The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1895-06-06

to the ma ajeStic face, as we study the
| features of the man, who for thirty
| five years has lowered above all
| parties, whose name has been the CON
sccrating Shibboleth of his party and
has been invoked by all to conjure up
the purest patriotism. as we study the
man who stands beyond the reach of
all criticism, slander or cynicism, as
we seek to read the significance OF his
life we find it may be summed up in
| the W W1rd-character.
] He was greater than any particular
deed he accomplished, he was a foun-
tain Of moral forces which cannot be
measured, as much by the detailed
| performances in war, in council and
| in administration as by the creative
inspirations, the irresistible influence,
the contagious energy which were felG
by his contemporaries to emanate from
him.
| Senator Vance had not the financial
genius OF some men, in fact he has
been heard to say, in years gone by,
with his accustomed wit, that all he
knew about finance was that 1T took
| two names better than his to get
money out of bank, but he had
great philosOphic breadth. Shrewd
practical wisdom, the power of elo-
Iquence aud that profound humanity,
igrand in its natural power from
which flashed forth immortal sallies
of humor, wit and wisdom.
| Wherever he was his presence was
like the sun, radiating life, giving
heat, energy, power and strength
He was the incarnation of tue best
virtues Of the Anglo Saxon race which
for years has been growing and deep
enIng. He was like the revelatiCn of
a divine power, as it may be bodied
forth in the lire of man. His was Il
character drawing its recOurseS from
its own ineXhaustible energies and
deriving its purpose from the infal-
ilible authority OF its own moral ma
ture. He had the integrity and
ISingle mindednesS which proved
istronger than all the Vaccinations
and conSpiracies Of jealousy and NAL
Ice. He had the courage and endur-
lance as we'll as the hernism of action
amid the gloomiest hours of war and
tdisaster and while he illustrated in
his motives and actions the Scriptural
requisite of man Of might, man of
truth aud a hater of Illicit gain. He
was also a God-fearing man, and when
l say this l refer not to conventional
lpiety, or to his church affiliations, or
to his creed. L mean that he was i'm
pressed with the providential guidance
lOf the deStinies of men.
Senator Vance was always the
friend OF the people. l once asked
him the great secret of his great hold
upon the people; he told me he had
never deceived them. He said that
at times he mad to wait to satisfy the
people as TO his sincerity and unself-
ishneSS OF his aim. His character was
lsuch by It's own inherent force that he
became king among men and COM
lpelled their allegiance and directed
their energies for the accomplishment
lOf his plans in their behalf.
The people of North Carolina honor
lSenator Vance not merely because his
lcareer began at the opening of the
Icivil war and because of his abilities,
but because he possessed character
which was an ideal one and one which
reflected the genius OF our insti-
Itutions.
He was feared by his political an
tagonists while he lived, but none
have praised him more since his death
than they.
1t is character modelled upon the
life like that Of Senator Vance, that
is an indispensable but also sufficient
safeguard of republic.
We have become accustomed in re-
cent years to hear the political life OF
our country denounced in the harsh
est terms. The picture that has been
: presented of the corruption of poll
UlC1dHS udS DCCA pdlHUCo HI ULC
r est colors. Whether this be exagger-
/ ated or true, we can console ourselves
7 with the thought that our idea OF
Government is so high, our political
t conscience so sensitive that we are
4 inclined to magnify by the force OF
= our indignation the actual size of ex
isting- abuses. There is good deal Of
o comfort, wisdom and truth in this
r statement, which l trust will cure
o some people of their cynicism ir
t speaking of our politics.
If it is true that trades and corrup
e tion infect our body-politic, as i!
d asserted on all sides, what is tn,
y lexplanation of this phenomenon bu
g that there are many dishones
: Americans in political life and an over
r whelmingly larger number who's
lconscience is not sufficiently sensitive
# and whose sense of honor is not sui
If ficiently fine to make them rise il
p their might and disregarding all o5he