Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-20
DANIELS TRIBUTE TO BARBOUR.
4 Beautiful Eulogy on the Late senator's
Life and Services.


DANIELS TRIBUTE TO BARBOUR.
Beautiful EuIogy on the Late senator's
Life and Services.
With n look Of sadness on his face and
a small roll Of manuscript in his hand
Major Daniel, who had remained out on
the floor with his delegation, arose and
addressed the presiding officer.
There were cheers and cries OF Get
on the stage, and the Senator started
for the platform. As he assembled the
half dozen or more STEPS there were cries
of "Daniel ." Daniel " speech '
"speech - -
The gifted orator. as soon as the APP
plause subsiied sufficiently for him 70
proceed, delivered beautiful eulogy
upon the life and services of Hon. John
). Barbour. lie said
MIR. Chairman i have deemed it be
coming as the colleague OF the late Hon.
John ). Barbour in the Senate OF the
United States to make formal announce
ment to you of his death.
This distressing event occurred sud
denly in Washington on Saturday last'
and the sense Of public loss and per
sonal sorrow that now fills tins body
peryados the entire Commonwealth
was greatly astonished and shocked
when the telegram came 10 me at my
home announcing his death, and so had
my sentiments of esteem and friendship
for him been strengthened by recent
years Of close ASSOCIATION that It fell
upon NE as personal ailiction.
Compelled by illness to leave my place
al his side some two weeks ago, / little
thought as parted with him then that
the sod Of the dawning summer would
be green upon his grave.
He then appeared to me IN excellent
health. He was busy with his daily
tasks-dispatching one after another
with the readiness and easy courtesy
that marked his conduct Of affairs with
others. lie was cheerful and in the per
feet how Of fine faculty and good humor
REFINED, DIGNWI2D, AND COURTEOUS.
Nv latest memories OF him picture
him to me as the refined, digniiied, and
courteous gentleman that he was dis
tinguished as the genial companion, the
kind adviser, the capable msn-iillng
his allotted part with the comprehension
and address that vel beiitted It.
This, Mr.. Chairman, IS not the time
to write his epitaph or to pronounce
such eulogy as is deserved by his career.
And yet no place would be more fitting
for the recital # his virtues than this
convention Of his compstriots in the
Democratic faith, and no public body
could be found that knew them better
or Appreciated them more highly. APP
plause.
HIS PURE DEMOCRACY.
Senator Barbour was Democrat in
the broadest and best sense OF the word.
He was a believer in the people, and on
these fundamental doctrines Of indi-
yidual right. home right, State right,
public right-that govern alike the fire
side and the hall Of State, and pave the
way for the pursuit of happiness. For
well l-nigh forty years he was engaged IN
the business oi building and managing
railroads. and was brought in constant
contact with men of high position and
large means. Re was not demora-
lied in his practices by his opportuni-
ties of personal gain, nor demoralized in
his opinions 10y association with those
whose interests often colllded with the
interests Of the public.
He had a keen sense OF the public
right, and the expressions Of his conyer-
sation, his counsel, and his votes were on
the peoples side OF public questions.
Senator Barbour had little use for
faith without works. Applause. lie
appreciated the fact that republics must
be ruled by parties, and that parties
must be organized to assert their power,
and that brothers in the faith should be
preferred in public trusts. He was nc
corrupt partisan.
lie gave attention to the details OF
organization, and he had nothing IN
him of that false-hearted. phsrisaical
spirit that SCOTS at the politician while
it is eager to enjoy the fruits Of bis
labors aud 10 egg him on to action.
NAN or PINE LRARNISG.
Senator Barbour was u cultivated gen
tleman, well read in the law in his
early years, and well versed in the
great theories Of our constitutional and
common law jurisprudence. At the same
time he Was practical-minded, and looked
TO results as the consummations of wlsC
actions. There is twilight ground be
tween theory and actuality, where theory
loses itself in the attenuations OF meta
physics and in the insuliiciency Of Ian
guage TO interpret Its rehnements.
When he reached such ground he fol-
lowed, as does every broad and efficient
mind, the instincts and suggestions Of
common sense. No doctrinaire could
ever befog or begui.e him with the
sophistries of verbose philosophy.
Senator Barbour was devoted 10 his
| State and 10 his constituents kind anC
respectful, without condescenslon. to tn,
humblest never fawRiug on the power
full and great. Ola family distinguished
in the public service, he preserved ii
title 10 public honor unbesmirched, un
diminished.
tie was liberal and charitable in hi
iudgments-n neither severe Judge o.
critic of his cotemporarles, whether they
were adyersaries or companions. Malice
yindictiveness, and meanncss found n(
entrance into his "sanctnm. he hsl
that partiality OF his thoughts io'
his friends which is the marx o
every man whose heart is IN tn'
right place. but he did not count Ri'
onponents as enemies. and he rea'iii'