The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-05-26

kfnncts Preston blair Beoo0 II . M
tsonsl Hall of Fame - Representative
Of M~issourfs Highest Typ Of cisissa
ship and statssn.nshiR
Washington, May 1e.-The senate de
voted two hours this afternoon to thu
acceptance Of the statues Of Thoma,
Hart Henton and Francis Preston
Blair, which for more than a year have
occupied places in Staturay hall Of tn,
capitol assigned to Missouri's repre-
%sentatives in the Hall of Fame.
Early In the session to-day Senate,
Cockrell called up the resolutions &C
cepting on behalf Of tie United States
the statues of Benton and blair pre-
scented by Missouri.
After Gov. stephens letter Of pre-
sentation was read, speeches of eulogy
were made by Senators Vest, Cockrell
and Hoar.
Senator Vest spoke for one hour. lie
eloquently reviewed the lives and char
ncters Of Benton and Blair. His speech
will rank RS \ historical address. II
was given close attention by the sen
ate.
at has often been asked" said he
whether Benton was the equal OF his
three great contemporaries-Clay
Webster and Calhoun. He was no. the
equal of Clay as an orator, nor OF
Webster as a lawyer, nor was he the
equal Of Calhoun as a close, analytical
dehater, but he was the superior OF
any of the three as a material, valua
bic allrcund legislator. His industry
wa unparalleled, his honesty above
question, his courage. moral and phys
ical, equal to that of any man that
ever lived upon the earth"
Referring to the famous duel be-
tween BENTON and Lucas, the senator
said: 1T would, perhaps, not be I'M
proper to speak of the tragic event
which cast gloom and shadow npon
Benton's life. Benton came from that
old Virginia stock which was extreme
iy sensitive as to personal honor. /
never agreed with. him politically. but
to-day will state what 1 know to be
true, that Benton never knew the sem
sation Of fear, either in public or pri-
vate life.
AT the first election, after Benton
went to st. Louis, young Lucas, 4 son
of Judge Lucas, challenged Benton's
vote, after the latter had sworn that
lie was legally entitled to vote in St.
Louis. Benton construed this is 4
charge of perjury, which. as he de-
clared ut the time, could only be wiped
out with an apology or by blood. He
challenged Lucas promptly. and they
fought on Bloody island, near st.
Louis. Lucas was almost MORALLY
wounded. Benton waited until he was
convalescent, and then challenged hin,
again. In the second encounter Lucas
was killed.
Benton never admitted that, in the
absence of a full apology as to what
Lucas had done, he could retain his
sel~f-respect, or deserve that of others.
until he had killed the man who had
attacked his honor. All this now
sounds barbarous, but if we carry our
selves bacl; to the time when it oc-
CURED it will c%haritably be admitted
that, entertaining the opinions he did,
benton could hardly have acted differ
entity. Dueling then was an institu-
ton. All the distinguished men OF the
United States fought duels."
In conclusion Mr.. Vest said: "Een-
ton was moi a southern democrat: he
was a national democrat. He appre-
ciated more thoroughly than any man
of his era the possibilities of that vast
country west of the Mississippi, des-
tined to become the seat of empire up
en- this continent. I heard him, at a
little town on the Missouri river, adj
vancing with his right arm EXTENDED,
to the east. declare with the tone of an
ancient prophet. there is the east. but
here is the road of empire His statue
in Forest park, st. Louis, bears upon
the pedestal this prophetic statement
He declared, and men then laughed at
Him, that this continent would be
bound together by bands of iror. 10
carry u produce to the Pacific SLOPE
10 meet the necessities of innumerable
millions in Asia and the orient.
'Benton's political mantle fell. log
ically and inevitably. upon the shout
dcrs of Frank i. blair. But for Blair.
Missouri would have given her solid
military strength to the southern
cause; and the result of the war
might have been different but for the
promptness with which Blair acted.
Blair had bitter enemies, like all men
of positive convictions, but even these
enemies never doubted his sincerity,
but respected it because he was open,
fair. fearless and true.
Benton and Blair sleep together OF
Missouri soil, almost side by SIDE. and
so long as this capitol shall stand. o.
this nation exist. their statues will
I've eloquent and eternal witnesse, to
the greatness of Missouri and her
sons"
Mr.. Cockrell did not speak owing to
lack of time, but in his written eulogy
he said of Benton
He was a close, labcrious and rom
student from boyhood to his
death, and acquired and possessed q
greater fund of information and
knowledge, general and historical, than
any statesman of our country, from
which he drew largely in Ills discus