Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-10
INGERsOLL ON CONKLING.
Points from the Eulogistic Address De-
lissred Before the New York Legisla-
luRe.

luKes
Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll delivered eulogy OF
the late Roscoe Conkling last evening In the pres
ence OF the members OF the New York legislature,
state Officers and throng OF 5000 persons at the
Lark-street rink, In Albany. Colonel Ingersoll
spoke for about one hour. Probably 10000 people
endeavored In vain TO obtain a place where they
could hear him. He said In substance. according
10 special report in the Philadelphia Press.
Roscoe Conkling, great man, an orator, q
statesman, lawyer, distinguished citizen OF the
republic, in the zenith OF his fame and power has
reached his journeys end. He earned and held a
proud position In the public thought He stood
Tor independence, for courage, and above all for
absolute integrity, and his name was known and
honored by many millions OF his fellow men. In
the presence OF death the good man judges as he
would De judged. He knows that men are only
fragments, that the greatest walk in shadow and
that faults and failures mingie with the lives OF
Roscoe Conking was a man OF superb courage.
He not only acted without fear, but he had that
1ortitude OF soul that bears the consequences of
the course pursued without complaint He was
cnargeu Win being proud. The charge was true
he was proud. His Knees were as inflexible as the
''unWe1geabe and gnarled oak" but he was not
vain vanity rests on the opinion OF others
pride on our own. This imperious man entered
public life In the dawn Of the reformation-at time
Wnen the country needed men OF PRIDE OF prtnci-
PIE. and courage. The institution OF slavery had
poisoned all the springs OF power. Before this
crime ambition fell upon It's knees-politicians,
Judges, clergymen, and merchant princes bowed
low and humbly, with their hats In their hands.
The real friend OF man was denounced as the
enemy OF his Countrywide real enemy OF the
human race was called o statesman and patriot.
and national greatness The temple OF American
liberty was nnished-the auction block was the
cornerstone.
COMBINES COURAGE.
AT last the conflict came. The hosts OF light and
darkness prepared to meet upon the fields OF war.
The question was presented, Shall the republic be
slave or free? The republican party had triumphed
AT the polls. The. greatest man In our history
was presluent-elect. The victors were appalled,
tDey shrank from the great responsibility OF
success In the presence Of rebellion they hest
tated-they offered TO return the fruits OF victory
I Looping og 70 avert war, they were willing that
10 tue CONSTITUTION was proposed, to the effect
tnat no subsequent amendment should ever be
made that In any way should interfere with the
right OF man 10 steal his fellow-men. This, the
most marvellous proposition ever submitted TO q
congress OF civilized men, received in the House
an Overwhelming majority and the necessary two
thirds IN the Senate. The republican party, In
the moment or It's triumph, deserted every princl-
pie Tor which II had so gallant contended, and with
the trembling hands OF fear laid its convictions on
the altar OF compromise.
The Old Guard, numbering but sIxty-fve in the
mouse, stood as firm as the 300 at ThermopylB.
JnaddeuS SteNens-as maiic!Ously right as any
other man was ever wrOng-reTused TO kneel
owen LoyeJoy. remembering his brothers noble
oiooo refused 10 surrender, and On the edge OF dis
union, IN Inc shadow or civil war, with the air
nlled with sounds or dreadful preparation, while
the republican party Was retracing its steps, Ros-
coe Conknng voted no. This puts wreath OF
giory on MS tomb. From that vote to the last
moment oil his lie he was champion Of equal
rights. staunch and stalwart. From that moment
ne STOOD In the 'front.' rank. He never moved and
he never swerved. By his devotion to principle
his courage the splendor OF his dictlon-by his
varied and profound knowledge, his conscientious
devotion TO the great cause and by his intellec-
a oArnfra
ton OF his fellow-men Disastersin the nelds re-
verses at the polls did not and could not shake his
courage or his laith. He knew the CHASTITY mean
Ing OF defeat; he knew that the great ship that
slavery sought TO strand and wreck was frelghted
With the worlds sublimest hope.
TIE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
There are no words intense enough, with heart
enough, to express my admiration for the great
and gallant souls who have in every age and every
land upheld the right and who have lived and died
for freedoms sake. In our lives have been the
yrandest years that man has lived that time has
measured by the flight OF worlds. The history OF
That great party that let the oppressed go free,
that lifted our nation from the depths OF savagery
10 freedoms cloudlesS heights and tore with holy
hands from every law the words that sanctified
the cruelty OF man, is the most glorious In the
annals OF our race. Never before was there such a
moral exaltation-neyer party with purpose so
pure and high. IL was the embodied conscience Of
a nation, the enthusiasm OF a people guided by
wisdom, the impersonation or Justice, and the
sublime victory achieved that loaded even the
conquered with all the rights that freedom can
bestow.
Roscoe Conkling was an absolutely honest man.
Honesty Is the oak around which all other virtues
cling. Without that they fall and groveling die in
weeds and dust. He believed that nation Should
discharge Its obligations. He felt that the promise
or the Government was the promise OF every citI-
He uttered the splendid truth that .the higher OBJ
legations among men are not set down In writing
signed and sealed, but reside In honor" He knew
that Reputation was the sacrirce OF honor the
1eHll OF the national soul. He uDhpld
ness OF contracts, OF plighted national faith and
helped 70 save ana keep the honor OF his native
land This adds another laurel 10 his brow
THE ISCoRRUPTIBLE LEGISLATOR
He was the ideal representative, faithful and
ncorruptible. He believed that his constituents
and his country were entitled TO the fruit OF his
experience to her best and highest thought No
man ever held the standard or responsibility higher
than he. He voted according to his judgment, his
conscience. lie made no bargains-he neither
bought nor sold. To correct evils, abolish abuses
and 1naugurate reforms he believed was NOT only
the duty but the privilege OF a legislator He
neither sold nor Iaortgaged himself. He was in
Congress during the years or vast expenditure OF
war ana waste, when the credit OF the nation was
loaned 10 Individuals when claims were thick as
leaves IN June, when the amendment OF a statute
the change OF single word, meant millions and
when empires were given TO corporations. He Stood
at the summit OF his power-peer OF the greatest,
a leader tried and trusted. lie had the tastes OF n
prince the fortune OF a peasant yet he never
sweryed. No corporation was great enough or
rlcu enOuSu W purchase MIN. Ills vote could not
be bought 'for all the sun sees or the close earth
wombs, or the profound seas hide" His hand was
never touched by any bride, and on his soul there
never was a sordid stain. Poverty was LIS price
less crown.
Above his marvellous Intellectual gifts, above all
place he ever reached, above the ermiDe he re.
fused, rises his Integrity like some great mountain
peak-and there IL stands firm as the earth be-
meath. pure as the stars above, He was a great
lawyer. He understood the framework, the an
atoIny, the foundations OF Law, was familiar with
the great streams and currents and tides of an
thor1ty. He knew the history OF legislation the
principles that have been settled upon the eids OF
war. He was student or the Constitution He
knew the boundaries OF state and federal jursdic.
great decisions that are the peaks and promOn
tories, the headlands and the beacons or the law
He was an orator. earnest, logical Intense and
picturesque. He laid the foundation with care
with accuracy and skill, and rose by "cold grada.
ton and well-Dalanced fOrm' from the Corner
stone OF statement 10 the dOmed conclusion He
nlled the stage. He satisfied the eye-the au-
dience was his He had that indefinable thing
called presence. Tall, commanding, erect annie
Ia speech, graceful In compliment, 1itantic I'm de-
rich In Illustration, prOdigal of COM
parison and metaphor and his sentences meas
ured and rhy thmical Tell like music on the enrap
tured throng.
THE NAN AND HIS TRAITS.
He abhorred the Pharisee and ioathed all consc,-
entious fraud. He had a profound aversion for
those who insist on putting base motives back OF
the good deeds OF Others. He wore no mask. He
knew his friends-his enemies knew him. He had
no patience with pretense-with patriotic reasons
Tor unmanly acts. He did his work and braVeIy
spoke his thought. He never turned aside To avoid
a Zoe OF 20 gain friend. In his nature there was