St. Paul daily globe., 1891-03-16
Gen. HENRY H. SIBLEY.
a Tribute to the Great Pho
neer by One Who Served
Under Him.
The Highest Qualities of Man
hood Maintained Amid
Savage Life.
a Man Who Passed Through
Thrilling Scenes to Magi-
cal Changes.
The Most Valuable Contpibu
ton OF Manhood Yet Given
to Minnesota.

Stitt Ol IIcIIN I1dcllilSS 'olulcS Wdo ut-
liyered before the Loyal Legion at the
West hotel, Minneapolis. March 10, 1891,
10y Gen. i. II. Baker:
Mr.. Commander: | would do violence
TO my own feelings were | TO withhold
my testimony TO the real worth and
true nobility Of Henry Ilactings Sibley.
| knew him long and well. | came TO
serve under him in the army in 1862 with
precoucciyed prejudices. Experience
Taught me to correct my Judgment and
revise my opinions. He lived in an era
which tested severely his individuality,
and Il period which could give but little
hope Of great public usefulness. A man
must be very much man indeed who
can assert and maintain the highest
qualities of manhood with the surround
ings of a purely savage life. | venture
10 say that no other American ever
passed through such Il searching ordeal
with results so fortunate, both personal
and for the state. We can better eSti-
mate how useful he was if we can imag-
Inc that he had not lived at all.
AXE his tall figure ANA commanding i'll
tiutn e out of cur formative years, and
what a void We should perceive! 1t
would Ue as if Adams or Franklin were
dropped out of the period of the ReVolu-
ton. His greatest era was ante-terri-
torial and territorial times. His asSo-
cjate5 were remarkable men. and COM
petit0rS worthy to meet in any field.
Their names were not blaZOned in her
aldry. But grateful people have rec
OgniZed their merit. and perpctuated
tl.eir memories by bestOwing their
names upon some of the best counties
of the state There is significant roll
of honor in the names of our counties:
Sibley. GOOdhue. Brown, Faribauit, Nc
i.eOd Rice. Renvile, OImSted. KittSOn.
Mobiles. Morrison. Steele and Cook.
iIOW,at the mention of their names. the
dead arise. and life starts in the stall
Wart forms of the heroes of our past.
There were others. too
f&im@> of. the Wilderness.
such is Borup. Forbes, Williamson,
Prescott. RaVouX aud the Farbaults
They might we'll be called the barons of
the border Some happily still Inger
whose names are familiar to the house
hold, and whose Just deserts are per-
petuaUed in the counties of Ramsey, Ste
Yens. Marshall and Becker. Such men
will not appear among us again. We
are growing too diverse and have got too
lar from the cradle of our birth in the
wilderness. Many of these fearless
frclftlersmcn were chiefs 10 their elan
in that day; but ii Is easy to note that
Slhley was the Douglas of them all .
IF New England paradeS with pride her
Puritan ancestors. with equal venera-
ton we point TO the vigorous, intrepid
and clear-headed men who stood spOn-
s0rs to the birth of our state.
The arena of The grand drama in
which these men bore so active and dis
tiuguishcd q part is among the most Su-
perb and picturesque in the field Of the
nfo+ e
ii Was region remote and strange. But
it was only concealed for time,
and pregnant with meaSureless
possibilities. Its luXuriant soil,
its mighty forests, its noble rivers and
splendid lakes, were the prOdigiOuS fac
tors of coming power. The lodges of
barbarian men were the only human
habitatlonS, while herds of buffalo aud
irooping elk, like squadrons of cavalry,
were Is highest forms of animal life.
The mightipSt of rivers found source
IN lis prolific bosom. Every form of
physical beauty blOSSomed over the
prairies. Nature was everywhere prod
I9al of her wealth, and the all-seeing
sun beheld no better land. To this
theater of action heroes came. The
Jesuit missionaries. the bOldeSt cham
plOns Of the cross, with more than the
courage of warriors, here suffered and
tcileG. as they held up the crucifix in
the s0lltudeS of the wilderness. Fol
lowing these came the adventurous fur
trader. and vigorous contests ensued
between rival companies. To this
Wonderful scene, this nursery of gal
liant and dauntleSS spirits, young Sibley
came, entering the country on horse
back.
Solitary and Alone.
like an adventurous knight. Little did
he then reck Of the grand results which
fate held in reserve for his fortunes: CI
Of the work which was to develop. in
the span of single life. the deep and
broad foundations of mighty common.
wealth. His work was to deliver the
wilderness over TO civilization. Noblv
has it been accomplished. and the bar
barrie past IS but as tale that mas been
told. He and his noble cOmpeers are
now the august fathers of the state
y lth the death-knell of the chieftain OF
5hem all. they pass into the pages OF
history.
With ones mind fixed upon his en-
NIrOnncnts, let us try to analyZe the
character of this most illustriouS citizen
of our state. All through our literature
j spread abundantly the story of his
tunes. Let us examine the constituent
clements OF his mind and heart, and
trom there learn what material made
him the man he was. What Il history
what events, what memories crowd upon
rs. as we survey the grand panorama OF
OF TINS man : life. it is an unWTitter
Had from Jarbaric times to the present
consummate glory of American civlliza
ION What American citizen has passed
through more thrilling scenes. or be
held more magical changes? In con
Slderlng his character, he should not bt
divorced from his times. Ii has always
appeared TO me that If any one coulC
bavc been selected by preference. Will
Il special view of suitable adaptation t(
1lic work Of founding Il new American
slate. he possessed that combination Of
qualities which were of the most inestI
mable Importance. Both physically
and mentally he was equipped for the
work. Besides. he was neither Puritan
nor Cavalier. Quaker nor Yankee. bu
an american thorough blood. Born il
The heart Of the republic and educated
an her practical schools he had no col
orng or bias of any save his own couu
iIy, and was therefore that type of MAJ
who 0ught to found an American com
mOnWealth.
tc WAS first of all Il gentleman: not il
amy superficial way, but in the largest
acceptation of that term; in carriage
temper. uepOTthcllt. tastes ana aims.
will add. too, 10 strengthen the term
Christian gentleman, Every act of his
daily life brspok the well-bred man. He
was man of refined tastes. Living
among SavageS in his Youth, his sur
roundings might naturally defect his
mind from things
Polished and Elegant.
Bui his innate sense of refinement
hi Nai4 4 ~
seriousness OF business nor the daily
presence Of savage life could subdue his