The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1901-01-03
IoNATIus DoNNELLY GONE.

cal vigor, lgnatius Donnelly passet
suddenly into the great beyond
The news of his death will be re
ceived with unsimulated grief BY
all Minnesotans-for he was es
teemed and beloved by the people
even though differing widely from
his opinions and conclusions. He
was. a profound scholar, per
suasive orator, a trenchant writer
a bungling politician, a true poet,
As dialectician he had few equals
He was we'll equipped upon a wide
variety OF topics, possessed OF a
wonderful memory, keen sense
of humor, and withal quick at rep
artee; although not always choice
or considerate in expression.
In literature he has left his mark.
His works possess peculiar charm
by reason of their originality of
thought and force of expression.
1t was as a politician that he was
weakest. He had unbounded con-
fidence in himself as political
leader, not shared even by those
who, in the main, agreed with him.
He was cratic and vaccilatlng.
He had been off and on with all
parties in turn, and was distrusted
by all.
He served one term in Congress
as republican, but destroyed all
hope of continuance by ill-timed
bitterness against men prominent
in the party. Mr.. Donnelly was
ambitious of political preferment,
and had he been more stable, more
consistent-he would have been
honored by any office he desired
within the gift of the people. He
was admired for his brilliancy, but
his cratic course could not inspire
confidence. He was beloved for
his genial personality, charm of
manner, a fascination in converse
ton attained by few. He was
magnetic, and had the power to
influence and sway audiences, but
the effect was not permanent.
One at all familiar with him and
mis- political history is easily led to
reflect that his death following so
closely upon that of Senator Davis,
both men of first-Iate ability,
might easily have left Minnesota
without a United States Senator.
With all his weakness he was
man of strength, and his reputation
and fame are assured. Minnesota
grieves for him as for favorite son.
From the Minneapolis Tribune the
following facts are condensed:
Ignatius Dondelly was one of the
best known men in Minnesota. Very
few men had a larger personal &C
quaintance in commonwealth which
he had made his home for thirty-fiye
years. He had during all these years,
been active in politics, generally as
leader in one party or another, and
in this way he had personal acquaint-
ances in practically every county in
this state.
He was regarded as little less than
a genius in a literary way and it was
as a writer that he had established a
reputation that makes his name fam
iliar to the best informed readers
throughout the entire country.
Mr.. Donnelly was SO years of age.
He was born in Philadelphia Nov. 3,
1881. Soon after arriving in Minnea-
polls he took an active interest in pol
itcal doings. He was sent to congress
as a republican in thelate SOS, and
took a very great interest in many
things which directly concerned the
state and the Northwest.
During Mr.. Donnelly's congress
sional career he established reputa-
tion as a speaker and he was known
to be exceedingly clever at debate
and at a repartee. His congressional
work while not brilliant, was on the
WHOlc SdolSldCVOly w w LILO COuSUl1u--
ents in Minneso ta.
Mr.. Donnelly's Affiliate on with the
Republican party concluded soon after
his congressional experience. After
that he went about unfortunately
from one political camp to another, as
sociating with the democratsat one time,
the Greenbackers at another, the
Changers at another. His last eff rts
were in behalf of Midroad Populists,
The convention that assembled at
Omaha twelve years ago adopted a
platform which was unique in some of
it's features, and which was largely
the h.ndiwork of IgnatiIs Donnelly.
The platform commercially referred to
as the "Omaha platform, doubtless
came closer to clear aid full express
sion of Mr.. Donnelly's ideas relative
to many propositions of social and
economic character than is found in
the expression Of any great party.
Mr.. Donnelly was rather of an ag-
ricultural turn of mind, and he loved