Mexico weekly ledger., 1892-08-04

of law in Mexico ia 1865, Gov,
Hardin had already preceded me
to this county, While my removal
was less than twenty miles from my
birth place, and previous residence,
| was as much among strangers as
ii | had gone into another State. I
was entirely upon a new and who'll
ly UNEMPLOYED field and entertained
all the feelings OF doubt and uncer-
tainty that all beginners in their
chosen life business feel. 1t was at
this crisis in my life's history that
| found a characteristic in our de-
parted friend to which my mind al
ways reverts as the one of all others
most worthy Of my respect, my adj
miration and my veneration. That
characteristic was human sympathy
|-Christ-like sympathy with hui
manity. At this crisis | went to
him; he gave me advice, encourage
ment, sympathy and offers OF as
sis.ance. He was not a man, as
we all know. who oyerfiowed with
emotions; he thoroughly despised
all mere pretensions; but | have OBJ
served him from my first memorable
interview in Mexico to the day OF
his death, and | have eve seen
him turn a deaf ear to a cry of SUI
fering. ] have ever known him to
be in full sympathy with meritori-
Gus effort and ready to assist every
such a one who called upon him.
This personal sympathy is but the
| characteristic which developed the
great public charities for which he
| will ever be remembered and honor
ed. He may have been actuated to
these by ambition and with the self
ish purpose of making a name mere
ly. Not so with his personal sym
pathies. They emanated from a
Christ-like heart and are the true
index to the character of the man.
There are many other private Christ
ian characteristics worthy of imi-
tation of which | would like to
speak. / may mention that of dill
| gence in business. 1t was pre-
eminent in his character. He was
diligent, careful and intelligent in
every undertaking, whether in the
execution of public or private trusts
lin managing his own private bus
mess or in carrying forward his
great charities he was ever and es-
sentially diligent. What was worth
doing at all with him was worth do
ing well. In my last interview with
him a day or two before his death,
when he had hardly strength to
speak above a whisper, he spoke of
the opportunities my official posi-
ton gave me of doing good. Only
a few broken words were uttered,
but [ read between those words
great lessons of public duty. Pub
lie Office was with him a public
trust, not only in theory but in prac-
tice and this he taught by precept
and example. May we follow all
his illustrous lessons.
Gov. D. r. Francis, when called
upon by Rev. A. E. Rogers, said:
81 did not expect to say anything
on this occasion, but l will willingly
add my contribution OF respect to
a life so full of usefulness and good
works az was that of Governor Har-
din. Almost a native of Missouri,
he lived near the borders of the State
from his earliest recollection until
the day of his death, and his every
impulse was in harmony with the
interests of our people, as his every
effort was for the promoting of their
true interests. | did not have the
pleasure of an intimate personal ac-
quaintance with the illustrious dead,
but during my official life / have
been brought with him in official re-
lations, and I have always appre-
ciated highly the value of his adj
vice and of his experience. No
part of his public capacity mani
tested more strikingly his true life
than that between 1S4S and 1852,
when as States Attorney it was his
duty to. enforce and observe the laws
OF the commonwealth, what may
have been called the formative pc
Rod in the history of Missouri. His
vigilance and observance of the laws
had great effect in intoxicating in
the people, not only of his district,
but throughout Central Missouri
and | might say the whole state of
Missouri respect for law, the
beneficial results OF which remain
until the present day. Governor
~