The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1889-08-31

the unreplyiDg dead.
He lies to- day surrounded by little o
funeral pomp. No banners droop ovel
the bier, no melancholy music float
upon the reluctant air. The hopes O
high hearted friends droop like fading
flowers upon his breast, and the strug
CLING sigh compels the tear in the eye thai
seldom weeps, Around him are thos'
who had known him best and loved hin
longest; who have shared the triumph
and endured the defeat. Near him art
the gravest and noblest of the state, pos
sessed by grief at once earnest ano
sincere; while beyond, the masses of the
people whom he loved, and for whom
his life was given, gather like thunder
cloud of swelling and indignant grief.
In such presence, fellow citizens, lei
usllnger for moment at the portals o
the tomb, whose shadowy arches vibrate
to the public heart, to speak few brief
words of the man, and of his death. UI
to the time of his arrival in California,
his life had been passed among events
incident to such character. Fearless,
self.reliant, open in his enmities, warm in
his friendships, welded to his opinions,
and marching directly to his purpose
through and over all opposition, his
career was checkered with success and
defeat; but even in defeat his energies
were strengthened and his career devel-
oped.
When he reached these shores, his
keen observations taught him at once
that he trod a broad field, and that a
higher career was before him. He had
no false pride; sprung from people and
a race whose vocation was labor, be
-toiled with bis own hands, and sprang at
q bound from the workshop to the legis-
lative hall. From that time there con-
gregated around him and against him
strong friendship, bitter enmities, high
praise. malignant calumnles- but be
trod with free and proud step that on
ward path which has led him to glory
and the grave.
Fellow citizens! the man whose body
lies before you was your senator. From
the moment of his election his character
has been maligned, his motives attack
ed, his courage impeached, his patriotism
assailed. 1t has been system tending
to one end. What was his cr1me2 Re-
view bis history consider his public acts,
weigh his private character-and before
the grave encloses forever-judge be-
tween him and his enemies2
As a man-to be judged in his private
relations-who was his superior? 1t was
his boast, and amid the general license of
new country it was proud one, that
his most scrutinizing enemy could fix no
single act of immortality upon him !!
tn al ha
passed through all the excitement of
California unstained. No man could
charge HIM with broken faith nr violated
trust. Of habits sample and inexpensive,
he had no lust of gain: He overreached
no mans weakness in a bargain, and
withheld from no man n. just dues.
Never in the history of the state, has
there Ueen a citizen who has borne public
relations more stainless In all respects
than he.
One year ago to-day performed q
duty such as perform to-day, over the
remains of Senator Fergusson, who died
as Broderick died, tangled in the meshes
of the code of honor. To-day there is a
more eminent sacrifice. To day I renew
my protest; to-day utter yours. The
code of honor is delusion and a snare !;
it palters with the hone Of true courage
and binds it to the feet of crafty and
cruel skill. 1t surrounds Its victim with
the pomp and grace of the procession,
but leaves him bleeding on the altar. Il
is shield, blazoned with the name of
chlvalry, to cover the mallgnity of muir
der.
It substitutes cold and deliberate prep
aratlon for courageous and manly impulse,
AID arms the one to disarm the other; it
may prevent fraud between practlced duel
lists, who should be forever without its pale,
but it makes the mere ''trick of the
weapon" superior to the noblest cause
and truest courage. It's pretense of
equality IS q lie-it is equal in all the
form, it is unjust in all the substance
the habitude of arms, the early training,
the frontier life, the border war, the
sectional custom, the life of leisure, a
these are advantages which no negotia-
tion can neutrallze and which no courage
can overcome.
And now, as the shadow turns toward
the east, and we prepare to bear these
poor remains to their last resting place,
let US not seek to repress the generous
pride which prompts the recital of noble
deeds and manly virtues. He rose un-
aided and alone; be began without family
or fortune, in the face of difficulties; he
inherited poverty and obscurlty; he died
a senator In congress, having written his
name in the history of the great struggle
for the rights of the people against the
despostism of organization and the coz
ruption of power.
He leaves in the hearts of his friends
the tenderest and proudest recollections.
He was honest, faithful, earnest, sincere,
generous and brave; be felt in all the
great crisis of his life that be was lead
er in tie ranks, that 1t was his high duty
to uphold the.interest of the masses; that
he could not falter. When he returned
from the fatal field, while the dark wing
of the archangel of death was casting Its
shadow upon his brow, his greatest anx-
iety was for the performance of his duty.
He felt that all his strength and his life
belonged to the cause to which he had
devo.ed them.
his last words-"Baker, when I was
struck had to stand firm, but the blow |
blinded me aud l could not" I trust
that it is no shame to my manhood that |
tears blinded me as he said it. Of his |
last hour have no heart to speak. He !
was the last of his race; there was no |
kindred hand to smooth bis couch or
wipe the death damp from his brow; but |
round that dying bed strong men, the |
friends of his early manhood, the devoted |
adherents of later life, bowed in irrepres-
sible grief, "and lifted up their voices
and wept."
But fellow citizens the voice of lamen-
Lation is not uttered by private friendship |
blow that struck his manly |
breast has touched the heart of people,
and as the sad tidings spread a gen.
sral gloom prevails. Who now shall
speak for California ?-who will be the
isterpreter of the wants of the Pacific
coast2
aAh who that gallant spirit shall resume,
Leap from Eutoras bank, and call US from the |
tomb?"
But the last words must be spoken,
and the imperious mandate of death must
be fulfilled. Thus, o brave heart! we
bear thee to thy rest. Thus surrounded
oy tens of thousands, we leave thee to
he equal grave.
Mnn n 7 Dhi1linn