Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1903-06-13
TRIBUTE TO MACCARTNEY.

The people of Oakland, Mass, and
vicinity, the home Of the late Frederic
MacCartney, have raised $4,000 on a
popular subscription to erect a monu-
ment TO their fellow townsman. This
fund will probably be increased by
contributions from the state and
nation.
Eugene V. Debs, the leader of the
Social Democrats of America, pays the
following beautiful tribute to the
character and abilities of Mr.. Mac
Cartney:
It is hard to write of the death of
Frederic 0. MacCartney. He belongs
to the living, not the dead, and it will
be long before we can realize that his
eloquent voice is hushed and his great
heart stilled forever.
In the very spring of life-the ripen-
ing glory of his powers-he was cut
down, and with such swiftness did the
fatal blow descend that we who now
stand over his PROSTATE flesh are so
shocked and stunned that we cannot
realize that death has come SO near and
snatched from us in all the flush of
youth a comrade so loved and honOred
of us all.
Frederic MacCartney was an inter
esting,. unique and towering figure in
the Socialist movement. He had brain
and heart, soul and conscience in large
measure and fine proportion. He was
a clear, clever and versatile writer,
ready and resourceful debater and as
an orator had few equals in the move
ment.
MacCartney was born in Wisconsin,,
educated in Iowa and received hrs
theological training at Andover. 1t is
fortunate that in his youth he came
within the influence of George d.
Heron, who then held the chair of APP
piled Christianity in Iowa college.
The bright, honest, warm hearted
youth was soon impregnated with the
new social philosophy and progressive
spirit which at that time permeated
the institution.
With such qualities of head and
heart and such environment and train
ing it is not strange that soon after
he entered the ministry he concluded
that creeds we're cold and pulpits
narrow. The more he thought about
it the less theology satisfied the hun
ger of his soul He sorrowed with the
poor and wept with the oppressed and
heavy laden Something was surely
wrong that this fair earth should be so
SCARED with misery. He investigated
social conditions and studied economic
science. Gradually the darkness in
which he CROPPED was dispelled. The
scales fell from his eyes and his vision
was now clear. A new sun had risen
for him. Henceforth his duty was
plain and he would apply himself to
his task with all the strength he could
summon to his command
Too honest to profess to be what the
was not, he made without fear the
bold avowal of his convictions and as
sequence cleared the pulpit that was
too narrow and dogmatic to hold him.
From the beginning he became a
factor in the movement. He was
filled to the brim with the spirit of In
ternational Socialism. He felt him
self aroused as if by Jehovah's own
command. He burned with the social
passion for freedom, equality and
brother-love, and from his own inten-
sity scattered the sacred fire among his
fellow-men.
At Rockland, his home, MacCartney
WdS Uu6 lI1O1 VI bE0 WOIhlLls5 OAIOJ
loved and laureled him as their own
hero, and even those opposed to him
were moved to pay to him the tribute
of respect.
The legislative labors Of our comrade
need no notice here. The General
Assembly of Massachusetts, will be
poorer far without him and the people
may we'll feel that they have lost
friend. With his two Socialist col
leagues MacCartney was a tower of
strength in the legislative halls of the
Old Bay State. From the day they
entered new and distinctive power
has been felt-a power filled with por-
tent for the reign of capitalist corrup
tion-the beginning of the end.
What pity, what pathos that such
brilliant career should be snuff ed out
at it's very SunriSe
All, nature is forever the same
neither merciful norv1ndictive- always
memorable.
Our dear comrades zeal exceeded his
discretion. He had no thought that
powers of endurance have limitation.
Early and late in legislative debate and
committee room, on the rostrum, the
street corner, anywhere, everywhere,
all the time at work, pleading, protest