Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-02-09

er, for some OF the greatest scholars of
influence over their fellow-men. EIo-
qUence does not make a leader. for some
OF the worlds greatest orators. among
VEINS; and no craven can lead men.
But: whatever the quality is. people rec
low the man who possesses IL.
Frank Blair was a natural leader.
This man was of the stun out of which
martyrs are made, and he would have
gone grimly, undauntedly, unfiinchingly,
and defiantly to the block, the sca1oid,
or the stake in defense of any cause
which he considered just Though he was
lmperious, tempestuouS, dogmatic and
inpetuous, though no Danger could swerve
gave tremendous blows to his antagon-
lists, and received many of the SaI1e kind,
less ana the weak, and to the end MS
heart remained tender as little child'S.
Benton's scorn of his opponents was so
lotty and so Calling, the eXcoriations ne
1nhlcted-aye, lavisned-upon them bred
such rancor in their hearts, the lash with
which he scourged them left such estering
wounds, that they never forgave him UNI
I'll they knew he was dead-dead as Julius
Caesar-dead beyond all cavil- Then they
put on Sackcloth and ashes and gave him
the most magnificent funeral ever seen
west of the Mississippi.
Blair's was happier fate than that of
his illustrtcus prototype and exemplar.
While from the day of mis- return from the
Mexican war to the hour of his retire
Inent from the senate he was In the fore
front of every political battle in Missouri
and nowhere on earth were political
wars waged with more ungovernable fury
such were his endearing qualities that
the closing years of his life We're placid
as summer evening, and he died amid
Republicans Ii a Seemed to remember only
the good he had done them, forgetting
the injuries. while democrats forgot the
injuries he had inflicted upon them and
remembered only the invaluable service
he had rendered. Union veterans named
a Grand Army post for him; confedsrates
proudly call their boys Frank Blair, and
his fellow-citizens, without regard to
creed or party. erected his statue Of he he
fame to coming generations.
Thomas III. Benton and His Commanding
Public Labors.
Hon. James T. Lloyd, of the First
district, Ia following Mr.. Clark, spoke
ably Oil the public services of Thomas
II. Benton. He said in part:
Missouri presents to-day to the con-
gress of the United States statues of two
or ner honored dead and asks that they
may be received and placed in StatGary
mortal not only of her devotion to their
memory, but in recognition of the fact
that few men have accomplished more
for this nation than they have done.
The cold marble, fashioned through skill
nne or he ea Is one o t RSHey w0nder e
full achievements of the age. Two excel
lent evidences of perfection in this art are
privilege to see either of the extraordi-
nary characters thus shown in Statuary
are household words in Missouri, and are
recognized anywhere as the names of
prominent characters in national history.
1t is claimed by those who should
know that inanimate representations, per-
feet as they may be. have not the vital
to show the weakness OF man in his eff
forts to reproduce that from which the
providence of God has withdrawn the
breath of life.
Among the great men of this nation
who have had part in it's achievements.
who have secured place in the hearts OF
delible impress for good, few have ever
been entitled to greater honor and
spect than Thomas H. Benton and Fran
els p. Blair, Jr.
Missouri does not present these emblems
in stone simply as matter of form-that
it may have the honor of representation
in yonder Statuary hall, once the ma
tioual house of representatives-but that
it may discharge duty in showing APP
probation of it's honored dead 1t would
teach it's youth to cherish the memory Of
and given the state such high place 1t
would remind them to look with admira-
mem men and who h ever show respect to the the
dead whose lives were spent in successful
achievement for their country's honor
Mr.. Lloyd then detailed the biograph-
zeal part of Col. Thomas H. Benton and
Much stress was laid on Benton's great
services in aiding in the exploration OF
the west On this latter point Mr.. Lloyd
"Col BENTON was fully. imbued with
the political teachings. of Thomas Jeff
school of craftsmanship, and was the
very impersonation of the genius of the
their deepest root. He knew better than
any one who preceded him its needs.
its and and, Its d def gs He
power of body and mind to the I'M
portant duty of supplying these wants.
ing ing the way FOR, its future develop
ment. He sought to expose to public
Rampered its growth and chained it's
giant energies.
In conclusion Mr.. Lloyd said:
1t is not my purpose to refer to acts
blot from memory nor to deeds which
could bring the tinge of remorse. I would
of charity, but would imprint in burning
letters, if could, his patriotism. energy,
st gs dae @ ana of to
Nor would my remarks be complete did
l not refer to that greatest of his virtues.
affection he exhibited toward his family.
In 1874 his wife suffered stroke of
e eaTered From What that time COZ Benton
was never known to go to any place. of
festivity or amusement, but devoted his
so sorely afflicted. No man. 1t is said,
ever regarded his family with more ten
der solictude than did he. In this are
evinced, perhaps, the true qualities of the
man as much as in ANYTHING occurring
in the days of his eventful history. Mrs.
Benton. in the language of another. was
the pride and glory of his young ambition,
the sweet ornament of his mature fame
and the best love of his ripened age"
These are the completing qualities which
enable us to know him who was
Lofty and sour to them that loved him
not,
But to those men that sought him sweet
as summer.
Col. Benton died April 10, 1858, leaving
as his last audible words, 'I am COM
Portable and content" On the day Of
his burial all business in st. Louis was
suspended. every court adjourned, and it
is said that 40. 600 people were present
and sought to pay their last tribute Of
respect.
At the conclusion of the speeches
Mr.. Bland moved the adoption of the
resolution accepting the statues and
rendering the thanks of congress to
the state for them. IL was unani.
mously adopted.
A CASE FOR OUR CONSUL.