The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-13
Mr.. PIXLEY'S DEATH.

There are very few of Frank n. Pixlev's
old enemies living to take comfort in his
death, but there are many thousands of adj
mirers of his strange genius and person
atty to lament. For all the higher pur-
poses he has been dead these many
months, but the article of death itself is
none the less poignant for that.
The earlier manifestations of his strength
came at a time when it had to be matched
with that of the most brilliant, daring and
picturesque men to whom this part of the
country has ever given prominence. The
gold excitement and the turbulent politics
ending only with the adoption of the consti-
tuition of 1879 brought to the front in Cali
fornia remarkable group of men. They
were the emergency crop OF bewildering
confusion of interests and principles, in
which the concerns of California during
her struggles to bring order out of in
dustrial and social chaos were rent and
torn by the distractions which beset the
Nation. Men with courage, brains and
conflicting notions of patriotism sprang
forward in a blind struggle among them
selves, and those with the strength to sur
vive the conflict passed into history.
Mr.. Pixley was conspicuous among
these. First miner, then lawyer, then
a politician and orator, he finally found
the highest and most fitting exercise of
his genius as the unhampered editor OF
his own newspaper, the ArgOnaut. That
this unique publication at once became
prosperous and famous and then per-
manent was sufficient evidence of his
freedom from crankiness, the breadth
of his understanding, his shrewd knowl-
edge of men and affairs, and his re-
markable ability in expressing his
opinions. Though he was rancorous
and bitter, though the iron of Calvinism
in his blood gave the color of religious
intolerance to his conceptions of patriotic
duty, though under the flag of patriotism
he rallied his energies in favor of the rich
and in scorn of the poor, and though
he laughed at the hoary tradition of soon
sistency" and declared that the man in
capable of changing his convictions on
sufficient evidence was fool, he still
charmed while he angered and COM
manded attention while he abused.
There were reasons for it. He had the
lawyers training to make his reasoning log
zeal, that unsurpassed courage which men
admire even in those they hate. and a
brilliancy and elegance of style that few
moderns can approach. In stately argu-
ment, in sarcasm, irony and ridicule, and
in playful persifage that had sharp claws
beneath the velvet, he was equally fin
ished, powerful and effective. He could
tantalize to evaporation and laugh sneer-
ingly at the frenzy which he reused.
1t would be idle here to discuss the vari-
Gus motives that may have governed his
conduct during the stormy times into
which he thrust his aggressive personality.
That he was far more picturesque than in
fiuential was doubtless choice of his own.
Added to the brilliancy of his intellect was
charming personality which none who
felt its pressure could resist. He was gen.
ial, had a fluent tongue and a ready wit,
and was master of conversation and ora
tory. The grave covers all the rest. One
of the most remark able of the picturesque
men produced by the turmoil of past days
Lies dead among US, and with him passes
another of those able forces out of which
was born much that makes California as
rich in history as it is abundant in kind
ness to humanity.