The evening times., 1899-07-22
INGERsoLL ON .coNKLING.
The Superb EuIoEistic Grafton De.
Ifvercd Mt Albany In 1855.

The Superb EuIoEistic Grafton De-
Iivercd Mt Albany In 1855.
Among the many powerful orations de-
livered by the late Colonel Ingersoll was
that ON Roscoe Conkling. 1t was given at
a eulogistic session of the New York Legis-
lature, in Albany, N. Y, on May 9, 1888,
and by some of his admirers is regarded
as Colonel Ingersolfs masterpiece. In Part
it is as follows:
Roscoe Conkling-a great man, an orator, a
statesman, a lawyer, distinguished citizen OF
the Republic in the zenith of his fame and pow
err has reached his journeys end; and met
here in the city OF his birth, TO pay our tribute
to his worth and work. He earned and held a
proud position in the public thought. He stood
for Independence, for courage, and above all for
absolute integrity, and his name was known and
honored by many millions of his fellowmen.
The literature of many lands is rich with the
tributes that gratitude admiration, and love have
paid to the great and honored dead. These
tributes disclose the character of nations and the
ideals of the human race. In them we find
the estimates of greatness-the deeds and lives
that challenged praise and thrilled the hearts OF
men.
In the presence of death the good man Judges
as he would be judged. He knows that men
are only fragments-that the greatest walk in the
shadow ard that fault and failure mingle with
the lires of all
In the grave should be buried the prejudices
and passions born of conflict. Charity should
hold the scales in which weighed the deeds
of men. Pecularities, traits born of locality
and surroundings-these but the dust of
the race-thess are the accidents, drapery
clothes, fashions-that have nothing to do with
the man except to hide his character. They
are the clouds that cling to the mountains Time
gives us clearer vision. That which was merely
local fades away. The words of envy are forgot
L. - ex,-
He who was called partisan is patriot The
revolutionist and outlaw the founders of ma
tions, and he who was regarded as scheming
selfish politician becomes statesman, philos-
opher, whose words and deeds shed light.
Fortunate is the nation great enough to know
the great. When great man dies-one who has
nobly fought the battle of life, who has been
faithful to every trust and has uttered his high
est. noblest thought-one who has stood proudly
by the right in spite OF jeer and taunt, neither
ing him, in speaking words of praise and love
above his dust. we pay tribute to ourselves
How poor this world would be without its
graves. without the memories Of its mighty dead
Only the yoiceless speak forever.
Intelligence, integrity, and courage are the
great pillars that support the state.
Above all, the citizens Of free nation should
honor the brave and Independent manAthe man
of stainless integrity, of will and intellectual
force. Such men are the Aliases on whose
mighty shoulders rest the great fabric OF the
republic. Flattercrs, cringers, crawlers, time
servers are the dangerous citizens OF a democracy.
They who gain applause and power by pandering
to the mistakes, the prejudices, and passions OF
the multitude. are the enemies ef liberty
when the intelligent submit to the clamor of
the many anarchy begins and the republic
reaches the edge Of chaos Medocrity, touched
with ambition fatters thcSbase and caiumniates
the great, while the true patriot, who win do
neither. is often sacrificed TzssfS
In a government of the people the leader