The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-31
FRANCIS COPE.

When the spirit of FRANCIS COPE took
its fight on Sunday evening the immortal
part of a good man went home. We know
of no better way of expressing our opinion
of the deceased than by saying that he dld
not have to die to be esteemed good. For
long years, twenty of them, or more, MI
COPE has been known in this community,
and during that fifth of century only
good words were spoken of him. All VINO
came in contact with him in business way,
socially, politically or religiously, bore tes-
timony to his ability, his uprlghtness, MS
geniality, his fairness and his sincerity,
and the sorrow which his death occasions
will be confined to no class or creed, but
will be general and heartfelt throughout
the Utah community and even beyond the
borders of the territory, for he was known
and esteemed in the surrounding states and
territories.
Considering Mr.. COPE's occupation
railroading-and that all his years OF man
hood were passed in a field the occupants
of which are almost always the objects OF
popular criticism, censure and denuncla-
ton it is matter for wonder that he has
uniformly been well spoken of and passes
away without an enemy. Such reputa-
ton as his is thing to be proud of; such
record as he has left is glorious legacy
to come to his offspring.
And how was it that Mr.. COPE succeeded
so admirably in winning and retaining the
good opinion of those who knew him. 1t
was a grand nature that fell to him, and
that he cultivated and improved and made
still more grand He recognized the
brotherhood of man, and believed it was
the duty and mission of man to do good to
his fellows. To him the declaration that all
men are created equal" was not a
void and meaningless expression,
but living truth, and by making that his
guide in association of whatever character
with men, he went through life gaining
friends and winning plaudits. Right was
the standard by which he did things, and
all with whom he came in contact saw that
his actions were regulated by that stan
dard; hence the respect with which others
were pleased to regard him. His thorough
ness was another characteristic which in
duced admiration. With him whatever was
worth doing was worth doing well and as
it should be done. II was this popularity
which made him one of the best railroad
men in the west and caused him to be
recognized and singled out when the gigan-
tic corporation Of this region was casting
about among its army of available men for
the one best equipped for the responsible
position of general passenger and freight
60. IiHrici In +bic
we nav say that it was this thoroughness,
this determination to neglect nothing
which is the cause of the sad death of Sun
day evening FRANCIS COPE was victim
to one of his chief virtues. He worked
himself to death, giving up his life to the
service of his employers and for the benefit
of the public which he loved so well.
We have said that he felt it his duty
to do good. His whole career was marked
to only one of which we will refer. 1t is
in connection with Zion's Benefit Building
society. A few years ago he saw the ne
cessity for such an institution; he realized
that there were many men, especially
Young ones, who would save money if the
proper incentives were held out before
them and the right inspiration were given.
Acting on this he went to work with a
will. and interesting few congenial spir-
its. the society was formed, and the result
is the solid, substantial institution which
has done and is doing so much good in this
community Hundreds of houses and
hundreds of prosperous families can be
traced directly to this society, and THE
HERALD knows that nobody will take of
tense when it says that to FRANCIS COPE
more than to any other one man, is due the
credit for all that has been achieved by the
association.
But poor COPE has gone, and with his
going there departs much that was grand
and noble. A life's labor was put behind
him in the few short years that he was
with US, and the work of another life was
before him. That he could not be spared
TO also put that behind him we will all re-
eret. and that he has been cut down in his
youth we must all mourn.
The tears and sorrows Of an apprecia-
tive and sympathetic community will min
ole with those OF the bereaved family.