The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-10
The Virtues OF the Distinguished
Dead Eloquentiy Portrayed.
Estimated as q Citizen, Lawyer,
Orator and Statesman.
A PaneRyric Almost Without Parable
In the Literature OF American Ora
tory-The Man "Who Bowed
Alone to Death"

memory OF Roscoe Conkling and one
fourth as many more bcsieged the barred
doors, while many climbed to the roof and
peeped through the skylighis. The cere-
monies were under the auspices OF the
Senate and Assembly. Col. Ingersoll said;
Roscoe Conkling died great man. An
orator, statesman, lawyer, distin-
guished citizen OF the republic, in the &C.
NTH OF his fame and power has reached
his journeys end; and we are met, here
in the city Of his birth, to pay our tribute
to his worth and work. He earned and
held proud position in the public thought.
He stood for independence, for courage
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 10 the great and honored
dead. These tributes disclose the charac-
ter OF nations, the ideals OF the human
race. In them we find the estimates OF
greatness deeds and lives that chal-
lenged praise and thrilled the hearts Of
men.
In the presence OF death, the good man
judges MS he would be judged. He knows
that men are only fragments-that the
greatest walk in shadow, and that faults
and failures mingle with the lives Of all.
In the grave should be buried the preju-
dices and passions born Of conflict. Char
ity should hold the scales in which are
weighed the deeds OF men. Peculiarities,
traits born Of localities and surroundings
these are but the dust OF the race-these
are accidents, drapery, clothes, fashions,
that have nothing 10 do with the man ex-
cept TO hide his character. They are the
clouds that cling 10 mountains. They give
us clearer vision. That which was merely
local fades away. The words OF envy arc
forgotten, and all there is Of sterling worth
remains. lie who was called partisan is
patriot. The reyOlutionist aud the out
law are the founders Of nations, and he
who was regarded as u scheming, selfish
politician becomes statesman, n philoso-
pher, whose words and deeds shed light.
Fortunate Is that nation great enough TO
know the great.
When great man dies, one who had
nobly fought the battle OF life, who has
been faithful 10 every trust, and has ut
tered his highest, noblcst thought-one
who has stood proudly by the right in
spite OF jeer and taunt, neither stopped by
foe nor sweryed by fricnd-in honoring
him, in speaking words OF praise and love
above his dust, we pay tribute TO our
selves.
How poor this world would be without
It's graves, without the memories Of It's
mighty dead. Only the voiccless speak
forever.
Intelligence, integrity and courage are
the great pillars that support the State.
Above all, the citizens Of a free nation
should honor the brave and independent
mhn-the man Of stainless integrity, oil
will and intellectual force. Such men are
the Aliases on whose mighty shoulders
rest the great fabric Of the republic. Flat
tercrs, cringcrs, crawlcrs, time-seryen arr
the dangerous citizens OF democracy.
They who gain applause and power pan.
dering 90 the mistakes, the prejudiccs and
passions OF tho multitude are the enemies
of liberty.
When the intelligent submit TO the
clamor OF the many anarchy begins
and the republic reaches tho edg,
OF chaos. Mediocrity, touched with am
| bition hatten the base and calumniatcs the
great, while the true patriot, who will dc
neither IL often sacrificed. In n govern
ment OF the people leader should be .
teacher-he should carry the torch o
truth.
Most people are the slaves Of habit; fol
lowers OF custom; believers in the wisdom
Of the past; and were Il not for brave and
splendid souls, "the dust OF antique time
would lie unswept and mountainous errol
bo too highly hcapcd for truth 10 over
peer" Custom is prison, locked ant
barred by those who long ago wcrc dust
who aru In tho keeping OF the dead.
Nothing Is grandcr than when strong,
intrepid man breaks chains, lcvels wall
and breasts the many-headcd mob lik,
some great cliff that meets and mocks th,
innumerablo billovs Of the sea.
The politician haslons 10 agree with th'
majorty-insists that their prejudice Il
patriotism, that their ignorance Is wisdom
mot that he loves them, but because h,
loves himself Tho statesman, the real ~
former, points out tho mistakes OF the
multitude, attacks the ppiudiccs Of hi
countrymon, laughs nj their iollics, de
nounccs their crueltes, enlightens and en-
largcs their minds aud educaics the con
science bccausc he loves himself, bu
because he loves and serves the right an,
wishes 10 make his country great and free
With him defeat is but spur 10 iurihe
effort. lie who rciuscs 10 stoop, who can
not be bribcd by the promise oi success, o
the fear Of failure who walks the highwa,
of the right, and IN disaster stands erect, !
the only victor. Nothing u more despica
bic than TO reach lame by crawling posi-
ton by cringing.
when real history shall be written by IN
truthful and tho wise, these men, thcs
kncclcn at the shrinos Of chance am
fraud, these braxtn idols worshipcd Que
~ gods will be- The very food Of scorn
while those who bow the burden Of defeat
who earned and kept their sclf-rcspccl
who would not bow TO man or men 70
place or power, willwcar upon their brow
The laurcl mingled with the oak.
Roscoe Conkling was a man OF super
courage.
lie not only acicd without fear, but h
had that iortiiudc oi soul that bears IN
, consequences Of the course pursued with
out complaint lie WIS charged with bcil
proud. The charv was true-hc wa
proud. Ills knees were a. inncxiblc "a IN
+ 'unwcdpablc and gnarlcd oak" but h
! was not vain. VANITY ras,s ON the opnioi
, of others pride on our own. The sourc
! of vanity Il from without oi pride, frou
within, Vanity n o yanc that turns, n vii
| low that bends with every breeze -prd
, Il the oak that dcfcs the storm. One
cloud-.lho other, rock. One IA week.-mrs.
/ the other, strength
, This impcfious nun entered public III
Ia the lawn II the Information. nd n tim