Telegram-herald., 1888-03-01
MOFFATT EULOGIlED
Ma. FoR0's A00s9ss N r.e Ho0sa.
As Eloqssnt rribats - Shs worth Of the
Dead Coaxrsssasn-f. "a. Hsste2
B<agss sn fstsrstsw- niekia-
soa aad the fsaalreS8s-

hyered in memory o. the late Representa- |
tive Monz.t, Af. Ford delivered the follow
inx forciole and eloquent Tribute
Ms srEAEEE. Ii Is with deep sorrow that !
I afiss TO pay tribute 70 the memory Of my 7,
friend and colleague. Seth c. Aohatt, had |
known him y long time and. while we
differed upon political questions. our rela-
tons were OF the most friendly and cordial
nature. And / am thankful that ia ali our
intercourse, no word or action ever occurred
to interrupt the kindly feeling that existed
between Us.
Mr. Molfatt was native OF the State
whose District he represented. being born
in Battle Creek. Michigan, IN ls4l. he re-
ceiyed a common school education, and
graduated al the law school of the Michi-
gan University Many times have the people
reposed confidence IN him. he was mem
ber of the State Senate in lS7l-2. a member
OF the Constitutional Commission OF 1873,
and was Speaker of The Michigan House OF
Representatives in issi-2 He was elected
TO the 40,h and 5Oth Congress.
He was a thorough and consistent Repub-
lican. AZ the time Of his death be was the
| District which he represented. But. while
he was a devotee oi the principles of the
Republican party some Of his most int-
| mate associates were Democrats. be was a
man W ho made friends wherever he went,
| and who had the universal respect OF ali
who knew him. regardless of party.
| Ii Is customary 90 speak well of those
who have passed away The old Latin
| maxim de mortuis HI Hisi boaun,. is an ex
| cellent one. Bat in respect 10 my dead
| colleague. ii Is not necessary TO invoke the
| application of this maxim. because if We
| speak truthfully. We can say OF him nothing
| but good.
| lie was a sterling man, true TO the core;
| liberal and nlagnaniinOus, with pure and
stainless character. He possessed the quail
| ites of activity aud perseverance, in Il re-
mErkable degree. lie was an lndefatigable
| worker in any matter on which ne was
| bent; and no member OF this House was
/ was more industrious in behalf OF the inter
| ests of his constituents than be. be was
| ST "A kind disposition, open-hearted and gen.
| erous, modest aud noble as = woman.
One would make mistake TO think that
under his quiet and transformations man
ner, there did not lie any resolution and
| hrmness. He was peculiarly possessed Of
| those qualities. | remember an instance
| which well illustrates this. When he was
a member OF the Legislature in 1872, he
was elected Speaker of the House. Some
| time alter serving at the regular session he
| was taken i'll. dis indispOsllion was pro-
tracted so long that it was feared he woGld
not recover. Right at tins time, while he
| Law upon sick bed, an extra session of tie
| Legislature was called by the Governor.
| Thinking that he would not live 10 assume
the duties OF Speaker IAany members of the
| Legislature commenced to discuss the ques
| ton as To who should be his successor Just
| t. ba airatr nf fbea nh.
ject was considerably agitsted. Mr. Moiiatt,
with iDdOmitsble energy, arose from lis
sick bed, aud when the hour for converting
OF the Legislature arrived 10 the surprise
OF great many, he appeared in the Speak
er's chair, weak aud pale, but very deter.
mined, and took the gayel aad called the
House to order.
Wnen the committee of this House,
which accompanied his remains 10 their
last resting place. arrived at his home the
scenes we're touching indeed. | never saw
more genuine sorrow manifested than al
Traverse City when We laid him away. The
town was draped in mourning. business
was wholly suspended, and a sadness per-
| vaded the entire community. Few men ia
Northern Michigan will be missed more
than he who 10 lately was with us, full OF
life, hope and ambition. As stand here,
| 1t seems but yesterday that sat in this very
ball IN friendly converse with him, and to-
day he is clssped ia the bosom OF the earth,
and the winter snow OF the north rests
upon MS grave.
Asa lawyer he was industrious and sue
cessful; as a citizen ne was high-minded
and exemplary, and as a friend he was
| stanch and true. By his death this House
has been deprived or one of ,ts most
| worthy and able members, his district a
| faithful and conscientious representative
and his family have suffered the irreparable
loss OF kind and indulgent iather, ten
der and loving husband.
| he was but as years OF age; an age at
which most men are considered to be in the
| prime of life. 1t Is nexpressibly sad that
one so beloved. at such an age. right in the
| zenith OF ais career. when sucn a fate was
| least ex pected, when his dear wife and chill
dren were thousand miles away. should
be so ruthlessly taken By toe Angel OF
| Death.
But sooner or later comes 10 as all.
The giofirs o. our mortal state
| Are shadows nli substantial things
| There - no amor agalns fate.
| "Dekih a. las les hand % kiBgs.
| "sCe.,tre snl crown mus tumO down.
And In tie dust be equal maze
| Nth the poor sickle, scythc. and spade"
His hopes and Aspirations are crushed:
his widow aud family are heart broken
but ne has gone where no pain, no sorrow
no anguish exists he has been taken to
tbst unknown hereafter from whence no
traveller returns. That there j. hereafter
every man, il seems - me. must believe. I
cannot conceive Aou sny one With huf0au
instincts can think otherwise. Ii there ex-
lists person who honestly believes that
when his eyes are closed IN death. nothing
remains, then / say such person i to be
pitied. Can Il b, that a. the conclusion Of
, mans sristence on tBis planet for COM
; psrsuvely intnitesirn period Of time-csn
il be. l say. that then. when dust is reader
o. unto dust. al = ended, No
| when mater srd mind ere rarisaed aad '7<f
sAnd q that 90 sse into fhsos j. SlSsed.
, | From no .hius - n. tang We psss o. sione.
! Like tssh o. a. ecao unknorB. B1 Known "
No word oomes back. We know not
vbat aesi.s us. sill : have something
2 here, IN ny i1nernos1 ss1l. which tells DE
thst THE Hfe is not ire end. That beyond
a. this re have wider higher a no5.ar
destiny. There les a TIE human bressf .
, something which ssvs fais = no All
bat az eaconrsgnE bore =
| divine tnlng g e ior th5s uorl1. fbis bslief
| In : future erssfenre. Hos could ne
, ! rid8w aod the fsl5sfiess children 81 a1r
t-sd 1oI Lesg1s assr ap unasr fasir uaafier-
s6ie grief. j ire noEe 1f fartars rsuafon
! beyond tbs 6ers vssv zere iaksa aUsF3
: / t. teach any 1thsT - sf = Enlstlra -
, / - IS il ru5as-reas
Nr sgeszsr. fT-a a. EARTHLY scenes r.~
! / f--n1 sr1 a.eeste j. gee fgrefrr. Blt
I p Ela rot ~ 'srs ttea. iarse wsn Ensw
/ I'm wii ever sa@p als aenarf lrsss H
/ tae'r res--s Aaf Tae1 fos eIsr5e.s
/ -aHr7er comes. sus sae xesss grsra ereea
! sre tae te-urfs Nea gan resss aia.sso--
I er t.s srsvs. sfa1ah asse1 wl -
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