The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-06-11
That position which makes a man to

temperance questions, for a series of
years, particularly from 1880 to 1890
speaking roughly, in Michigan. Thus
while so closely related to all that has
marked the political life of the state
and nation since 1854, more than two
score years always in the republican
party, aside from one term as state
senator he has held no state elective
office. Mr.. Dewey did not have that
call it tact, call it diplomacy, call it
political instinct, that something by
which men attain to position in these
regards, where, as in political parties,
factions elements have TO be conciliated,
he must utter his convictions in man
ner and with any energy that political
expediency did not always warrant
That which in the life of fraternities
is needed for wise guidance he had, and
in the II. Il. of T. and Odd Fellows it
was recognized and he rose to the
places of great commanding eminence
and leadership, such as is denied such
natures as his in the realm of party.
am not going 10 say these matters
have referred to were so immense and
great as he thought and felt. That is
something about which he and many of
you disagreed when he was here and his
death has not altered at all your judg-
ment touching the majesty or meaness
of what was to him 'the grand old
party" 'the American system of pro-
lection" or any of these questions. To
him they were vital and commanding
realities He thought them by day, he
Ndreamed them by night, he wrote them,
he talked them, he would arouse for
their defense and hurl the weight of all
his strength against their opponents.
The result is great, strong, angular
nature, whose deepest moral life thus
goes forth. To such nature many
things q weaker man, more cautious
man would early and clearly see, he
would not in the consuming ardor of
his SOUL / question if any of his neigh
bors were mole conscious than himself
of that lack of what is termed political
sagacity." Few men had more pow
erful will by which it might have been
attained, but to him its attinment would
have cost such a denial of his real feel
ings and convictions that he would not
pay the cost. So, in matters of journal
ism and politics, he often appeared as an
antagonist of terrible energy, and he
was, but his contentious were for truths
as he saw and felt them.
But to sit down with him, to meet
him in the quiet of friendship, in the
confidence of soul, to move where the
man of strength reposed in the man of
affection, and Mr. Dewey did have a
great heart.
Despising all that marked the vices
of life detesting the little small gossip
that so many follow. not having cult
waited to any marked extent and not
endowed largely with sense of light
humor, | apprehend that many would
fail to see the heart behind the rugged
form, and feel the tremor of subtitle
sympathy in that nature that could
tighten and thunder in storm. You
who met him in the lodge saw more of
this than those who merely met him in
politics. But it was seen most where
we are at once our very best, our very
worst, in the home. There they knew
whose lives he touched most deeply
that the strength of mind and body did
not exceed the strength of heart that
was his. The treasure of that memory
is to them above all wealth. The ten
derness of the father abides in the
memory of the home. To its sacred
ness l shall open no doors. But
the years of illness come. The decay
of physical power is apparent. Closer
and closer to the home he must keep.
The steps lose their firmness, the face
takes on pallor as from the grave.
Then comes to this man q form of ill
ness that physicians tell us rasps the
nerves, drives men to an impotence
that verges on madness. The weakness
increases, the aggravating conditions
intensity. Once more strength gathers
into his life, once more he enters the
arena for stern and final debate;
now, as often before, he invokes his
Father God and the God of his fathers,
in this conflict with all those conditions
in any nature, intensified in his, that
make men petulant, impatient, more
than hard to get on with, and he con
quers it all. Calm, patient, he has van
quished that which had no right to rule,
and like child who lies passive in its
mothers arms, the patience of the man
Is the browning surprise to those near
est him. Thus he awaits, ready to sur
render, if he must, to death, but hoping
one day more, that he may recall the
time when forty years before he accept
ed in trust the happiness of his bride, to
whom he in turn gave his love, his
TO him on the earth. Its coming found
her a widow, his children fatherless,
himself in another land, awaiting their
home coming steps.
He has become to us memoir He |
hath wrought his day, and sent The in
iuence of his life in all the lines of his |
varied activities. These can not be !
gathered up and measured. There is |
40 eye so keen that it can follow them,
no mind so subtle that it can analyze |
hem. They are part of that history |
written on the unseen nature of man |
and society. But the purpose that ran
through it all was the good of those |
whom he might help.
Like all of us, he did not reach his |
deal Like few of us, he never lost it.
Il this afternoon, and as we think of
him in the future, we can keep clear in
mind those forces which lay at the heart |
If his being, those truths he sought to
'ealize for others, we shall feel that |
hOugh the forms in which they were |
lad by him may perish the truths
shall abide. His work was
lot in vain.
MI we have willed or hoped or dreamed of good,
shall exist;