Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-12-21
LIVES OF GREAT MEN.
Rev. Afford Draws Lesson From hecen'
Deaths OF Eminent Characters.


Deaths OF Eminent Characters.
AT the Third Presbyterian Church,
last evening, the Rev. c. NJ. Afford
preached sermon upon THE Death
OF Great Men in the Past Six Months,
taking his text from Sam, l-l9-"how
are the mighty fallen?"
Let US look at the lives OF four great
political characters, who have passed
away in the last fodr months-Balma-
ceda, Boulanger, Parnell, Don Pedro
and draw lessons from them. Three
mighty men have each come 10 dis
hnnored death by the trouble OF his
own making. The death of Balmaceda
brought peace TO the disturbed Amer
lean Republic; Boulanger in his grave
the French Republic becomes as strong
as rock, with no more fear OF the
Royalists; Parnel's death will no doubt
pacify his enemies and give new hope
for the success of their cause.
The personal character Of public men
must be pure, If they wish TO succeed.
1t was not alone Boulanger's political
enterprises which ruined him, but IL
was in a great measure the corruption
of his private life. A man known TO be
corrupt cannot long retain the sympathy
of his admirers, even in France. The
rock upon which Parnell was ship
wrecked was not anything he had done
in his political career, but 1t was the
great evil Of his private life. Personal
corruption will always Kill public men,
whether it is in the past or present
Young man, il you ever wish 10 be pub
lie men of honor, keep your lives clear
What you do now that is evil will APP
pear against you in the future, and 1t
will also faint your life. No matter
what position you are seeking, whether
it is the dictatorship OF a nation like
France, whether IL is the leadership OF
great movement like Home Rule for
Ireland, or whether 1t is 10 become Chief
OF Police Of Wheeling, impurity In your
personal life will ruin your prospects
and destroy your good name.
False patriotism Is soon detected.
The world cannot long be deceived by
false patriotism. II honors and re-
wards the true, but the sham patriot
always meets he fate.
The world Is changing rapidly. One
hundred years ago Louis NV could
crack his whip over his parliament and
cay. 81 amss the tStsse. white now the
most popular language 1--WE the peo-
ple." Then the world was seeking the
honor and power OF the mobiles and
rulers: now we seek the public good.
The spirit OF the timer saved England,
France and Chile.
God reigns over all. These mighty
men are dead, but the nations still live.
No nation or cause depends upon any
one now. Over all these events God
reigns.
Iu contrast with these three men hold
before you the noble Dom Pedro, the late
Emperor of Brazil. He was n great
student, one of the best Informed men
of the world. He was truly catholic in
his religion, strongly opposed to intol-
erance. He was the most democratic
OF monarchs. and his sway was as mild
"a that OF any President Of republic.
Dom Pedro's crowning act was the abo-
ition OF slavery IN 1888. lie Is the
Abraham Lincoln OF his country. This
act resulted in his downfall and the
overthrow OF the government. He was,
unlike the other three mentioned char
acters, a patriot and Christian. or
him our funeral dirge can be sincerely
sung: chow are the mighty fallen"