Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-26
Ingalls,. Idea Of Death.


In The Senate yesterday Mr.. Ingalls,, pres
ident pro ten, delivered eulogy upon the
late Representative Burnes Of Missouri, in
concluding which he said when this day
weak returns, one political party will re
lirquish and another assume the executive
fuoc!ions of government. Ga every hand
are visible the preparations to welcome
thu coming ani speed the parting guest.
Events Of great pith and moment are wait
ing on the event Of the brief interval.
While pleasure waDders restlessly through
the corridors OF the Capitol, hope and fear,
ambition ,cupidity and revenge cit in the GAL
lsIies or stand at the gates eager like the
dying j. iZabeth) TO exchange millions OF
money for that inch Of time on which sue
cess or failure, wealth or penury, honor or
ture. when every instant is priceless, the
Senste, resisting every inducenent ano
solicitation, proceeds by unanimous con-
cent to consider resolutions of the
highest privilege-repo from no com.
mttee, having no place on any calendar,
but which take precedence OF unfinished
business: aud special orders on which the
gees and nays are never called, and on
which no negative vote has ever been re-
cordsd-and reverently pause, in obedience
to the Eoliest impulses OF human nature, to
contemplate the profoundest mystery of hui
man destiny-.he mystery of death. In the
democracy of death ell men. at least, are
equal There is neither rank nor station
nor prerogative 10 the republic Of The grave.
At that fatal threshold The philosopher
ceases to be wise and the song of he poet is
silent At that fatal threshold Dives rein-
qui3hes bis millions and Lazarus his rags
The poor man is as rich as the richest, aud
the rich man is as poor as the pauper. The
creditor loses bis usury, and the debtor is
acquitted of his obligation The PROUD
man surrenders his dignity, the poll.
ticiau bis honors. the worlding hi
pleasures, Here the invalid needs 20
physician, and the laborer rfs!s from
unrequited toll Here, at least, is ma
lures final decree in equity. The irony of
fate is refuted. The wrongs Of time are re-
dressed and Injustice Is expated. The I'm.
equal Distribution of wealth, of honor, ca
pacty. pleasure aud opportunity, which
make life so cruel aud ineXplicabie q TRACE.
dg, ceases in The realms of death. The
strongest has there no supremacy, and The
weakest needs DO defense. The mightlest
captain spccUmbs to that adversary VINO
dissrms alike the victor and the vanquished.
james Nelson Bnfues, whose life and vir-
tues we commemorate to day. was a man
whom Plularch might have described and
Vandyke portrayed. Massive, rugged snd
robust, in motion allow, in speech serious
and deliberate, grave in aspect, serious
in demeanor, OF antique and heroic mold,
the incarnation Of force. As | looked
for the last time upon that countenance,
from which for the FIRST time in so many
yearel no plaGce Of ffiendlv recOgni-
ton nor word of welcome came, l reflected
upon the impeneirsbe end insOuble mgs-
tery of death. But, If death be the end, il
the life OF Barnes terminates upon this bank
and shoal Of time, if no morning is to dawn
upon the night in which he sleeps, then sor-
row has no consolation, and this impressive
aud solemn Ceremony. which we observe to-
day, hos no more significance than the paint
ed pageant Of the stage. II tho existence Of
Burnes wss but troubled dream, his death
oblivion, what avals il that the Senate
should pau to recount his virtues? Meth
er veneraton nor reverence are due the
dead if they are but dust. 10 cenotaph
should be reared to preserve for prosperity
the memory CT their achievements if those
who come after them are to be only
their successors in annihilation and extiac-
ton If in this world only we have nope
aud consciousness, DUTY must be ch;meFe;
our pleasures and our passions should be the
guides of our conduct, and virtue is indeed a
superstition if life ends at the grave. This
is the conclusion which the philosophy OF
negaton must accept at last. Such is the
felicity Of those degrsding precepts which
make the epitaph the end. If the life of
Burnes is taper that is burned out, then
We treasure his memory and his example in
vain And the last prayer of his departing
spirit has no more ssnctiiy to Us. who soon
or ate, must follow him, than the whisper
of winds that stir the leaves of the protest
log forest or the murmur OF waves that break
upon the complaining shore"