The Washington times., 1902-09-13
TRIBUTES TO GOVERNOR
SHEPHERDS MEMORY

''The news of Governor Shepherds
sudden death comes as a shock which
increases it's sorrow. 1t suggests strik-
ingly the incompleteness of all things
in this life. Governor Shepherd was
looking forward to coming home TO stay,
and we We're hoping that he would soon
have that consummation of his desires
when he is suddenly cut off, far away,
in his self-imposed exile before his wife
can get to him. Their homecoming will
be very different from that which they
planned. But, it will doubtless be at
tended by honors such as can only be
given to the dead.
Although new generation has
grown up and a new population has
come into the District in the thirty
years since Governor Shepherd began
his great work here, l think there is
no District man whom the people of
the District hold in greater honor, or
owe greater gratitude, and they will
doubtless show 1t in every possible way.
The new interest in the National Cap
ital so marked since our centennial
celebration of two years ago, has given
the people of the whole country a new
interest in Governor Shepherd, who is
now generally recognized as the man
who made the new Washington possible.
Aided by General Grant.
"a young man of remarkable force
and courage, he did III three years, sup
ported by President Grant and friend
ly Congress, what had to be done to
start the National Capital on lines of
which would make it what
George Washington planned. 1t was a
great task; it had TO be done hurried
ly, and il was done roughly and at
times eXtrayagantly. But that is the
only way, apparently. in which such
things are ever done. and we can par
don all faults in the method for the
sake of the results that we see and
foresee.
''Wo owe the government of the Dis
trict of Columbia to Governor Shep-
herd as well as the improvement of
Before his time Washing
ton and Georgetown were like country
towns and the District of Columbia had
no executive government. He gave the
District its proper place between the
States and Territories, with all the ad-
that status involves. Cover
nor Cooke and Governor Shepherd were
the predecessors of the Commissioners
and the present form OF government
grew out of that OF the territory OF
the District of Columbia, and not out
of the city governments of Washing
ton, Georgetown, and Alexandria"
Mr.. B. H. Warmers Tribute.
Mr. b. II. Warner, last night. said:
Il knew Governor Shepherd person.
ally for thirty five years. and he was one
of the broadest minded and most Chris
tian men | ever knew. lie was warm in
his friendships and bitter in his enmi-
ties. He was quick in decision. decisive
in action. ambitious in the extreme. He
saw only results when he made up his
mind to act and while regarded by
many as ambitious and reckless. he was
he right man for just such an enterprise
as starting the development of greater
which required an absolute
departure from all the precedents which
had been followed in the administration
IF the municipal government.
For many years | lived opposite him,
Turing the summer, and have often driv
IN home with him and heard him say, |
Is the game worth the candle?' His light
VI labor has gone out, but his brilliant
'ecord in connection with the growth OF
,ur Capital City will remain imperish-
able. written on the pages of local his