Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-02-17
Mrs. Jerry Simpson.
Jour WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, u. g.
w GIL nCrAAr n q Eoh 4 1ono

A%A@<AA AANOS<As "A WON ago Luc
house Of representatives, gave its time,
mainly, to the thoughtful consideration
of the following resolutions:
Resolved, That the business Of the house be
now suspended, that opportunity may be Civ
en- Tor tributes to the memory of Hon. Leoni-
das campbell Houk, late member from the
state OF Tennessee,
Resolved, As further mark of respect to
the memory of the deceased, and in recogni-
ton OF his eminent abilities as a distinguished
public servant, that the house. at the conclus-
ION 81 these memorial proceedings shall stand
Resolved, That the clerk communicate these
resolutions to the senate.
The senate, at O'Clock, on February
9Th, will bestow its eulogies upon this
late distinguished representative from
the state of statesmen-Tennessee.
The late Mr.. HOuk died from acct
dental poisoning, on May %, 1891, and
his son, John G.. Houk, of Knoxville,
now about 80 years of age, is his sue
cessor, in the Second congressional dis
trict of Tennessee. Judge l.. Houk, of
Hutchinson, Kansas, who retired from
the position of judge of the Ninth judi
cial district of Kansas, last month, is
kinsman of the deceased.
n few extracts from the tributes paid
by nineteen representatives in congress
to the memory of Congressman HOuk:
Hon. Afford A. Taylor, of Tennessee:
Mr.. Speaker: Death stands sentinel,
grim and inexorable, hostile and i'm
placable, on the boundary line of the
unknown. There is no countersign, no
password, for he is a foe to all who
come, and all must come. His only
| command is halt" In this stern word
frangible seal Of fate! From obedience
! there is no escape; from that seal there
is no exemption; for clemency there is
no bride, no parley, no persuasion.
Time can grant no procrastination, no
respite; eternity urge no argument.
The court of heaven hears no appeal
grants no stay. Infancy and youth
wither and fade as severed violet, the
| plucked rose. Manhood, womanhoOd,
sick with the ripeness of mature years,
falls as the laden fruit-tree uprooted in
the full season of its fruitage. Age
bows and brushes to earth like the de-
cayed and storm-riven oak. Time is
the pale harvest field of death, the
world is his charnel house, and the his
tory of the race is but the record of his
mournful tragedies. When kindred
and companions, friends and CON-
rades fall around us, love, grief and
tears bid us suspend for a season the
cares and occupations of life and yield
to them the last tribute of the hearts
incense. In the death of my late col
league, the state of Tennessee has lost
one of her most distinguished citizens;
the republican party one OF its ablest
leaders, and the Second congressional
district jealous and devoted repre-
sentative and guardian of everyinterest
of It's people"
Hon. b. N. Enloe, OF Tennessee: I'm
the story of his life SO elOquently told
by his neighbor and colleague Mr.. Tay-
Tor, L could add nothing, except my
personal tribute to the manly qualities
he always exhibited in his official and
POloOlltll lhIClCOulOC Will DIOs
ing from him in politics and being a
comparative stranger to him personally,
| candldly confess that had not under
stood his real character, and that 1 met
him with certain degree of prejudice
and distrust. He was man who neith-
er gave nor asked quarter in the heat of
conflict. His convictions were positive.
his language was always vigorous and
emphatic, and when he entered the
arena OF debate he aimed at the vital
points; but when the political gladia-
tors met in social intercourse after the
conflict was over, he was always social
and kind, and was generous to for
get that blows had been given and
received. Judge Houk demonstrated
mole elements Of successful leadership
than any man of his party in Tennes-
see, and during his life L always regard
ed him as its ablest leader. The esti-
mate of his abilities among his col
leages on this floor, was always high,
and on all occasions his public utter
ances justified that estimate. He was
justly regarded as the ablest represent
alive of his party in congress from the
south"
Hon. Thomas ]. Henderson, of ILL
nols: There is no better illustration of
the character of our country and its In
situations and of the possibilities pre-
sented to the American youth than. is
found in the life of Judge Houk, to
whose memory we pay tribute to-day.
Born in cabin, of poor parents, so far
as this worlds goods are concerned, he
was left fatherless at the age Of years,
and when old enough was placed at
work on farm. Still this boy of pluck
and energy worked his way up in life,
studied law while supporting himself
by the labor of his own hands; was ad
mitted to the bar in the 23rd year of his
age, and at once became a successful
lawyer. AT the age of "a he entered
the political arena and took the
stump in the presidential cam
paign of 1860 for Bell and Everett, on a
platform which declared in favor of the
ment of the law. At the age of 25 he
was already widely known in East Ten
nessee, and, arraying himself on the |
side of the union, he took conspicu-
Gus part in the discussion which pre-
ceded the civil war. He was a prom |
inent member of union conventions |
held at Knoxville and at Greenville. |
Tennessee, in 1851, in which he declar-
ed himself firmly and unalterably OPP
posed to secession, and in August of
the same year he abandoned his pro
fession and entered the service of his
country as soldiers o service IN which
he rose to the command of a regiment
and rendered gallant service, for he was
a man of courage and of earnest, ar
dent patriotism. / have sometimes
thoIOht there was something in the