The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1892-06-23
WEBSTER on POLK.


throughout our beloved land
He has been for years one OF tia
most prominent men in our pub
life. As president Of the great
est industrial organization the
country has ever seen. he WELD
ed au influence second To that oil
no man i'll the United States
He was honored and loved by
the tillers of the soil and the
'aboring people in general as
was no other man They look,
ed up TO him as their leader
champion and friend, the one
WHO was TO lead them to victory
over their ene'r les. They were
Lroud of him, recognizing i'm
him a iran who was able To- cope
with the greatest of their adj
veGsaries. They bunorod him
for his great ability. his sterling
character, his pure heart, h S
lofty patiiotism-an1 above all,
for his warm friendship for the
toiling masses.
The life of Col. Polk was in
deed an eventful one and it
would be interesting to trace it
through all lis vicissitudes and
changes. He was a self made
man. He had to contend with
and overcome great difficulties
before he reached the honorable
petition that he held at the time
of his death. Success did not
crown all his efforts, aud for a
good part of his life the strug-
gle for existence was a hard one.
But his trials and disappoint-
ments served a good purpose in
preparing him for the great
work of his life. He learned to
sympathize with the trials of
others. His struggle with pow
erty and diversity drew out and
developed the est qualities of
his nature. He could never have
fought so valiantly and plead so
eloqnently for the rights of the
people if he had not been touch
ed with a deep feeling of their
infirmities' Had he been sue
cessful as a business man he
would probably never have de-
voted his talents to economic
problems and the triumph of re-
form would have been delayed
for years. Failure is sometimes
better than success. Fortunate
is the man who has trials if he
can overcome them, for they
serve to purify and refine the
gold in his character.
Col. Folks greatest distinc-
ton in the eyes of the world
rests upon his work in connec-
ton with the Farmers Alliance.
The greater part of his life was
really spent in preparation for
this great work. His struggle
with poverty taught him self
re lance, earnestness, courage,
and prepared his heart to sym
path;ze with the misfortunes OF |
others. II taught him the dig
1ity of manual labor. He learn
ed the great truth of the broth
of man in the school of
experience. Yes, he learned
hat We are all brethren, yearn-
ng and striving for sumetbing
higher. and that he is greatest
who serve'' humanity best.
His great success as President
If the Alliance was marvel to
many, but is there anything real
Y mysterious about it when
considered in the light of his
many hard years of training
nd discipline? From whence
anne his great industry and
turning zeal? What made him
0 grandly eloquent in portra y
ng the wrongs of the people =?
What made the,.people hang
nth bated breath upon his ut
FRANCES? What gave his words
UGH great weight and turned
nemies into friends? All, he
poke from the depths of his
Wn experience. His words
anne from the heart.
The crowning work of Col.
olk's life was his successful
rusade against sectionalisn. ,
or this he deserves a place in ,
istory higher than any other ;
IAN, perhaps, judging by re- 6
tits. :
He was a patrio. who knew
D section. His sympathies :
ere IS broad as humanity. He
as the champion nf right and /;
le uncompromis:ng enemy of =
rong. He loved the truth for
lie truths sake. He was strong :
his attachments, and malice :
as never cherished in his
"a. t. He was a gentleman by i.
lture and training and his deal :.
gs with his fellow men were !.
ways on a high plane. As a =
ritter he was forcible and ele- y
bitter. He never !"
istook mud singing for argu- q .
ent nor dealt iI personalities q
short, he was gentleman in u
| The relations of iife-as edi- q
r, orator and private citizen. y
Col. Polk was treated unjust .
by many from whom he had =
FIOhf fo | aC