The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1892-11-12
IN MEMORIAM.

=
ton among men to honor their
dead, to linger with mournful
pleasure upon the recollection of
their virtues, and to speak of their
merits in gentle terms of commen-
dation. The sentiment is coeval
with our race and will continue
with it to the end of time. 1t Is
! peculiar to no cline, it is confined
/ to no class; it is limited to no con-
dition of life. 1t is common to
humanity everywhere. 1t is innate
with every member of our species
who is capable of the slightest feel
ing of respect for his fellow man.
1t wreaks itself upon expression in
the simple ceremonies that attend
the unobstrusive sepulture of the
peasant and the solemn pomp that
awaits on the imposing obsequies
of the king. Its memorials are
seen alike in the fading wreath
that exhales its dying fragrance
upon the obscure grave of humble
poverty and the sculptured column
that lifts its lofty head above the
the moldering dust of departed
gradeur. It has caused me to offer
the tribute of affectionate admir-
alton to the memory of one who
was endeared to me by the tender
est ties of friendship, and to all by
the magnanimity of his nature and
the luster reflected by his genius
upon the history of our country
and our race.
No bloody laurel entwined his
brow, no braying trumpet heralded
his going forth, no nodding plumes
were yelled at his approach, no en-
battled armies waited on his word,
no serried hosts rushed to the
carnival of slaughter at his bidding.
His weapon was mightier than the
sword, his arena grander than the
stricken field with its mangled
dead and dying thousands. Yet
how few there are among his
] friends who loved him in life and
who mourn for him in death who
fully realized all that was admir-
able in his marvellous, many-sided
character.
| Augustus L. Grow was born in
Orleans county, State of Vermont,
September z, 1885. In faith, in
feeling, in practice,in all the ardent
aspirations of his soul, Squire
Grow, as he was called by every
one, was Democrat of the purest
Jeffersonian type. 1t was impos-
sible, indeed, from the very nature
of his moral and intellectual or
ganization, that he should be other.
wise. Sprung from the body Of
the people; with the most delicate
appreciation of their inherent
rights, with the liveliest soltcitude
J for their individual happiness and
social prosperity, with an abound.
ing confidence in their capacity te
control their own affairs, and detes-
ting from the innermost depth ol
his being everything savoring Of
unfairness, inequality, or oppres
sion, his brightest ideal of politica
organization was "a government Of
the people, by the people, and fol
the people" a government insti-
tuted for the benefit of the govern
ed, and not for the agrandizemen
of the governing class, govern
ment SO administered as to secure
"equal and exact justice to all
with exclusive privileges to none.
! When mans days are endet
B there comes after his death a judg
e ment even in this life. My frs
!, acquaintance with the decease,
i was in the dark days of reconstruc
z ton, when we were side by sid
4 battling for justice and white su
y premacy.
I have done. I need not re
J. capitulate. 1t is fortunate tina
man cannot know the future, AM
especially that future beyon'
human life. Socrates, when con
demned to death, consoled himsel
Z with the inconceivable happiness
4 in future state, where he woui
q converse and associate with an
I question the mighty array Of he
! roes, patriots and sages that pre-
:, coded him. He said to his Judges
7 ut is now time to depart--for m
? to die, for you to live. But whic
q of us is going to a better state
d unknown to every one but God"
= Joy and charm of every hour "
n ever spent together, faithful an
II s-s~l f~-nn. ko,1