Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1898-12-29
TRIBUTETOTHONASF. BAYARD

Inc Ja5L hours III lniS year are Ri1W- |
ing near. During the IL months mill
lions of human beings have passed from
life to death. But only few, very
few, are world-missed or world
mourned. In the great stream of
humanity which pours along the sur
faces of the globe the individual is like
the drop of water hurled by obstruct-
i've rocks from n mountain torrent, lost /
but not missed.
Gladstone and Bismarck in the Old
World and Thomas Francis Bayard in |
the New are among the renowned of |
earth who have gone during this year.
OF the two first much has been said |
and published. OF Mr.. Bayard not SO |
much as his long, honest and efficient
service to the country would warrant.
Therefore, as an admirer and personal
friend of Mr.. Bayard, the editor of The
Conservative takes upon himself the
sacred duty which sincere friendship
always imposes, of telling the world
something of the aims and ambitions
of the life that has gone out
Thomas Francis Bayard was born in
Wilmington, DEL. October Goth, 1928,
and was the son of James Asheton
Bayard and Anne Francis Bayard.
At the age of 13 years he
went to the school Of the Rev. Francis
L. Hawks at Flushing, L. |. During
the few years when his father lived in
New York, young Bayard entered the
mercantile house of his brother in-law,
Mr.. Schermerhorn, and his business
training was supplemented in the house
OF s. Morris Vain of Philadelphia. At
that time it was the intention of his
father to train him for mercantile pur-
suits, but upon the death Of his elder
brother, Richard Henry Bayard, his
father decided to train him for the
legal profession. Upon his return to
Delaware he was entered as a student
at law in the office Of the elder Bayard,
and was admitted to the bar in 1851,
and at once engaged in active practice
in copartnership with his father. In
1858 he was appointed United States
district attorney for Delaware but re-
.igned this Office the following year
nd associated himself with his friend,
William Shipper, in Philadelphia.
Mr. Shipper died in 1858, when Mr..
3ayard returned to Wilmington, which
city ne made his home always after
ward. He soon acquired an extern
sive legal practice.
Like his father, Mr.. Bayard was an
active, conscientious Democrat, and
took prominent part in the stirring
political events that Immediately pre-
coded the Civil War. He was not,
however, in favor Of secession, but was
what was then known as peace
Democrat, SIGNALLING his convictions
in this direction by famous speech al
a peace meeting in Dover. in june,
1860, in which he advocated settle
Inent of the pending questions without
resort ito war, and earnestly opposed
the severance of the relations of any oil
the States with the Federal Union.
Mr. Bayard's interest in local polite:
continued unabated until, in February
1860, he was elected United Statei
Senator to succeed his father, upor
the same day and by the same legisla
ture that chose his father to FIJI tn,
unexpired term of George Read Riddle
which ended upon the 4th of Marcl
following.
The career of Mr.. Bayard in tn
United States Senate is matter D
public record. But there are few mel
who recall his antagonism to the re
issuance clause of the law which pro
vided for the non-b bonding of thre
hundred and forty-six millions OF do
lars of greenbacks. In the senatoria
discussion Of that question Mr.. Bayar
was more than match for John Shei
man. Time has verified the patriot
wisdom of Bayard and condemned tn
position taken by Sherman. Til
greenhaolS circulation and its continue
reinsurance are primary and majl
cause Of all the financial fallacies an
monetary evils which have befallen I'll
United States since 1879.
In 1884 Mr.. Bayard was urged [
many Democrats as u candidate for Il
presidency. But the national CONVEX
lion which met at Chicago nominate
for president Grover Cleveland, WI
soon after his election called M
Bayard to be Secretary OF State.
that position he held firmly that und
his oath of Office he must do his du
as a patriot and not as u mere parrish
Not for his best political and person
friends did he ever perform any ofiici
act or cause to be made any appoir
ment to Office, except that he clear
saw it to be in accordance with t
best interests of the republic.
At home and abroad, in all plac,
and at all times, Thomas Franc
Bayard was an outspoken lover Of
country. He had the high MOI
courage to tell the truth. He was bra
for the right. He never faltered Def,
those who advocated the wrong.
was passionless in the staid a
LUXURIOUS ulScuSS1O0 OF grent pun
policies as justice itself He ne
talked to the galleries. In private a
social life Mr.. Bayard was charm
host and most entertaining and
traetiye guest. His manners were CT
and natural. He was gentle man.
But as ambassador to the Court
ST. James where President Clevel,
commissioned him in 1888, Mr. Bay
did for the United States and all
English-speaking people of the I'll
most illustrious service. Sucee
ing Lowell, Phelps and Lincoln,
mediocre man could have acoompis
automatically and internationally
much good for his government,
Returning from London, Mr.. Bay,
as early as january of the current y
suffered severe attack of inflne
from which he never fully recove
In a letter to Mr.. Morton, dated Eel
AIRY 28th, 1893, he says:
For the last two months the clC
of sorrow have gathered around
and two sisters, very dear to me,
over whose childhood and girlhood
mature womanhood / had watched I
like father than a brother, have
called back to the Great Being
sent them forth.
Il have wondered why und not
should have been loft little longe
this strange state we call life
This quotation shows tho tender
aifectionate solicitude which he (
ished for his family and at the