The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1903-09-11


searching for ideal conditions, but al
ways on earth, taking clear, practical
views of affairs. The proverb from Ovid
'cMedio tutissimus ibis"
was applicable to his way and method
He was man with purpose. He was
one who did things. He was a pro-
jector, as well as an executor. He pos
sessed strong individuality of charac-
er, and that character impressed itself
indelibly upon the councils of the state.
He was gifted with quality of temper
that could never be ruffied. Always
frank and good humored, he might be
described by Goldsmith's well known line,
can abridgment of all that is pleasant
in man."
And yet, he had frmness and decision of
| character, and was not easily turned
| from his purpose.
Though bitter invective, often descend
ing to absolute scurrility, marked the
stormy annals of territorial times, yet
he never, for one moment, descended to
its use. Though frequently CALLED by the
poisoned lance of partisan abuse, he
never retorted in kind. His speeches and
| uIItIdHCcS were cleNdCeu,
and devoid of grossenss or defamation.
Ramsey was not an orator. He in no
wise met the requirements of Cicero,
that master of elocution. So often on
the rostrum with him, 1 always admired
| his plain, direct methods, utterly reject
ing all ornamentation, and by the simp-
lest and most direct route reaching the
purposes of his address. Like Franklin,
he seldom exceeded quarter of an hour
in any public address. While not a
fluent, he was an easy speaker. He
spoke as well in German as in English,
and this fact greatly enhanced his popu-
larity. His evident sincerity always
carried conviction, and he won the judy
ment of his audience. He had as few
idiosyncracies as any man l ever met
in public life,-no crotchets, no fads, and
| this left his faculties unclouded and I'M
biased.
| He was typical American, and loved
his country with devotion as fervid
as Patrick Henry. He could say, as
Webster once said Il was born an Amer
lean, | live an American, l shall die an
Americana" The East, from whence he
came was narrow; but the West broaden
GU lucdS.
| The effect of the west upon the polit-
ical thought and action of the republic
is simply enormous. 1t is not so much
what the East has done for the West
but what has not the West done for the
East? We take the sons of the East
and recast them, in stature and BREADTH
free from the trammels of tradition
till they widen, like our own ocean prair-
les. The grand effect of the West upon
the national character, life and govern
ment, is a story yet to be written. The
West reconstructed Alexander Ramsey
Like truly great men, he was firm
believer in the truths of Christianity. He
was a Presbyterian of the most liberal
school, and believed more in a practical
Christian life than in creeds or dogmas
He often quoted the couplet of the poet:
"Fore modes of faith, let graceless zeal
OTIS fight,
He can't be wrong, whose life is in the
right"
There was something remarkable in
the general estimate placed upon his
character. Public esteem is a lofty cri-
terion to decide mans reputation. He
who holds an elevated character, before
/ SuSh 10 lOI UuIldtc
Innumerable were the tongues in the
state which proclaimed his virtues and
his safe qualities. In the convention, in
the town meeting, in the city full, or on
the remote frontier, in the church or on
| the car, everywhere, the people said
without distinction of party, Ramsey
was always safe and to be trusted. Such
was the power of reputation and good
character. To be thus confided in was
better than a great Inheritance, or bank
stock. No other public man among us
ever so held the universal confidence.
With an intimate knowledge of our sharp
political contests, 1 fear not to state
that, when beaten for a high office by
legislative coalitions and strange ALLAN
ces, if left to the suffrages of his entire
party he would have been triumphantly
elected
| We love sometimes to look at disting-
uished men en- dishabille, not always in
their robes of state. His social and col
loquial qualities were of the best. In
private life, he was genial and gener-
Gus neighbor, loving husband, and a
fond father. He was neither avaricious
nor prodigal of money. He bowed in
knightly homage to women, as all true
gentlemen have ever done.
That elegant continuance of social life
a good dinner, had its charms for his
leisure hours, and Epicurean tastes The
gorgeous table, the embossed plate, the
exotic bottles, the brilliant flowers, the
distinguished guests, the Attic salt, in
his leisure hours, to him were fascinat-
ing. The salads of Lucullus, and the
wines of Maecenas, were none too rich
for his Pennsylvania blood. believe he
had the best stomach in America, and a
good stomach is the foundation of q
strong man.
He was a man of marked personal ap
pearance. He had broad shoulders, 6
ideep chest and great muscular power
denoting immense vitality. He had 6
noble head, well balanced and symmetric
al. His face was broad and round
When the "dew of youth" rested upol
him, he was accounted especially hand
some, and age but added grace and digni
ty to his noble appearance.
Finally, his connection with and devo
ton to this Society, must not be omitted
on this memorial occasion. He was on
patron saint from our natal hour to tn
end of his days. He signed the legisla
!, tive act Incorporating this body Octobe
20, lS49, four weeks before it was organ
lied. His address on assuming the chat
. as first president, January l3, 1851, is
remarkable paper, as it defined tn
splendid field of our research, and points
out, as never since, the great objects o
/ this Society. To read it even now, ere
{ ates an enthusiasm in our work; and a.
inspiration not to be received from an
other source He showed how Minnesot