The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1883-02-11

ton GAZETTE sayslt-
Is the finest piece of analysis and Of rhetoric that has
been delivered In Congress for years IL seems to us
to stamp senator ingalls, the scholarly man
/ In that body. Several years ago, when the
statues OF Winthrop aud Hancock were pre- scented by
Massachusetts, TO Congress, and when her then
tors-Messrs Dawes and BOutwell-badly failed to do
Justice 10 hes traditional reputation for eloquence
Mr. ingalls, made u speech as one of the original
sons of the state, which was entirely worthy OF the
occasion.
The part Of this Grafton which has attracted the
most attention aud has been reprinted the intro
duction, which contains suggestion OF agnostIcsm.
hut 1t deserves reproduction as whole as an evidence
that Oratory Is not a lost art, aud model to pane-
gyriss. Senator ingalls, said
Ben nm has gone to the undiscovered country.
Whether his journey thither but step across
an imperceptible frontier or whether lnterminable
ocean, black, undertaking, and voceless stretches
between these earthly coasts aud those Invisible
shores-wc do not know.
Whether on that August morning after death lie
saw more glorious sun rise with uninagiaabe splen-
dor above celestial horizon or whether his apathetc
aud uzcOnscOus ashes stil sleep in cold obstruction
and lnsensible oblvion-wo do not know.
Whether his strong and subtle energies found instant
exercise IN another forum, whether ills deXterous
disciplined faculties now cOntehding In q higher
senate ours supremacy or whether his
were dissPated and dispersed with his parting
Dfeatli-we do not know
Whether his passions, ambitious, and affections stil
sway, attract, and impel whether he Yet remembers
us rs We remember him-we do not know.
These are the unsOyed the insOlubie problems Of
troubled patriarch To ask that OmentOus question Tor
which theeenIures have given 40 answer-'' II
die, shall hel live agani''
Every II the centre OF circle whose fatal cir
conference lie cannot pass. within its narrow con-
fines he Is potential beyond II he peTishes; and "
Immortality Ii splendid but delusiye dream N the
lncompietsness uf every career the longest aud
most fortunate, ba not supplemented and perfected
after It's termination here, then lie who breads die
should fear ~ live, for life - tragedy desOate
and heNpclDle than death.
or all the dead whose ObseIuirs We have paused Ia
t,g.
timely fate seems 50 lamentablo and yet rich In
prophecy as that OF Senator il. lie had reached tho
meridian of his years lie stood upon the high pIa-
teau Of middle ife In that serene atmosphere where
temptation no longer assails, where the clamOrOus
passions no more distract, and where the conditions
are most favorable for noble aud enduring achieve
meut. His upward path had been through stormy
hdNersty and contention such As nfrequently falls 10
tue lot oI men, Though not without the tendency 10
meditation, reYeTie, aud intfOspectlon which accom-
paniea genius, his temperament was palestine. lie
was npstitye and unpeaceful. He was born "A pO-
emc and conference.-the, Intellectually pugnaci1us
aud cUnbatiye, that he was impeed 10 defend any
position that might be assaed on TO attack any posi-.
iOu that might 10 ntrenched, not because the defense
Or the assault were estentlal but because the positions
were maintained and That those who held them be-
came by mat fact alone his adyersaIies Ihls tsn-
dency of his nature made Ills orbit GTatlc. He was
meteoTlc rather than planetary and flashed with ir-
regular SpleudUr rather than hhOne With steady aud
penetrating rays. His advocacy OF any cause was
fearless 10 the verge Of temerity. lie appeared bo
Indifferent 10 applause or cehsuro Tor tleir own sake
lie accepted intrepialy any conclusions that he
reached, without inquifing whether they were polite
or e2pedIeDt.
10 such a spirit paTiisaDship was unavoidable but
glth Senator lllN did not degenerate into blgoty.
Ito was capable OF broad generosity aud extended 20
Ills opponents the same unreseTyed CandOr whCn he
demanded for hlnsGlf, HIS OTatOry was impetuous
and devoid OF artiHce. lie was not u pOstuTsf OF
phfasemonger He was too Intense TOO earnest, 10
employ the cheap and paltry decorations OF dis
course lie never fecOnnOiteTed a hostile position
nor approached u by stealthy parallels Ho could
moi lay Siege 70 an enemy, nor beleaguBr him, hOT
open trenches, aud SAP and mine, HIS method was
The charge aud the onset, lie WAS the Mrat Of Eena-
turlal debate. Not many men Of this generation
hayebeen better equipped for parliamentary warfare
than he with his commanding presence. his sinswy
dictOn his confidence, and inperturbabe self -cOu-
troll.
hut IN the maturity of his powers and his fame,
with unmeasured opportunities IOr achievement |
apparently before hiu, with great designs unaccOm
pshed, surrounded by the proud and aGectlOnate /
sOcitude OF great constituency, tho pad mes I
senger with the Inverted torch beckoned him TO de
part There few In history more tragic |
tlsn that prOtTacted combat with death, No man Z
had greater Inducements 10 i've. But in the long /
struggle against be nexOraDle advances Of insidl-
aud mortal malsdy, he did not falter repue.
He Teteated with the aspect OF victor aud though
lie hugeumbed, he seemed 10 conquer His huu went
down az noOn but II sank auld the prophetic
speudOIs Of an eternal dawn
With more than hero's courage, with more than .
martyrs fOrtitude, hs waited The approach Of the
inevitable hour and went 10 the undiscovered country.