The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-17
SAKS 81

juncture, when every instant is priceless,
the Senate, resisting every inducement and
solicitation, proceeds by unanimous consent
to consider resolutions OF. the highest privi-
lege-reported from no committee, having
no place on any calendar. but which takes
precedence of unfinished business and
special orders on which the yeas ana
nays are never called, and on which no
negative vote has ever been recorded-and
reverently pauses in obedience 10 the hol-
est impulses of human nature to contem-
plate the profoundest mystery or human
destiny, the mystery of death. In the
democracy of death all men. at least, are
equal. There is neither rank nor station nor
prerogative In the republic of the grave.
"At that fatal threshold the philosopher
ceases to be wise and the song of the poet
is silent. At that fatal threshold Dives
r~elinQuishes his millions and Lazarus MS
rags. The poor man Is as rich as the rich
est and the rich man Is as poor as the
pauper. The creditor loses his usury and
The proud man surrenders his dignity, the
politician his honors, the wording his
pleasures. Here the invalid needs no physi-
clan, the laborer rests from unrequfted
toll. Here at least is natures final decree
In equity. The irony of fate Is refuted.
The wrongs of time are redressed and In
justice is expiated. The unequal distribu-
ton of wealth, of honor, capacity. pleasure
and opportunity which make life SO cruel
and ~inexphcable a tragedy ceases In the
no supremacy and the weakest needs no
defense. The mightiest captain succumbs
to that invincible adversary who disarms
alike the victor and the vanquished-
James Nelson Burnes. whose life and
virtues we commemorate to-day. was a
man whom Plutarch might have described
and robust. in motion slow. in speech
serious and deliberate, grave in aspect,
serious in demeanor, of an antique. and
heroic mold, the incarnation of force.
upon that countenance from which-for
the first time in so many years-no glance
of recognition nor word of welcome came.
1 reflected upon the impenetrable and in
soluble mystery of death. But IL death be
the end. If the life of Rurnes terminated
upon this bank and shoal of time IL no
morning is to dawn upon the night In
which he sleeps, then sorrow has no conso-
lation, and this impressive and solemn GER
emony which We observe to-day has no
more significance than the painted pageant
was but a troubled dream. his death OBJ
livion, what avails il that the Senate should
pause to recount his virtues? Neither ven
Grafton nor reverence are due the dead II
they are but dust; no cenotaph should be
reared 10 preserve for posterity the mem
DRY of their achievements IL those who
come after them are to be only their sue
cessors in humiliation and extinction. II
In this world only we have hope and con
seriousness duty must be a chimera; ouI
pleasure and our passions should be the
guides of conduct, and virtue is indeed q
superstition If life ends at the grave. This
Is the conclusion which the philosophy oi
negation must accept at last. Such is the
felicity of those degrading precepts which
make the epitaph the end. If the life OF
Burnes is as a taper that is burned out
then We treasure his memory and his ex
ample in vain. And the latest prayer OF
his departing spirit has no more sanctity
to us who. soon or late, must follow him
than the whisper of winds that stir thu
leaves of the protesting forest or the muir
mur of waves that break upon the com
planning shore"