The morning call., 1893-06-22
THE LATE SENATOR STANFORD.

Senator StanfoTds death was q ct entirely
unexpected. While there had been no in
dcatiOn of immediate dissolution to cause
appre hension he had been for some years
under medical treatment. Nearly every
year he spent portion of the summer at
German spa. 1t can hardly be said that he
died of any particular disease; his general
condition showed traces of breaking up
OF bis strong constitution. He was cast
in mold that might have carried so years
of ordinary life, but long before the age of
Co. at which be died, there had been in
Vulnerable evidences of waning vitality.
In history Senator Stanford's name will
be connected with two great enterprises
the Central Pacific Railroad and Leland
Stanford Jr University. Among his minor
enterprises were his experiments in grape
growing and wine-m aking and in horse
breeding. He was the largest wine-maker
in the State. if n OF in the world, and In his
Palo Alto stables were bred some of the
fastest trotters in the country. He began
life as lawyer, but of all the pursuits the
law commanded the least of his attention.
He came to California in 1852 and devoted
few months to mining. He had turned
to trade in 1860. when he began his sue
cessful political career as a delegate to the
nation al convention which nominated Lin
coin for the Presidency. In 1861 he was
elected Governor of California. From the
time of the completion of the Central Pa
cifc Railroad until his election as United
States Senate in 1885 he was personally
Invisible in politics, but nevertheless was
the most influential politician in the State.
1t might not be easy to determine in which
party his will was the more absolute. He
was always nominally Republican, but
after the war politics became of secondary
Importance to the great corporation of
which he was the head. his Senatorial
career added nothing to his reputation.
His financial scheme would not probably
have been considered in his intellectual
prime.
When the world gets little further
from the date of Leland Stanford's death
it will regard him principally as the
founder of the Stanford University. His
fame in this respect will be enduring.
His gift to the university is the largest a
private man has ever made to a public
institution. In the plan of education
which ne proposed to elaborate he had the
benefit of others experience. His living
idea, the fundamental principle upon
which it was formed, was to impart prac-
tlcal education. be wanted to help girls
and boys in the life task of earning liv-
Ing. While ample provision for what is
termed the higher education has been
made, the constant thought Of its founder
was to equip young people for tho prac-
tical duties of life. There are a few
American names which stand out in his
tory, not as men of great achievements
nor as possessors of great wealth. but as
men who used their talents and their
money for the benefit OF coming genera
lions. Leland Stanford's name will be
prominent among these. lie originated
what may be termed new departure in
education. The idea was bold, but the
people were ready for 1t. When in the
course OF time the name of Leland Stan
lord shall be forgotten as a railroad
builder 1t will stand out even clearer and
brighter than to-day as the founder of the
Leland Stanford Jr. University.