Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-05-11
Friday, May II, 1883.
AN APPROPRIATE EScoMIUM.


Three thousand five hundred per-
sons in the academy Of music in Al
bany, N. Y, listened to an Grafton by
Col. Robt. g. Ingersoll, to the mem
DRY of Roscoe Conkling, and one-fourth
as many more beseiged the barred
doors. Col Ingersoll said: Roscoe
Conkling, a great man, an orator, a
statesman, q lawyer, a distinguished
citizen Of the republic, in the zenith Of
his fame and power, has reached his
journeys end and we are met here in
the city Of his birth to pay u tri-
butte TO his worth and work. He
earned and held q proud position In
the public thought. He stood for in
dependence, for courage, and above
oil for resolute integrity, and bis
name was known and honored by
millions OF his fellow men. In the
grave should be buried the prejudices
and passions borne o conflict. Charity
should hold the scales in which are
weighed The deeds of men. Peculiar
tiles, traits borne Of locality and sur
roundIDIs are the clouds that cling tO
mountains. Fortunate 10 that nation
great enough to show the great. How
p o this world would be without its
graves, without the memories of its
mighty dead. Only the voices. speak
forever. Intelligence, integrity and
courage are the great pillars that sup
port the state. Above all, the citizens
of a free nation should honor the
brave and independent mantle man
of stainless integrity. OF will and intel.
I ctual force. Such men are the Atlas
on whose mighty shoulders rest the
great fabric of the republic. When
the intelligent submit to the clamor
Of many, anarchy begins and the re
public reaches the edge Of chaos. 10
the government of the people q leader
should be q teacher. He should carry
the torch Of truth. The politicis n
hastens to agree with the majority,
insists that their prejudice is patriot
ism, that their ignorance is wisdom;
not because he loves them, but because
he loves himself. The statesman, the
real reformer, points out the mistakes
Of the multitude, attacks the brejudi-
ces Of his countrymen; not because he
loves himself, but because he loves
and serves the right and wishes to
make his country great aud free.
Roscoe COnkling was a man of superb
courage. He not only acted without
fear but be had that fortitude of soul
that bears the consequences Of the
course pursued without complaint. He
was charged with being proud. The
charge was true. He was proud, but
he was not vain. Vanity rests on the
opinion Of Others, pride in our own.
This imperious man entered public
life in the dawn of its reformation,
at o time when the country needed
men Of pride, principle and courage.
He eve more waversd and
he new swerved. Disasters in the
field, reveises at the polls, did not
and could not shake bis courage or
his faith. He battled for the nations
life, for the rights Of slaves, for the
dignity Of labor and the liberty Of all,
He believed that q nation
should discharge its obligations. He
was the ideal representative faithful
aud incompatible. He voted accord.
ing to his judgment and his concience.
No corporation was great enough or
rich enough to purchase him. Above
his marvellous intellectual gifts, above
all place be sver reached, above the
ermine he refused, rises his integrity
like some great mountain peak, and
there II stands firm as the earth be-
meath and pure as the stars above.
To him there were two paths
the right and the wrong. He was
an American-proud Of his country,
that was and " will lie proud Of
him. He has left with US his wealth
of thought and deed-tbe memory Of
a brave, imperious, honest man, who
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