Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1902-04-12

During the life Of mat congress Mi.
Hoar was n OF the commission that
decided the disputed presidential cleo
tion OF 1875. He voted with the major
ity, and the democratic cardinal prin-
cipal of state sovereignty prevailed
to seat a republican president. Never
did the irony OF politics go farther.
One of the greatest political convoca-
tons Of history was the republican ma
tional convention ut Chicago In 1880.
Mr.. Hoar was O. member OF that body
and was chosen TO preside over its de-
liberations. IL was a splendid tribute 20
the man, a testimony TO the parliament
tary skill, high personal character and
judicial rectitude. The wayering bal
ance was rightly adjusted. His was a
clear head, his a tranquil breast, in that
arena Of human ambitions and human
passions. The grandeur Of Conkling's
wonderful eloquenCe, the splendor OF
Garield's perfect sentences, moved him
not. No doubt he had a choice among
those suggested for that first political
station OF the world. but /. was never
apparent in his speech or conduct rs
president Of that brilliant assembly.
TO have presided over such a body is
q testimony Of the most exalted citi-
Zenship.
The golden age Of American parlia-
mentary eloquence may be discovered
In the senates of the double decade
$4,000. The theme was worthy the de-
baters. The issue may be stated thus:
Was the American system finished
when the federal constitution became
operative; or Is the system subject to
the law If evolution? Greece I'm her
glory n England at her zenith pro-
duced no ADLER and no more eloquent
champions han they who substituted
either side OF that momentous contro-
Vcrsy, but reason retired from the con-
HiCt in despair and the appeal was had
10 the sword.
Webster, Evans, Davis, Choate, Ev-
erclt, sumner Fessenden, Collamer,
Hamlin and Winthrop were some OF
the champions New England sent to
her deYoir in the great parliamentary
tourney. They were alien to the south
the south was alien 10 them. Suppose
these men had known the south of Tho
then as Senator Hoar knows the south
Of the ow. suppose Sumner and Fes-
sender had crossed the Potomac and
greeted their fellow citizens OF the 9TH
er section as Senator Hoar greeted
them at the annual convention OF the
Virginia Bar association some years ago
when he addressed the successors of
Marshall, Pendleton. Randolph. Tuck
er and Epps in words like these:
II am not vain enough to take this
invitation from the famous bar Of your
famous commonwealth as a mere per-
sonal compliment. L like better to
think of IL MS a oxen Of the willing
ness OF Virginia TO renew the old re-
lationS OF esteem and honor which
bound your people to those OF Massa-
chusctts when the two were the leaders
in the struggle for independence.
There is no more touching story Of
the magnificCnCe bounty Of one peO-
pie to another than that OF Virginia
TO Massachusetts when the port Of Bos-
ton was shut up by act OF parliament
and by a hostile English fleet. | dare
say generous Virginia has disdained to
remember the transaction. Massachu-
sets Will never forget IT,
Suppose Fcssenden, TrumbuIi aa9
Chase had known Mason, Breckenridge
and Hammond as Hoar knows Vest,
AS Allison knows Cockrcil, as Frye
knows Daniel? There might have been
no war. And yet il was better as il
was. The var was worth all It cost,
and more. The tree NJ American lib
erty, watered and nurtured by the
blood thrice ten times ten thousand
heroes, Mortimer and South.neu, like
Clan Alpinc'S pine;
Ours is no sapling, Chance-sown by the
ountain,
Blooming at Balthane, In winter to fade;
When the whirlwiud has stripped every
leaf on the mountain,
The more shall clan Alpine eXult in hci
shade.
Moured in tie rlfied rock,
Proof 10 the teInpcst's shock,
FirmCr he roots him, the rudder 1t blows,
| No other senator can vie with Mr.