New-York tribune., 1903-01-25
GAJTSHA A. GROW FATHER OF THE HOMESTEAD BILL.
4 TRIBUTE T1O THE VETERAN CONGRESSMAN And
EX-SPEfKER ABOUT TO RETIRE.

The irrepressibIe conflict was approaching with
swiftness that made the nation quake. Wise men
were trying keep foiCed the wings Of human
strife Patriot hearts were making for harmony.
but the of broke over the dikes OF peace
and drenched land with blood.
Upon the supreme issue of free homes for free
men Abraham Lincoln elected President BY the
free States" This result impeIIed the slave power
to draw the sword and '.unfurI the flag of war
The time had come when four years were TO undo
the work or four generations The Star o. the
West fired upon Old Glory went down upon
the ruined ramparts OF Sumter. The men of the
Northland made ready meet the men Of the
Southland amid the Ieaden hail of battle" With
sublime determination TO save the Union President
Lincoln called the XXXVIIth Congress together in
extra session the eighry-hfth anniversary OF
our nations birth. Ii a notable assemblage Of
men, and Of them all only one. Galusha A. Grow
who shared the gloom and glory of that session. is
still a memter of the House. There was EHhu
washburn. afterward the Father of Congress-
who received Lincoln upon his entry into the eap-
tai OF the nation he had come to save There was
the courtly Morrill, of Vermont the memory OF
whose chivaIrous spirit still pervades the CapitoI
tt re was the gallant Logan. whose memory is
dear TO every who the blue. There was
Thaddeus Stevens. the great Commoner Of Penn
sylvania, and Roscoe ConkIing the brilliant son OF
the Empire State. ard Blair. the bold trapper OF
the Rockies. There was Cox the promoter Of the
rfe-saviu5 system. and Pendleton the earnest re-
former of the Civil Service. and Holman the -Rur
them all were five subsequent Vice-Presidents four
governors. Senator'S and other distinguished
men, many Of whom had grown gray in the ser
vice of their country.
From that bright galaxy OF mental stars A Young
Fennsylvanian, only thirty-seven years of age wa
chosen. without the formaIities of a caucus 70 nrs
side over the deliberations of that Congress which
made the unparalleled record Of appropriatin.- five,
hundred millions OF dollars in less than ffteen
minutes of time it being the largest single aD,ro
Pr adj tO save
flag. and when that Congress closed its great
career 1t bestowed unanimous vote Of thanks
upon the young and popular Speaker Is there a,v
other instance in the parliaments Of man where a
youth. unframed in the art OF government passed
with such rapid strides from the school desk 70
the gaveI Of such important legislative as
sembIy?
There is one thing which he did that stands out
like the bright star Of the morning The first time
he lifted his voice in the Capitol pleaded 70. the
OF toll and the last set speech he Will prob
ably ever utter there was plea for those whose
hearts are the citadel of nations power and
whose arms are the buIwark OF liberty"
The enactment Of the Homestead law was due 10
his intelligent and ceaseless efforts and is the
proudest achievement OF his useful life There can
be question the paternity of the Home
stead bill. Galusha "A Grow drew up the bill: h.
introduced it into Congress He fought its battles
for ten years the hoor of the House He signed
the bill as Speaker OF the XXXVIIth Congress. and
by the signature OF Abraham Lincoln Il became =
law Nearly ninety million of public domain
have been permanently occupied under the Home
stead law. This land has been given to honest set
tiers. and to land sraobers and railroads. Il
is an area covering territory than all New
England. and II now represents. roughly speaking.
the value of fifteen thousand millions of dollars.
Galusha A. Grow has risen 10 eminence BY the
force OF his genius and the transceRdent qualities
OF his mind and heart He has always been high
a1ed. but never high-minded but that his feet
easry touched the earth. He troubled him
zha kvr Eaa
practical In all the affairs Of Ife He has never
been shut up within himself but always cpef
frank and cheerful Those who have been hOnOred
with his ACQUAINTANCE have never heard Senti-
ment pass his lips which could not have been
uttered in the presence OF the most refined. He
has firmly scted upon the principle that the best
mode OF teaching IS TO practise what enc preaeheA