West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-05-18
We 90 not hear as much as we
lid, about ''organizing" the party.
I'VE nrint an extract from ]

We print an extract from In
gersol's Grafton on Conkling.
Which of our successful politicians
desire this to be said of him ?
Intelligence, integrity and cour-
age are the great pillars that sup
port the State. Above all, the citi-
zens 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 rests the great
fabric of the republic. Flatterers,
cringers, crawlers, time-servers are
the dangerous citizens of a democ-
racy. They who gain applause and
power by pandering to the mistakes,
the prejudices and passions of the
multitude are the enemies ofliberty.
When the intelligent submit to the
clamor of the many anarchy begins,
and the republic reaches the edge of
chaos. Mediocrity, touched with
ambition, fatters the base and ca
lumniates the great, while the true
patriot, who will do neither, is Of
ten sacrificed. 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 knew that a promise
could not be made often enough, or
emphatic enough, to take the place
of payment. He felt that the prom
Use of the government was The prom
Use of every citizen-that national
obligation was q personal debt, and
that no possible combination of
words and pictures conld take the
place of coin. He uttered the
splendid truth that "the higher oh
legations among men are not set
down in writing, signed and sealed,
but reside in honor" He knew that
reputation was the sacrifice of hon
or-the death of the national soul.
He knew that without character.
without integrity, there is no wealth,
and that below poverty, below bank
ruptcy, is the rayless abyss ofrepu
diation. He was in Congress dur
ing the years of vast expenditure
a leader tried and trusted. He had
the tastes of q prince, the fortune of
peasant, and yet he never swerv
ed. No corporation was great
enough or rich enough to purchase
him. His vote could not be bought
''for all the sun sees or the close
earth wombs or the profound seas
hide" His hand was never touch
ed by any bride, and on his soul
there never was sOrdid strain.
Poverty was his priceless crown.
Above his marvellous intellectual
gifts-above all place he ever reach
ed-above the ermin lie refused
rises his integrity like some great
mountain peak and there it stands,
firm as the earth beneath, pure rs
the stars above.
He was man Of courage. He
not only acted without fear, but he
had that fortitude Of soul that bears
the consequences of the course pur-
sued without complaint. He was
charged with being proud. The
charge was true-he was proud.
His knees were as infleXible as the
'unwedgeable and gnarled oak" but
he was not vain. Vanity rests on
the opinion of others-pride,. on our
own. The source Of vanity is from
without-ofpride from within. Van
ity is vane that turns, willow
that bends, with every breeze-pride
is the oak that defies the storm.
One is cloud-the other rock. One
is weakness-the other strength.