The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1883-02-01
SENATOR INGALLS, m MEMORY OF
BEN MIL.

Ben Hill has gone to the undiscov-
cred country.
Whether his journey thither was
but one step across an imperceptible
| frontier, or whether an interminable
ocean, black, unfiuctuating,a and voice
less, stretches between these earthly
| coast. and those invisible shOres-we
do not know.
Whether on that August morning
after death he saw a more glorious sun
rise with unimaginable splendor above
IA celestial horizon, or whether his
apathetic and unconscious ashes still
sleep i'm cold obstruction and insensi-
bile Oblivion-we do not know.
Whether his strong and subtle en-
ergies found instant exercise in an
other forum, whether his dexterOus
and disciplined faculties are now con-
tending in a higher senate than ours
for supremacy, or whether his pow
er. were dissipated and dispersed with
his parting breath-we do not know.
Whether his passions. ambitions
and affections still sway, attract, and
impel, whether he yet remembers us
know.
These are the unsolved, the insOlu-
bile problems of mortal life and human
destiny. which prompted the troubled
patriarch to ask that mOmentOus ques-
ton for which the centuries have
given no answer-"Ifa man die, shall
he live again ?"
Every man is the center Of circle
whose fatal circumference he can not
pass Within its narrow confines he
is potential, beyond il he perishes;
and if Immortality is a splendid but
deluslve dream, IL the Incompetence
of every career, even the longest and
most fortunate, be not supplemented
and perfected after its termination
here, then he who breads to die Should
not fear TO live, for life IL a tragedy
more desolate and inexplicable than
death.
POf all the dead whose Obsequies we
have paused to solemnize In this Cham
Der l recall no one whose untimely
fate seems 40 lamentable and yet so
rich in prophecy as that Of Senator
Hill. He had reached the meridian
Of his years He stood upon the high
plateau of middle life, in that serene
atmosphere where temptation no
longer assails, where the clamOrous
passions no more distracts, and where
the conditions are most favorable for
noble and enduring achievement His
upward path had been through stormy
adversely and contention such as fire.
quently falls to the lot of men. Though
not without the tendency Of medita-
ton, reverie, and intrOspectiOn which
accompanies genius, his temperament
was palestine He was competitive and
unpeaceful. He WAS born pOlemic
and controversa!ist, pugnacious and
combative 50 that he was impelled to
defend any position that might he as
sailed or to attack any position that
might be entrenched, not because the
defense or the assault were essential,
but because the positions were main
tanned and that those who held them
became by that fact alone his adver-
saries. This tendency of his nature
made his orbit erratic. He was mete-
oric rather than planetary, and flashed
with irregular splendOr rather than
shown with steady and penetrating
rays. His advocacy of any cause was
fearless To the verge Of temerity. He
appeared to he Indifferent to applause
or censure for their own sake. He
accepted intrepidly any conclusion
that he reached, without inquiring
whether they were polite or expedi-
ent.
To such . spirit partisanship was
unavoidable, but with Senator Hill II
did not degenerate into bigOtry. He
was capable of broad generosity and
extended to his opponents the same
candor which he demand
ed for himself. His 0ratOry was inn
petuoue and devoid Of artifice. He
was not posturer or phrasemonger.
He was too intense, too earnest, to
employ the cheap and paltry decOra-
tons Of discourse. He never recon-
noitered hostile position nor APP
preached il by stealthy parallels. He
could not lay siege to an enemy, nor
beleayuer him, nor open trenches, and
sap and mine. His method was the
charge and the onset. He was the
Nurat of Senatorial debate. Not
many men of this generation have
been better equipped for parliamenta-
nv warfare then he, with his COM
handing presence. his sinewy diction,
his confidence, and imperturabIe self
control.
But in the maturity Of This powen
Duu ntS I0tuc. WIN OutoeoDoseo W
portunities for achievement apparent.
~ before him, with great designs I'M
accomplished, surrounded by the
proud and affectionate solicitude Of .
the paid messenger
with the inverted torch beckoned him
to depart. There are few scenes In
history more tragic than that pro-
tracted combat with death. No
man had greater inducemeuts to
live. But In the long struggle against
the inexorable advances Of an insidt.
Gus and mortal malady he did not fall
ter or repine He retrested with the
aspect Of Q victor and though he sue
he succumbed to conquer.
His sun went down At noon, hut II
sank amid the prophetic splendors Of
an eternal dawn.
with more than . hsro's courage.
With more than . martyf's fortftude.
he waited the approach Of the newt
able hour and went to the undiscov-
cred country.