Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-26
INGALLS, VS.. INGERSOLL.

The Eloquent Kansas Senator's Grafton
Over the Late Representative Burnes,
of Missouri-A Plain Reply TO Some Ut
terances of the Great Inadel-A Grand
Tribute to a Friend.
| WASHINGTON, February 25.--At 8 o'clock
this afternoon message was received by the
Senate from the House, announcing the death
of Mr.. Burnes, of Missouri, on the Oath of jan
uary last Mr.. Cockerell offered resolutions
that the Senate has received with profound
sorrow, the announcement of Mr.. Burnes
death, and tenders to his family the assurance,
of sympathy in its sad bereavement; that the
business of the Senate be suspended, so that
opportunity may be given for fitting tributes to
the memory of the deceased and to his emi-
nent public and private virtues; and that, at
the conclusion of such remarks, the Senate, as
further mark of respect adjourn. Mr.. Cock
erell reviewed the life and character Of Mr..
Burnes, and was followed by Mr.. Ingalls,, who
commenced by saying: These are the culmi-
mating hours of the closing scenes in the drama
of our national life. When this day week re-
turns one political party will relinquish and
another assume the executive functions OF
preparations to welcome the coming and speed
the parting guest
"'Events of great pith and moment are
awaiting on the event of the brief interval.
While pleasure wanders restlessly through the
corridors Of the Capitol, hope and fear, ambi-
tion, oupidity and revenge sit in the galleries
or stand at the gates, eager (like the dying
Elizabeth) to exchange millions of money for
that inch of time on which success or failure,
wealth or penury, honor or obliquy, depend.
At tins crisis and juncture, when every instant
Is priceless, the Senate. resisting every induce
ment and solicitation, proceeds by unanimous
consent to consider resolutions of the highest
privilege, reported from no committee, having
no place on any calendar, but which takes
precedence of unfinished business and ispe-
cial ORDERS on which the yeas and nays are
never called and on which no negative vote
has ever been recorded-and reverently pauses,
in obedience to the holiest impulses of human
nature, to contemplate the profoundest mys-
terry of human destiny, the mystery of death.
SIN the democracy of death all men, at least,
are equal. There is neither rank, nor station,
nor prerogative in the republic of the grave.
AT that fatal threshold the philosopher ceases
to be wise, and the song of the poet is silent.
At that fatal threshold Dives relinquishes his
millions and Lazarus his rags. The poor man
is as rich as the richest and the rich man is as
poor as the pauper. The creditor loses his
usury and the debtor is acquitted of his obliga-
ton. The proud man surrenders his dignity
the politician his honor, the wording his
pleasures. Here the invalid needs no physi-
clan, and the laborer rests from unrequited
toll. There at least, is natures final decree in
equity. The ironyof fate is renewed. Wrongs
of time are redressed. The unedualed distribu-
tion of wealth, of honor, capacity, pleasure
inexplicable tragedy, cease in the realm of
death. The mightiest captain succumbs to
that invincible adversary, who disarms alike
the victor and the vanquished.
"James Nelson Burnes. whose life and vir-
30 1axy
Plutarch might have described as Vandyke
portrayed, massive rugged and robust, in mo-
tion slow. in speech serious and deliberate,
grave in aspect, serious in demeanoE of an
tique and heroic mold the incarnation of force.
As looked for the last time upon that counte-
nance, from which (for the first time in so many
years) no glance of friendly recognition nor
word of welcome came, I reflected upon the
impenetrable and insoluble mystery Of death.
But, If death be the end, if that life of Burnes'
terminated upon this bank and shoal of time,'
no morning is to dawn upon the night in whi ch
he sleeps, then sorrow has no consolation, and
this impressive and solemn ceremony which we
observe to-day has no more significance than
the painted pageant Of stage. If the exist
ence of Burnes was but troubled dream, his
death oblivion, what avails it that the Senate
should pause to recount his virtues? Neither
veneratlon nor reverence are due the dead if
they are but dust; no cenotaph should be reared
to preserve for posterity the memory of their
achievements if those who come after them
dIc W Do Ouly IutlT ouCCcSSOTS III a0UlQllaLlOn
and extinction. If in this world only we have
hope and consciousness duty must be a
chimera: our pleasures and our passions should
be the guides of conduct, and virtue is indeed
superstition, If life ends at the grave.
'This is the conclusion which the philosopher
of negation must accept at last. Such is the
felicity of those degrading precepts which
make the epitaph the end. If the life of Burnes
is as taper that is burned out, then we
treasure his memory and his example in vain.
And the latest prayer of his departing spirit
has no more sanctity to those who soon or late
must follow him than the whisper of winds
that stir the leaves of the protesting forest or
the murmur of waves that break upon the COM
planning shore"
Eulogies were also pronounced by Senators
Voorhees,, Hale, Hampton, Cook and Vest, the
latter suggesting as fitting epitaph: Here
lies one much loved, much hated, but never
despised by friend or foe." The resolutions
were adopted unanimously and the Senate ad-
iourned.