Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-02-11
A MAN AND AN HEIR.
A Graphic Pen Picture Of Two Recently De.
ceased Public Men.

ceased FuDllc men
New Northwest: A few weeks ago
there died in this country typical
American; one OF those who, born on
a farm, spent his boyhood in useful
work with meagre intervals OF study
at district school and then served
an apprenticeship in a printing office
At nineteen years of age he went to
the new territory of Kansas and be-
gan on his own account, the battle of
life. As editor, as farmer, as soldier,
as statesman, he steadily advanced
onward and upward until his name be-
longed not to his state but to the ma
ton. What greater honors might
have been in store for him we can only
conjecture, but the hard worked brain
gave way and he fell dead at his
post, full of honors, with Justly ac-
quired wealth and a stainless name, a
representative of our institutions, an
embodiment OF the spirit OF democ-
racy, Preston b. Plumb passed to the
unknown. Did the English papers
give columns of cablegrams and edi-
torials concerning him? Perhaps one
or two may have mentioned that Mr..
Plumb, mayor of the town of Kansas
on-the-K Kaw, in the state OF Emporia,
fell dead of delirium tremens, for that
is the way they report us, as near the
facts as they usually arrive. Well,
that is a matter of no Importance
The dead senator was q hater of
royalty, q hater so intense that he
despised the red tape and spangles of
our diplomatic service. He believed
that the affairs OF nations should be
conducted simply as business affairs
between gentlemen. He detested this
aping of foreign courts practiced at
Washington, and believed that as
Americans we should set an example
to the world OF simplicity OF living,
both in public and private lite. We
could easily see that such "A man, could
he have expressed a wish on the sub
ject, would have desired no eulogy
from the servile press of England.
Senator Plumb scarcely got Justice
from the newspapers OF his own coun-
try. In his life he was not synipa-
thetic man, not magnetic, not a man
to awaken enthusiasm. Trained in
the hard school of poverty and labor
he had none OF the polish and suavity
which comes OF early luxury. He did
not fascinate the public with glitterins
speeches or gilded manners, and he
was dismissed with brief editorials,
and, after short scramble, his va
cant seat was filled by another.
A few days ago there died in England
the prospective heir to the throne.
What was he? The descendant OF IL
weak, profiigate line ofpampered vam-
pires who for centuries have drawn
the blood of their subjects to fatten
themselves upon. Not one OF them
has done a noble deed, not one OF
them has had brains enough to keep
out OF the almshouse if left to his own
devices: begotten in consanguinity
that was almost incest, rickety, scroll
ulous, without a drop OF pure blood
i'm their veins or a pure thought in
their hearts-their lives an open scan
dial, their deeds those of the slums,
and all these qualities eliminating in
the heir. His Royal Highness Prince
Albert Victor Christian Edward, duke
of Clarence and Avondale, and a dozen
other his sounding titles. Yes, he Is
dead-and 10, the cablegrams, the dis
patches, the tumult, the sentimental
slush that fills the average newspaper!
His death has no bearing upon our
foreign relations, it is of no political
significance whatever, and therefore 1t
is nothing to us-merely the death of
one out OF a family OF royal parasites
who breed faster than Australian rab-
bits, and whom the people of England
with her colonies are taxed to death
to support. This dead prince had
never done a praiseworthy action.
His life, like that of his father and
other male ancestors, had been low
and vicious. His projected marriage
with O. near relative, which was to
have taken place next month, was ar
ranged as q means OF STRENGTHENING
the throne" Love had noplace in it,
yet it is made the subject OF wordy
headlines and silly gush in American
newspapers.
But, thank God, manhood is not
extinct even in Great Britain. The
Miners Federation, at the time hold
! ing it's annual meeting at Stoke-upon-
Trent, was apprised by the organiza-
tion's representatives. in parliament OF
the dukes death and requested to Of
fer a resolution of coincidence. This
federation, by the way, is the largest
worKmen's union in the world, and it
was hoped it would not depart from
the usual custom, but these sturdy
British workmen astonished the
crowned heads as they were never as
tonished before. They ignored the re-
quest. Then a telegram from their
parliamentary leader was read asking
for a vote. Business, business ~
called the members, and a vote to
| proceed to business was passed with
out debate, ignoring the dukes death,
and refusing any expression of sym
pathy. The spirit OF revolt is awak-
ening after centuries of sleep, and free
men everywhere will hope to see the
spirit spring up fully armed with
strength-the strength as well as the
will-to throttle tyranny and throw
thrones, crowns and scepters into the
| sea.
| All honor to the Miners Federation
I-all honor to it that after this declar.
alton of manhood the delegates pro
ceeded to vote sympathy and substan'
| tial aid for the starving nail makers
of the Midland districts who have been
on a strike. Let the thousands of sy,
cophants clad in mourning flock to
Marlborough House to record Their
names and express their hypocritaI
grief. This action of the British work
men is OF greater significance and q
greater prophecy of what is in the fu
ture than the tolling OF all bells il
England or the echoing means OF al
the Anglo-maniac press on this side o
the Atlantic. The labor organiza
tions of this country should, ano
doubtless will, tender their warmest
congratulations and offer resolutions
OF profound respect to the Miners
Federation of England.