The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-08-22

Europe who compose its membership, and
his death was appropriately noted by
them.
noble tribute was paid to Vance by
Mr. BRYAN in his book, THE First Bat
tie" He said that he was zone of the
grandest public men given to this nation,
not alone by North Carolina, but by the
entire country" That is extraordinary
praise, which the people are better pre-
pared to appreciate now than when it
was uttered-both because they know Mr..
Bryan better and because reflection upon
| the career Of Vance has informed even
them. Indeed. The two men were very
much alike in mental and moral make
up and the younger patriot spoke of the
older with the discernment of sympathy.
Vance's predominant traits were his de-
votion to duty; his modesty and his
sense of gratitude" gratitude" as one
who loved him said "to God and man for
the blessings of Affection
l have placed his sense of duty first,
because that Overshadcwed all his other
virtues. This inspired his loyalty to a
trust, which was absolute and SO to his
party obligations. Correlatively, he
scorned a party boter, but had an even
greater contempt for the man who ought
to bolt, but who retained the benefit Of
his party's name while giving aid and
comfort to the enemy. Nevertheless he
was charitable to the last degree to-
wards those who openly changed their
beliefs when free to do so.
Upon the surface, his most conspicuous
service to the State would seem to be,
either his conduct of her affairs during
the war, or his rescue OF her people in
1876 from a condition which had been
worse than war. But those were things
which his genius and his patriotism read
lily enabled him to do, great as they were.
Far beyond them, it seems to me, was his
stand for principle and party loyalty in
the memorable contest with Mr.. Cleve-
land in 1893. Here his devotion to duty
shone with effulgence. On the one hand
was held out to him the prospect of per-
Sonal ease as the result OF harmony with
the powers that were, and of almost I'M
limited patronage as the reward of be-
trayal of those who gave him his trust;
on the other, the hostility of every favor
ell interest in the land and all that they
could influence. He calmly chose the lat
ter alternative, because duty lay there,
Of abuse, from one end of the State 10
the other, as few men in our history have
been subjected to.
Those who were near him know that
! he was fully aware of the penalty which
he should pay for his honorable stead
fastness; but he never faltered, nor did
he doubt what would be the verdict of the
! silent masses.
His other great deeds, which were
blessed with the reward Of immediate
material benefit to his people. pale into
| insignificance beside this last act in the
! drama OF his life; and though his cause
! then fell beneath the weight of executive
| patronage used against him. it is the liv-
| ing principle of that great movement
which is now sweeping over the land
! a revolt against executive usurpation and
! legislative corruption.
Vance's contest at that turning point
! in our affairs with entrenched power and
/ it's sycophants, will stand, as long as his
! tory lasts. the noblest example of public
virtue which any of our people have dis
played
That Will be the lesson which his statue