Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1900-04-19

losopher's stone. In every yicissitude
he was beset by desertions, in every
crisis loaded with obloquy. His proWess
breasted every difficulty
Like 10 the Pontic sea,
Whose icy current and compulsve course
Meier feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on
To the Prcpontie and the Hellespont
Leader of the People.
'Think for moment, Mr.. Speaker,
Of the bright satellites that set out with
him on what seemed like holiday ex-
cursion. How many fell by the way!I
How many turned against him. Look
over this house, take a glance at the
senate-aye, cast your eyes even upon
the presidential chair-and then COM
pute, if you can, the strength Of the
mighty tide that turned against him.
And yet, undaunted, unswerYing, un-
complaining, he held his course with
undertaking fidelity.
"He was as constant and abiding as
the northern star amid a shower of
swerying meteors. Defying mutiny,
like the great navigator who gave man
kind new world, his hope ne'er dim
med, his purpose never changed. How
ever wild the tempest, however strong
the believing food of passion, he pur-
sued an unvarying course He was the
great political navigator of the people,
sailing upon the ocean of destiny, with
the Declaration of independence as
n ic er4rf6 cfor
as his compass
'Mr. Speaker, this hall is still ring
ing with his manly words. They were
the coinage of his convictions. His sim
cerity alone would have made him
more than conspicuous; his ability and
devotion to the principles advocated so
persistently made him truly great He
had an academic but no collegiate
training. Nor had he Travelled in the
realm of metaphysical disquisition, but
he had delved in the gold and silver
mines Of the Pacific slope, had prac-
ticed law and fought Indians on the
border and, like Cincinnatus of old.
had followed the plow. 1t was grand
training for the role which he was to
FILL Born in Kentucky, every fiber of
his body, every filament Of his brain,
every scintiIlation of his intellect was
American
There was a halo about him at all
times that forbade either the charge or
thought of selfshness. His life was a
chapter of consistent and faultless log
ic. Oratory cannot adorn it; detraction
cannot deface it.
Sir, memory Is never fading mir
ror. 1t reflects the scenes of other
days. We who knew him can still see
that modest but firm man rising here
in his place, treading these aisles, stop
ping to meet an Inquiry, turning firmly
to an attack, leading an onset, never
beating retreat
Richard P. Bland was fitting type
of the old time statesman, now, alas,
fading away. He belonged to the gen
GRAFTON that produced the founders of
the republic. He had the true Revolu-
tionary grit. He would have been a
worthy colleague of Jefferson, Madison
and Monroe. He was builder, not a
destroyer. He strove to pull down ev-
erything vicious in craftsmanship and
to raise everything wholesome to a
common level.
Whether on the floor, In committee
or listening to chat in the cloakroom,
he was essentially thoughtful. There
was ripping strain of humor about
him, but his face never lost it's cast of
thoughtfulness. His friendship was
sterling silver; his affection pure gold
Sir, rejoice in my affiliation with such
a man. 1t is better than gold and pre-
cious stones. He left his imprint upon
the legislation of this house. When
the seeker after truth comes to study
the great men who have shaped the
destinies of the republic. he viii find
Richard p. Bland among the immor-
tails. Future historians viii linger DER
his name and gladly preserve his
fame"
Webster Davis Resignation.
The Boer agitation in this country is
growing hot. In my judgment it is be-
coming so hot that the administration
win be compelled to show its hand
and show it, willy nilly, for the Beers.
Hon. Webster Davis resignation of
the assistant secretaryship of the inte-
rior to take to the lecture platform in
behalf of old Paul Kruger and his
brave burghers is only straw which
shows which way the wind is blowing.
Davis is young. He has eloquenee,
brains and future.
Even the poets are taking a hand.
MY friend Ripley D. Saunders of st.
Louis has written the following beau
siful poem, which l commend to all
hho see this letter:
THE BoER WOMEN.
Thou God upon whose name they CALL
These women Of the buFgher strain,
Shall they in freedoms battles fall.
Their sacrifice in vainG
True mothers Of a freeborn race,
Daughters of men in blood made free
Dear God Of love and pitying grace,
Are they not heard OF thee2
And thou, o world that seest the sight
Unknown before to mortal ken,
stiI beats thy heart untroubled quite
Within the breasts Of menl
The horror of It and the shame,
Leaves it thy spirit calm and cold,
Who seek their homes to hold2
Then may no father teach his son
OF manhood's pride or freedoms sway,
For both are dead beneath the sun
That shines on such day.
Dead-who may doubt since plain the spot
Where grim and shameful they are laid
On Transvaal battleAelds to rot
In graves for women made.
Spanish War Taxes.
To Hon. James D. Richardson Of
Tennessee, Democratic leader of the
house minority, belongs the high honor
Of having driven the Republicans into
an investigation to discover whether
the Spanish war taxes are producing
a surplus in the revenue. The truth is
that since the wrangle over the Porto
Rican tariff bill demoralized them so
the Republicans have been in a nerv-
Gus, timorous and irritable frame of
mind Most of them are fussy as an
old sitting hen. They found out that