, 1905-02-23

conditions or sure defeat. But strong
as was his will when set upon a given
hard contestant as he was in |
poiitical and other controversies, yet !
there were few more charming in their
SOCIAL lives; a man of wide reading and
generous Information, his social friend,
snip was a thing to be greatly priced; |
and down deep in his heart, purposely
concealed from the gaze of men, abode
q love Tor the poor and friendless tina
VIII forever crown his name. For op
preston Of the weak by the powerful
ne a a deadly hatred, and the rec
ords Of this body will show that in this
chamber his voice was ~oftenest raised
Tor those who had no friend at court.
especially was he active and efficient
in his services in behalf of the Indian.
Their forlorn condition as a people,
their helplessness, and their surely
coming doom awakened all his sympa
thy and loving service; he had gone
deep into their history and traditions,
and no man who ever sat in this cham
Der had a closer knowledge of the In,
dian than he.
o this occasion | may perhaps be
INDUCED in a personal reminiscence on.
ly because it allows an opportunity to
disclose In a most imperfect way a
wonderful phase of the character OF
our departed friend. A year and a
half ago l was surprised and honored
with an invitation to accompany him
on a trip to the Indian Territory. Why
he should thus choose me as a com
panion ! have never yet OWNED. The
purpose of this trip | could not then
imagine. In due time. however. we
ended IL journey by rail near the lit
tie town of Dewey n were taken sew
eral miles away, where the Delaware
Indians were holding their annual
thanksgiving or harvest home. This
is the one week of the year when they
return to the worship of the older days,
when they are in close communion
with the Great Spirit, and when the
Manitou is. to them a living, breathing
presence. For two nights from dark
to dawn we witnessed their commun
ion with the Great Spirit; for two
nights from sunset to sunrise, perhaps
} for the first time, white men were pres.
ent as the fa~st-fading race were carry
ing out a ritual which was old when
r all modern ceremonies in this lana
; were young. The details of that meet
, ing l can not here in honor recount.
l The solemnity of that occasion | can
not here depict, but can say thai at the
l rising sun, with an impressiveness in,
l impossible except to a passing race,
Matthew Stanley Quay was crowned,
} and probably as the last, with the roy
: al honors of the Delawares. This as
an expression of thankfulness for all
I the years he had labored for that PEG
pie. an evidence OF their appreciation
Ice his great services in their behalf.
I rnay be %pardoned this "reminiscences,
n only use 1t as a size llSnt OIL tne
character OF our departed friend.
IGreat himself, he was ever mindful
: of the lowly. Secure in his high place
in the councils of the nation, he de
spised not the appeal of the helpless
Strong in battle for himself, time was
s always found for earnest effort for the
weak and the lowly of he land. And
l could almost hear upon h %sorrowing
winds the wall of that people when
they learned that the friend upon
: whom they had learned was no more,
l. "And, Mr.. President, Matthew Stan
t ley Quay, brave as he was in the de
\ iense of his country and upon the field
S of battle. successful as he was in per.
e sonal affairs and political aim, yet his
t highest and sweetest epitaph will be
written by that fast disappearing race
q which appreciated his services and by
1.-THE poor and needy who were rendered
This help"