Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-02-21
SENATOR JOHN cAay.

nope 10 auu auEht IN way OF eulOgy 10
TIE eloquent words Of the honorable
senator who has preceded me, much less
meet the expectations which fear may
have been aroused by the generous
words of communication which be has
thought proper TO bestow upon me,
should be violating a sense OF duty To
his memory, and doing injustice to my
own feelings did not place on record
a brief, feeble testimonial of the esteem
in which | held the lamented dead
True. as the senator has remarked, upon
questions of great national import,
issues upon which the people of this
great land are separated upon the
clearly defined lines of the two great
national parties, in our party affiliations
if you please. we were as far asunder
as the aniipodes. But there is a melan-
choly pleasure in the thought that
death brings with it justice to all, and,
standing in Imagination as we do to-
day beside the new made grave of the
deceased, party lines with me are OBJ
liberated. and | not unwillingly embrace
the opportunity to lay upon that sepul-
cher humble chsplet of respect in re-
membrance Of the invincible integrity
and sterling worth of one who, in life,
| was pleased to call my friend. do
this the more willingly because OF the
divergence i'll our political views, for
the present is but one of numerous in.
stances in my political life in which |
have realized the truth of that aphorism
OF the martyred Garfield, that The
flowers which bloom above the wall Of
party politics are the most beautiful,
the most fragrant which earth affords. y
My acquaintance with Senator Cary
was In main OF an official character. II
was my fortune to be associated with
him upon the Committee on Claims.
during the 36th, 37th and 38th sessions
of the state legislature. and having fire.
quent occasion to confer with him in
relation to the business of that commit
tee, had, l believe, opportunity TO
form a just estimate of his character.
Hatred OF every thing that was mean
and despicable, love Of everything that
was honest and true, were the feelings
which actuated him and gave tone and
color to his official life and acts as a
representative of the people. In char.
acter he was practical and upright; his
manhood was genuine and sturdy with.
out pretension. self righteousness OF
hypocrisy. lie was honest and sincere.
He was not one of those who would
smile when he was not pleased; or shake
hands when he was not friendly. Pos
sessed of a strong will, well balanced
mind and sound judgment, his opinions
on matters OF prime importance were
rarely, il ever, at fault. His opinions
were not formed hastily or without
careful painstaking effort. but when
once formed they were seldom relin.
pushed or abandoned; when he had
once marked out line Of action, with
aifearless independence which could
but be admired, neither flattery,
cajolery, threats or ridicule could
swerve him one hairs breadth from
that which he believed TO be right and
just. Those present who served with
him in this chamber, will readily call
to mind Instances when single handed
and alone he strenuossly opposed
measures which were passed by this
body. In the recent past | have had
occasion TO scrutiniZe those measures
to which he so emphatically interpOsed
his objection, and viewing his action in
this regard from The standpoint OF to-
day, dare not say that Senator Cary
was not in the right. that we. his thirty
two associates upon the floor, were not
in the wrong. Some there were, OF
that class who seek TO reap where
they have not sown, and gather where
they have not strewn,'' who at times
bitterly assailed him because of his
vigorous opposition to measures which
he thought called for an unwarranted
and protligate expenditure of The public
funds of the state; but | have reason
for knowing that back of this opposi.
ton stood the inherent integrity, good
ness and true worth Of the man. In
private affairs he was the soul of gen.
erosity and liberality, but he never cast
a vote for the expenditure of public
funds without asking himself the ques.
ton: Is this necessary for the good OF
the public service?
In private conversation with me al
one time relative TO the passage of 8
bill which called for an expenditure oil
money of considerable magnitude, he
used language, the true logic of which
no man will have the temerity to gain
say. Said he:
"Back of this state treasury stand al
the people Of the state of Wisconsin
and while personally would not objec
to the passage of this bill, while l de
test the arrant mouthings Of the arrani
demagogue who seeks to make capita
by posing before the public as frienC
| of the people, while have no sympathy
with or cannot for a moment counte
nance the doctrine Of tho socialists,
feel that have no moral right to vote
away one farthing of the hard earned
earnings Of the laboring masses, unless
am sure there is necessity for Sc
doing
The humble, the weak, the poor anC
lowly had in HIM faithful, zealou:
guardian.
He lived and died just, true friend
to labor, and, Mr.. President, that mar
who guided by the hand Of Justice, liv.
ing in practical conformity to law and
the principles of exact rectitude in all
his dealings with his fellow man, sc
shapes his course that when life's race
is run there may be truthfullv inscribed
upon his tomb, whether it be above the
gilded portals of the mausoleum of the
millionaire, or upon the humble slab oil
him who left naught behind bu, poverty
the simple chiseled epitaph, HE died
as he had lived, friend to labor in
my humble Judgment, need ask nc
grander, greater eulogy. Such a man
was the deceased senator. Such in
briefest words in my Judgment, were q
few of his most prominent character.
istics. Faults he had-and who has
not? He was but mortal. Hi:
faults were but the outgrowth of his
own generous nature, and no one car
point 10 single dishonest act in the
whole line of his long public life. To
day r widow in her weeds and sorrow
and sad faced children think tenderly
AMI lovingly OF the devoted husband
and fond father who was, and is not
With bis financial surroundings at the
time of demise l am not familiar
| should profoundly hope. however
| that it was one of the consultations Of
| his dying hour that be had secured &c
| those he left behind an ample compe
tency. but be this as it may of one thing
| am confident, he left to them that in
heritsnce which is beyond the gift o.
| fortune the priceless legacy OF al
| honest name To-day we must SAY
| genial, generous hearted, sternly homes
John Cary. farewell. in the fond hope
| that his exit from this life into the be
yond was as TO the repose of q peaceful
| sleep after the labors of busy day
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