fit that such a man should
pass into the tomb unheralded it ii
not fit that such q life should stea
unnoticed to its close; it is not fl
that such q death should call forth NJ
rebuke, or be followed by no public
lamentatio0. 1t is this conviction
that impels the gathering of this as
semblage re-. We are here of every
station and pursuit, of every creed
and character, each in his capacity Of
citizen, to swell the m%Jurnful tribute
which the majesty of the people Of
fer- to the unreplying dead.
He lies to-day surrounded by little
of funeral pomp. No banners droop
over the bier, no melancholy music
floats upon the reluctant air. The
hopes of high hearted friends drop
like fading flowers upon his breast,
and the struggling sigh compeIs the
tear in eyes that seldom weep.
Around him are those who had
known him best and loved him long
est : who have shared the triumph
and endured the defeat. Near him
are the gravest and noblest of the
state, possessed by q grief at once a r
nest and sincere: while beyond, the
masses OF the people whom he loved,
and for whom his life was given,
gather like q thunder cloud of swell
ling and indignant grief:
In such q presence, fellow citizens,
let US linger for a moment at the por
tails of the tomb. whose shadowy
arches vibrate to the public heart, to
speak a few words IF the man, of his
life and death. Up to the time of his
arrival in California, his life had been
passed amid events incident to such
q character. Fearless, self-reliant,
open in his enmities, warm in bis
friendships, welded to his opinions,
and marching directly to his purpose
through and over all opposition, his
career was checkered with success
and defeat; but even in defeat his en-
ergies were strengthened and his
character developed,
HIS BoYHOoD.
When he reached these shores his
keen observation taught him that he
trod q broad field, and that a higher
career was before him. He had no
false pride; sprung from a people
and of q race whose vocation was la
Dor. he tolled with his own hands and
sprang at a bound from the work.
shop to the legislative hall. From
that time there cODgregated around
him and against him the elements of
G and de~feat-strong friend
ships, bitter enmities, high praise,
malignant calumnies but he trod
with q free and proud step that on
ward path which has led him to glo'
~ and the grave.
Fellow citizens! the man whose
body lies before you was your senator.
From the moment of his election his
character has been m%aligned, his mo-
tives attacked, his courage impeached
and his patriotism assailed. 1t has
been q system tending to one end.
What was his crime? Review his
history-consider his public acts
eigh his private character-and,
before the grave inclOses forever,
Judge between MIN and his enemies
AS a man-to be judged in his pri-
vate relations-whO was his superior?
It was his boast, and, amid the gene
raj license of a new country, it was a
proud one, that his most scrutinizing |
enemy could fix no single act of i'm
morality upon him! Temperate, de-
corus, self-restrained, he passed every
excitement of California unstained. |
No man could charge him with bro
ken faith or violated trust of habits
simple and inexpensive. he had no
use of gain. He O~verreached no
mans weakness ia a bargain. and
with held from no man his just dues.
Never in the history of the state has
there been q citizen who has borne
public relations more stainless than
he.
THE CODE A DELUsION.
One year ago to-day I performed a
duty such rs l perform to-day over
the remains of Senator Ferguson,
who died as Broderick died, tangled
in the meshes of the code of honor.
To-day there is a more eminent sac
rifice. To-day I renew my protest
to-day 1 utter yours. The code of
honor is a delusion and a snare it
palters with the hope of a true cour-
age and binds it ut the feet of crafty
and cruel skill, 1t surrounds its vic
tim with the pomp and grace of the
procession but leaves him bleeding
the altar. It is a shield, blazoned
with the name of chivalry to cover
the malignity of murder.
It substitutes cold and deliberate I
preparation for courteous and manly /,
impulse, and arms the one to disar,n f
The other, it may prevent fraud be- I
tween practiced duellists who should :
be forever without its pale, but it +
the mere "trick of the weap- 8
m" superior to the nOblest cause and +
;ruest courage. Its pretense of equal !
ty is q lie it Is equal in all the form, i
t is unjust in all the substance-the a
labitude of arms, the early training, a
he frontier life, the border war, the h
sectional custom, the life of leisure, q
Ill these are advantages which NJ Il
negotiations a neutalize, and which &
10 course can overcome. II
And now, as the shadow turns to- \
va d the east and We prepare to bear II
hese poor remains to their last rest o.
ng place, let us not seek to repress q
he generous pride which prompts a "
ecital of noble deeds and manly vir- II
ues. He rose unaided and alone; he al
egan without family or fortune, in II
be face OF difficulties he inherited re-
and %obscurity; he died a o
enator in Congress; having written f,
is name in the history of the great W
for the rights of the people I'll
the despotism of organization ar
nd the corruption of power. r,
HE TRIED TO STAND FIRM. M
He leaves in the hearts of his
lends the tenderest and proudest re- at
elections. He was honest, faithful, fr,
arrest, sincere, generous and brave; in
felt in all the great crisis of his
that he was q leader in the ranks: %,
it was his high duty to uphold 90
e interests of the masses; that he tHh,
'uld not falter. When he returned ""