Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-28
THE LESSON OF THE MONUMENT

THE LESSON OF THE MONUMENT.
For very many reasons, covering almost
the entire field of human endeavor, COM
munities erect monuments to the memory
of distinguished men and women, in honor
Of humble worth as we'll as of heroic service,
to testify to their regard for devotion to
the cause of humanity and to their ac-
acknowledgement OF benefits conferred by the
objects Of the distinction. The people of
this community, aided by many through
out the State, and led by the skilled me-
chanics who are employed in the IN achine
works Of the Central Pacific Railroad
Company, to-day unveil monument,
erected by them in stone and bronze, that
Is to testify to their admiration for the
character and the life service in the cause
OF labor of the late A. J. Stevens. 1t is
commendable action, and will be approved
by men so long as the stone and the bronze
endure, and the example of the memory
honored serves to stimulate men to duty
doing. The signal traits of character in
Mr.. Stevens were his loyalty to his calling,
his profound respect for the man who
achieves by virtue of industry and devotion
to the mechanical branch of labor for which
he is fitted. Himself aprolifc inventor, he
was the counselor and kindly adviser of all
others who engaged in mechanical re-
rearch, and labored to tighten human toll
He had but detestation for the sluggard,
and adherence for the men who lived in
idleness. By his life's example he encour-
aged every toiler, by his genius he evolved
and brought to the forge, and bench, and
workshop, the appliances that most aug
ment the capacity of the worker to pro-
duce, without increasing the burdens of
his toll. A governor over thousands of
men for a long term OF years, he COM
manded from all of them the regard that
true worth and manliness ever receives.
While it was his duty to conserve every
interest of his employers, he never lost
sight of the human rights of the men en-
ployed He held the balances evenly be-
tween forces sometimes driven to antagon-
ism in the fields of labor. He was a
disciplinarian without the severity of the |
exacting master he was master without
the austerity of the mere disciplinarian. |
lie stood forward all his life as cham
pion for full reward for the worker; he
exacted from every man his whole duty,
and accorded every one the fullest measure
Of his deserts. He believed that men are
more easily led than driven, that they
respect the authority that deserves it, and
by his example he impressed all with
whom he came in contact with these i'm
portant truths.
In ali the years in which he filled the
important position of Master Mechanic for
the railroad company he so administered
his difficult trust, that at his death his |
principals and those who served under |
him mingled their mourning in common
over his remains. He was the devoted
friend of Sacramento but not at the ex-
pense of the service demanding his 10y
atty.
The man whose name is honored to-
day by the ceremonies of unveIling the
monument erected to his memory by his fell
low workers, fought no battles, gained no
victories on the tented field, held no office
under the State, achieved no distinction on
the rostruln, never appeared in the politi-
cal forum, was neither writer of books,
champion OF science nor an explorer in
classical realms; nevertheless he rendered
such service to his fellow men by his SIM
pie, straightforward, courageous and manly
life, and by the achievements of his genius
in mechanics, that they delight to do
honor to his name and in imperishable
granite and enduring bronze raise monu-
nnent TO his memory that should serve as
guide to all others, who having duties to
perform sometimes hesitate by the way,
and weary of the toll.
All material improvement tends to the
elevation of the moral, intellectual and
social planes of people. Stevens, by his
genius as an inventor, his patience as a
worker, the personal qualities that so adj
m,rably fitted him to preside over great
mechanical industries, contributed greatly
to material improvement, and he was there
fore entitled to be regarded as having rem
dercd important public service to the State
and the race. We have been so much
given to considering os public men only
those who have achieved distinction in
political activity, that the monument un-
yelled to-day will serve a specially useful
purpose in reminding us that there are
heroes whose battles are fought without
sound of arms, men who contribute i'm
menseiy to the welfare of the race, whose
lives are comparatively obscure, and ma
lures like those of Mr.. Stevens, which win
themselves enduring honors without self
seeking. Monuments to such as these
serve as wise and bene6cent purposes among
men as those that are the rallying posts
for partisans, and as many that are the
memorials of the heroes of the sword.
THANKSGIVING.
srhera is always reason for thsnksrix-iufr