Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-05-24

Following is an extract from the
eulogy pronounced on Roscoe Conk-
ling by II. q. lngersoll before the New
York state assembly on May 9th:
Roscoe Conkling was II man of SUI
perb courage. lie not only acted with
out fear, but he had that fortitude OF
soul that bears the consequences of Il
course pursued without complaint.
He was charged with being proud. The
charge was true-he was proud. His
knees were as inflexible as the "un-
wedgable and gnarled oak, but he was
not vain. Vanity is the vine that
turns the willow that bends with every
breeze. Pride is the oak that deiies
the storm. One is weakness. The
other is strength. This imperious man
entered public life ut the dawn OF the
reformation, at the time when the
country needed men OF pride, OF prin-
ciple and courage. The institution of
slavery had poisoned all springs of
power before this ambition fell upon
its knees. Politicians, judges, clergy
men and merchant princes bowed low
and humbly with their heads. Slav-
cry was the bond and pledge OF peace,
of union and OF national greatness.
The temple of American liberty was
shattered. The auction block was the
corner stone. 1t is hard to conceive
of the utter decentralization OF political
blindness and immortality, of political
dishonesty. of cruelty and degia1a-
ton OF the people WHO supplemented
the incompatible Declaration of Inde-
pendence with the fugitive slave law.
Mr.. Ingersoll then painted Il graphic
condition of the country in the dark
days of slavery and the debased con
dition of American citizens at that
time. lie showed how Roscoe Conk-
ling, when the conflict came, took the
constitution for his shield and the bal
lot for his sword and battled for free
dom from first to finish. lie never
mortgagcd or sold himself, nor did he
rest himself until the end had come
He did his work well and bravely. IL
spoke his thoughts; sensitive to the
} last degree, he keenly felt the blows
and stabs of envious and the obscure
the small blow of the weakest, but tn,
greatest could not drive him from con
victions field. He would not stop tt
ask or give explanations. lie left hi'
words and deeds to- iustiiy-Nemselves
lie held in light estimation n frlent
! who heard with half-beieving ear th,
e slander of the foe. lie walked high
e way of his own and kept company o
. his self-respect. lie would not tur,
= aside to avoid a foe, to greet or gain ;
friend. In his nature there was n,
!, compromise. To him there were bu
!, two paths, the right and the wrong
. He was maligned, misrepresented an'
I al I'm ha
answer. lie knew that characte
e spoke louder than any words. II
e was rs silent then as he is now, an,
e his silence better than any form q
K speecl, reiueed every charge. lie wa
!. that was and always will be proud q
. him. lie did not find perfections il
other lands. He did not grow smal
and shrunken, withered and apoiogeti
= in the presence of those upon whom
II greatness had been thrust by chance
= He could not be overawed by dukes O
T. lords or ilattered into subseryienee b.
the patronizing smiles OF kings. In tn
midst of conyentionalists he had
feeling of suiiocation. lie believed il
the royalty OF man. in the sovereign
OF the citizen and the matchiess great
ness Oh lll> rei'iplI'. lie was oi 'la0si
mould, IA figure from theantique orld
lie had Il pose of great statues, til
IL pride and hearing OF the intellectual
n Greek or the eonquering Roman, az
N he stood in the free air as though il
his veins there flowed the blood ni
u hundred kings, and as he lived he died
II Proudly he entered darkness or TIA
he dawn that we call death. Tnshrin,
N ing he passed beyond the horizon, b,
4, yond twilights purple hills, beyon
= the utmost reach of human harm %
L. help, to that vast realm of silence q
II of Joy where innunerable dwell, an
l. he has lett with rs his wealth q
thought and deed, the memory of
brave, imperious, honest man, VIII
~ bowed alone to death.