Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-25

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statesman. a lawyer, q distinguished citizen of
the Republic. in the zenith of his fame and
power has reached his journeys end; and we
our tribute to his worth and work. he earned
and held proud position in the public
thoughts. He STOOD for Independence, for cour-
age, and above all for absolute integrity, and
his name was known and honored by many
millions of his fellow-men.
The literature of many lands is rich with the
tributes that gratitude, admiration, and love
have paid to the great and honored dead. These
tributes, disclose the character OF nations. the
ideals OF the human race. In them we find the
that challenged praise aud thrilled the hearts
ofmen.
In the presence Of death the good man judges
as he would be Judged. He knows that mon
shadow, and that faults and failures mingle
with the lives Of all In the grave should be
buried the prejudices and passions born of con-
fict. Charity should hold the scales in which
are weighed the deeds of men. Peculiarities,
traits born q SeaE and
dents, drapery, clothes, fashions. that have
nothing to do with the man except to hide his
character. They are the clouds that cling to
mountains. Time gives us clearer vision. That
which was merely local fades away. The
words Of envy are forgotten, and all there is Of
sterling worth remains He who was called
outlaw are the founders of nations, and he who
was regarded as a scheming, selfish politician
aesas ssed light
Fortunate Is thntnation great gh to know
the great. When q great man dies. one who
he's nobly fought the battle of life who has
been faithful to every trust. and has uttered
his highest, noblest thought, one who has stood
proudly by the right in spite Of jeer and taunt,
in honorng him, in speaking words OF praise
and love above his dust, we pay tribute to
ourselves. How poor this world would be with
out. its graves, without the memories OF its
mighty 6AR6 f)n1v the yOiCa1oaa anaak
ever
Intelligence integrity and courage are the
all. the citizens OF free nation should honor
the brave and independent man--the man Of
stainless integrity, of will and intellectual
force. Such men are the Aliases on whose
mighty shoulders rest the greut fabric OF the
Republic. Flatserers, crngers. crawlers, time
servers are the dangerous citizens OF a DEM
pandsrnR to M mstaKes. the prejudiee ssl ap D
passions Of the multitude are the enemies Of
liberty. When the intelligent submit to the
Republic reaches the edge of chaos. Mediocriry,
touched with ambition, fatters the base and
caluminates the great, while the true patriot.
Who will do neither, is often sacrificed
In government Of the people leader should
be teacher; he should carry the torch of
ruth. Most roople are the slaves of habit,
the past, and were it not for brave aud splendid
souls "the dust Of antique time would lie I'M
swept and mountainous error he too highly
006p6Q LTuuu W OHeIp00E. SuatOUl lSsA
prison locked ana barred by those who long
ago were dust the keys of which are in the
keeping of the dead. Nothing is grander than
levels the wallis and breasts the many headed
mob like some great cliff that meets the in
Vulnerable pillows Of the sea.
Roscoe Conkling was man of superb cour-
age He not only acted without fear. buts he
had that fortiture of soul that bears the conse-
quences Of the course pursued without; com,
plant. He WAS charged with being proud. The
charge was true. He was proud. His, knees
were as inhexible as the "upwedgeable and
gnarled oak. but he was not vain Vanity rests
The source Of vanity is from witAout-of pride,
from within. Vas rty is q vans that turns a
willow that bends with every breeze; pride
is the oak that defies the Storm One. is.oloud
the other rock. One is Weakness the other
strength.
This imperious man entered public life in, the
country needed men of pride, of principle. and
courage. The institution. of slavery had gois-
oned all the springs Of power. Before this crime
clergymen. and merchant princes bowed low
and humbly with their hats in their hauds The
real friend of man was denounced, as, rhe,snsrny
race was called a statesman. and q patuiot
Slavery was bond and. pledge of peace, of
union, of national greatness. The tsnp!e Of
American liberty was finished-the suction (.
block was the cornerstone.
1t is hard to conceive. of the utter dsmosaliza
tion, OF the political blindness and immortality,
of the patriotic dishonesty, of the crualty and
degradation Of a people who supplemented the
incompatible Declaration Of Independence
with the fugitive slave law. Think of thu hon
ored statesmen Of that ign0blB. tips, who wal
lowed in this mire, and who, decorated with
dripping filth, received the plaudits of their
fellow mon. The nobe the really patriotic.
were clad in the robes of office. But let US
speak no word Of blame: let US feel that each
one acted according to, his Light according to
his darkness.
At last the conflict came The hosts of ligha
Of war. The question was presented: Shall the
party had triumphed at the polls. The grea:est
,ictors we're appalled,. rhey shrhnk frora the
Of rebellion they hesitate<. they offered 10 re-
they were willing that slavery should become
was proposed to the effect that no scibselueS,k
way should iaterfeFe with the right Of man to
Gus proposition ever submitted e a congress- Of
civilized men. reeseiyed in the lf5ousaan over
whelming majority. and tina necessary two
the moment 81 its triumId, deserted every
principle for which 1t had so gallantly contend
ed and vi trembling hCAhds Of fear Laid its
con, Motions ON the altar OF compromise.
The Old Guafd. mum oering but sixty-fvl In
the H0use stood aa firm 40 the 3ll ut Of.