The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-15
MAYOR COLLINS DEATH.

Boston mourns the death of an able, broadminded. sineularlv
sympathetic and seh-sacrhcing executive; the nation and the world
grieve over the loss of a brilliant, eloquent and indefatigable worker
tor the advancement of humanity. Patrick A. Collins navor Of Nev
Englands largest city. whose sudden demise at Hot Springs. Va.
Yesterday caused shock and sadness, was a many-sided man. The
hbre OF his character was firmly knit. Courageous. fearless and IN
compromising in battle for what he deemed to be right. he was gentle.
tolerant kindly and helpful in his treatment O. all his fellow men.
Mayor Collins was of the race that has given the world rich,
treasures OF elcquence and magnificent examples of devotion q N.
cause of humanity Born in the Emerald Isle. the greater n,r+ of hs
lie was spent in the city which signaly honored him and in the stat
men made him its representative in the national councils. He was
sPienuo type o that potential element in our most worthy citizen
ship-the self-made man; and 4e was in sentiment. aspirations and
ideals first and foremost an American citizen He w al a conspicuous
example of Americas finest manhood-the manhood that tr,eA Amer
and compels implicit trust
No favorite of fortune was Patrick A. Collins when he began the
foundation Of that brilliantly exemplary and inspiring career that
came &c al end with such saddening suddenness yesterday. To him
labor vas necessary not merely for his sustenance but for the acquire
ment OF that education that later made him a leader among men He
learned to labor with his hands and by the hard earned fruits of that
labor he developed the rare talents, even the genius with which ,,,,-s
had abundantly endowed him.
From money earned at his trade he saved sufficient to secure a
professional education, and when that was completed he began the
Pracuce Oh the law In which he speedily became eminent. Verv soon
his fellow citizens demanded his services in a representative can,c;,v
when but "a years of age he was sent to the Massachusetts leeisla-
ture' where he served in both house and senate. He was the first
president in America of the Irish Land league and in national conven-
uohs OF N Democratic party he served several times a a delegate
from the Bay state and presided over the 81. Louis convention in 1893
hen Grover Cleveland was nominated for the presidency
For three terms he was a representative in congress and during
the second Cleveland administration he w consul general # the
United States at London, acquitting himself of his manifold and ex.
acting duties with satisfaction TO the nation he represented and credit
to himself. Indeed in every post to which public duty called him
including that OF mayor Mr.. Collins rendered the best service of
which he was capable. To sordid influences he was impregnable: his
integrity was the loftiest; his purposes pure and unselfsh and his
whole life al inspiring example of true manhood.
His gifts of oratory were so lavish that he easilv took , ON.
handing position. His wit va graceful and scintillant. his hunor
GENIAL kiholy I'M unctious and this happy combination of great en-
do"7nents made him distinctly the most eloquent, forceful and ner.
suastve public speaker of his time.
n death of such a man cannot fail to be regarded as a calamity
Tor which the only compensation is the certainty that the world
and humanity are the better that he lived.