The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-08-27
ROBERT 6. Evans.

tic and private life. Robert G. Evans
is mourned by friends, state and nation
That che so active in political life and
SO efficient as the government prosecut-
ing counsel could devote in a given com
m1nity nearly twenty years to ardent and
strenuous public and professional effort
and then die without an enemy, universal
~ mourned by associates and oppon-
ents alike, shows what miracles in life
are possible to bigness of heart and
frankness of soul.
He was the only public man of nv
acquaintance, says United States Mar
shall W. H Grlmshaw, speaking from
an intimate public and political associa-
ton. who did not possess one single
cnemy-for the reason that ne had a
soul overlooking with love and charity
for all" Thoroughly characteristic Of
the man was the incident of only lass
week, one of the closing acts of his life
when at his camp in Northern Minnesota
he invited and entertained his late sue
cessful opponent, United States SENATE r
Moses Z. Clapp the man who after a
prolonged and hard-fought battle in the
legislative caucus defeated him in the
only candidacy of his life for public Of
fee and took from him the honor which
for weeks seemed readily within grasp
That he could go through such fight
with the kindliest Of feelings for his OPP
ponent, and that after defeat he could
share his camp with the author of that
defeat as his bosom friend, is one Of
the things which, while taught by the
Nazarene, is beyond the ken and reach
of most mortals here below. 1t at once
explains the secret of his popularity while
living and the universally of the grief at
his death
For. twenty-five years am ardent and
aggressive partisan in political warfare,
for ten years a member of the Repub-
lican national committee and always a
bold and jealous orator upon the cam
pagn stump, Mr.. Evans always COM
manded the respect of his political OBJ
ponents and appears not to have made
an enemy even. in the heat of political
strife. The reason was, first, that ne
was always fair, and second, that his
argument was addressed to the principle
at issue and not to the person. He kept
upon the nigh plane of public policy, and
never stopped to the argument ad
hominem.
During the two pest national cam
paigns in Minnesota, perhaps the two
most active and able eampaigners upon
which the respective state committees
relied for hard and effective service were
Bob" Evans for the Republicans and
John Lind for the Democrats Former
Gov. Lind thus speaks of his campaign
opponent: I'm every relation of life
that had opportunity to observe Mr..
Evans. and l have known aim well and
intimately for years, he was always a
man. He was strong in his convictions.
a loyal friend, an intense partisan. but
his craftsmanship never tempted him to an
act unworthy of his manhood or his
citizenship. The sentiment thus ex-
pressed by Mr. Lind would probably be
seconded by every Democrat VINO on the
campaign stump or in political committee
has fought Mr. Evans during the
eighteen years of his political activity in
this state. HE was always a man." and
his opponents loved him for his manli-
ness. Characteristic # his unselfsh-
ness and magnanimity stands the fact.
that while for eighteen years he fought
upon the forum for the SUCCESS of party
principle and party candidates. he never.
un,n the recent campaign for senator,
was candidate for office himself. al
though many times sought by members
o. his party to accept important nominal
tions Up to as high as that of governor.
OF his public duties as United States
district attorney and of his profession
al careerthe bench and the bar have horne
ample testimony. ''Of unqaestionad in
tegrity, philosophical and wen pal
arced, : is the verdict of Chief Justice c
NJ. start and again, IAN excellent law.
Yer, of splendid judgment he won the
respect of everyone who came in con.
tact with him" To this, Judge William
Lochren. Of the United States distrlc
court adds: He was an able LAWYER. ;
thoroughly honest and upright man. ant
most efficient district attorney" Con
gresham f. c. Stevens, of this district
who has known him for nearly twent,
years, declares: mo man had a higher
ideal of morality, and lived up to j
personally, professionally and political
" And Congressman Page Morris tes
tides: 'He was one of the real noble
men made by nature. talented. frank
generous, high-minded, pure" Such ar,
tho estimates of those who have known
him best in public and professional life
As husband. father and neighbor. as
stanah friend IN prosperity Or in need
to high and low alike. YBeb' Evans wa.
the same big-hearted, frank genial