Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06


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world. peopled with his friends a. they
should be, and when they failed to meet
his expectations 1t hurt him very much. In
deed He died a poor man and was buried
at has Old home. In Rock Creek Cemetery,
In Petersburg, Ill.
Buried in Rose Hill Cemetery.
Ten years later his remains were removed
to the soldiers plot In Rose Hill cemetery,
little east of Petersburg. Judge Matheny
of Springfield was one Of the orators at the
ceremonies OF the refinement. and he spoke
most touchingly OF the ingratitude OF those
who had profted by the labors OF Major
Stephenson and forgotten the steps by
which they had climbed.
Il am here today" he said '.for the sim.
pie purpose of laying a sprig of immor-
telle upon the grave OF our departed conn
rade. He was the companion Of my youth.
the friend of my manhood. Tho
world is full of overestimated men: the
graveyard is peopled with underestimated
men. 1t was the misfortune of COM
rade to be numbered with the latter Thou
sands infinitely his inferior have written
their names in fmperishable characters on
the pages of history. Struggle as he did
and labor as he might, no compromising re-
ward ever came. When abundant success
seemed insured and he stretched forth his
hand to seize the coveted fruit he grasped
only Dead Sea apples Of ashes and bitter
ness.
Success in life is one of earth's strongest
mysteries. To some 1t comes unheralded
and unsought for. and in too many In
stances undeserved Others labor for it and
labor ever in vain, dying with every aspira-
ton unsatisfed and every reasonable hope
unfulflled. So died our comrade.
'It was an expressive saying OF the an
clients that Justice travelled with leaden
wings meaning that, though delayed. It's
coming is inevitable and sure. I have faith
to believe that ample Justice will yet be
done to our departed comrade: that his
memory will be rescued from the darkness
fast closing round It, and his name record
ed. where it should be- the scroll OF
rather that posterity should ask why they
did not raise monument to his memory
than to ask why they did.
Built for Himself a Monument.
1T do not know that any marble shaft will
ever tower aloft over the spot where sleeps
our comrade and friend but do know that
he built for himself monument more gior-
ious than marble or granite, and yet that
unrelentfng fate that ever pursued him,
robbing him Of well-nigh all that was justly
his due, IS still at its relentless work. Tho
thousands who annually meet at the re-
unions of the Grand Army Of the Republic
give no thought to the heart that nurtured
and to the brain that conceived the grand
idea Of the brotherhood OF soldiers.
when this thought first came to our
comrade his whole soul was filled with the
grand conception. Without rest or weari-
ness his every energy was devoted to the
accomplishment Of the grand design With
no ut IN An ha e"
great good to be attained. He felt that he
was erecting an altar upon which the fire
of love for the whole Union would burn,
and burn forever. He saw with prophetic
vision the star spangled banner of
tion-not a confederation of discordant
states, but a nations banner-unfurled to
the breeze, and with fancy's ear he heard
the tramp, tramp of the million soldiers of
the Grand Army as they gathered beneath
1t to shield 1t and defend 1t from every
harm.
MY friends, how we'll he read the future.
His glad anticipations are more than real
lied The camp fires of the Grand Army
are burning from ocean to ocean
Though not here to witness 1t. the grand
dream Of his life has assumed the proper
lions of a bright reality. The note he
struck single-handed and alone. has SWELL
ed into a glorious anthem. . - Let us
by some fitting testimonial proclaim to all
coming time our appreciation of the grand
work accomplished by our departed friend
and comrade."
Hope Ends in Fruition.
Judge Matheny gave utterance to these
sentiments twenty years ago. A generation
is long time for generous sentiment to
take root but 1t has taken root at last, and
at the thirty-sixth national encampmept
final action will be taken on the erection OF
fitting memorial here in the national cap
ital to the memory OF Maj. Benjamin F.
Stephenson. as the recognized founder OF
no nd of the Rpnnhffc
The inception of the movement dates sew
eral years back. but at the thirty-fifth ma
tional encampment in Cleveland by vote OF
the encampment, the matter was left in
the hands Of the commander-in-chief to
formulate plans and appoint committee
to vigorously take hold Of the matter
Gen. Torrance appointed Past Comman-
der-in-Chief Lawler chairman of the COM
mttee. but he found 1t impossible to serve.
and Col. c. A. Partridge. assistant adjutant
general of the Department of Illinois, G. A.
R.. appointed The other members Of
the committee are: Col. Hopkins. past com
mander of the Department of Potomac; Col.
John McElroy, senior vice commander-in-
chief of the Grand Army of the Republic;
James Tanner, Washington, D. c., and
Louis Wagner of Pennsylvania, past COM
mander-in-chief. Grand Army of the Re-
pu1,lic