The herald., 1894-09-03
CLOSE OF A DISTINGUISHED CAREER.

The death OF General Banks closes
one of the most successful and distin-
guished careers in the annals of Ameri-
can public life. The term 'self- made
man" is often inappropriately applied.
OF couree, in literal sense, il is q sole
cism, but In its popular meaning there
have been but few of our conspicuous
public men who are more entitled to the
merit OF having raised themselves from
obscurity to national distinction than he
who closed his long and sctive life two
days ago in his native town in MsHss-
chusetts. Perhaps nothing could show
more strikingly the adaptability OF
American life to high achievement in
the arts of peace. in ststesmanship and
in the tented field than the career OF
General Banks. The versatility of his
natural siits and the sndowments
OF mind at once bright, comprehensive
and grasping signalized him as
one cut out for success in any depart
ment of effort he might choose to en-
gage In. His self-relianee was OF the
highest type, his enterprise indomitable
and his courage OF so true timbre that
it waited upon and was regulated by a
well-bslanced Judgment and q quick
and penetrating perception, But few
men are 80 constituted that they could,
during long public life, retain the de-
votion and admiration of the common"
people and at the same time conciliate
he respect and the friendship of their
antity pes-the class that sbsorbs to
itself the wealth and the distinctive en-
vironments that usually surround it.
Particularly is it rare to find one who
can successfully carry out for q long
term OF years the role OF tribune OF the
masses and the oracle OF the exclusivists
in state like Massachusetts, where the
lines between the two kinds of clay are
80 strictly drawn.
| Nathaniel P. Banks was born in
Wsltham, Mass, in 1916. He learned
the trade OF m aohinist, then studied law,
and was elected to the house OF repre-
sentativss in the legislature OF Masea-
chusstts in l849. He frst entered con-
gress in 1852, and was president of the
state constitutional convention in 1858,
He withdrew from tn Q Democratic party
that year, was reelected to congress,
and in 1856 was chosen speaker of the
b ouse after long and severe contest.
He was elected governor of his state sue
! cessively in 1857, '58 and $50. In 1860
he WAS chosen presidents of the Illinois
Central railroad. In 1861 he became
major general Of volunteers. He fought
the battle Of Cedar Mountain in 1852.
and 10 December Of that year he became
commander of the department Of the
gulf. In July, 1868, he captured Port
Hudson, which necessarily followed the
surrender OF Vicksburg to Genera
Grant. He served in congress in 1864,
after having been retired from the army
on account of the failure OF the Red
river expedition. He was elected to the
successive sessions of congress Of 1866,
6s and 10. and was returned to the
same body in 1874.
He indeed sounded all the strings
that vibrate to the music OF life, from
the lowest to its highest octave, and it
| 40 WSii WAC 1OOp0 VI lCaSOuAUlo
presumption to say that if in the even
trend of American history tbs civil war
had net intervsned, Nathaniel P. Banks
would now be apotheosized and la id
away in the pantheon OF ex-preside nts
of the republic. He was muoh farther
on the road to that high goal in 1861
than any of his contemporaries of that
time, with perhaps the exception OF VIM.
H. Seward and Alexander II. Stephens.
As q statesman he possessed the in
valuable qualities of clesrness of appre-
hension, aoutensss of provision, critical
discsrnmsnt Of erroneous but plausible
theories, q keen knowledge Of the scope
and effort of legislation, and q broad and
comprehensive liberality OF opinion
unosr the check and control of de-
voted and patriotic love OF country.
He was good speaker and clear reas-
oner; possessed q fine presence and
soft, conciliating and equabls temper.
sment.
II We were to select from amongst our
distinguished public men a career
which we should place before Ameri-
can youth to emulate, there are but few
We would choose as an exsmplar over
that OF Nathaniel P. Banks. Without
means or influential friends, he started
out in life at the foot of the ladder and
climbed up every rung by the sole aid
of a commendable ambition and a de-
termined purpose to rise in spite of
''those twin jailors Of the daring heart,
low birth and iron fortune" For nearly
half century he was conspicuous
figure before the country. He Success
fully passed through the various ordeals
attending the vocations of artisan, law
yer, statesman and soldier, and goes
down to rest with bsnedictiens OF q
whole people whom he has served ably
and well. Vale, constante ilustro!
SENATOR CULLoM OF Illinois defends
his vote on the tariff bill by saving that