Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-12-12
THE LATE SENATOR MITCHELL.


THE LATE SENATOR MITCHELL.
Today the poor tenement that held
the soul Of Oregon's late senator was
laid away in Riverview cemetery with
simple yet beRtting ceremonies. The
little mound Of freshly y-heaped earth
covers forever from sight the features
known to almost every Oregonian. The
strong form. the kindly face, the win
ming smile. that stole into ones friend
shin will be seen no more Of men. The
hands lie folded and silent the eloquent
lips and musical tongue no more shall
move 10 laughter or to tears, or sway
the minds Of men. The grass will GOV.
or the mound beneath which he sleeps
with verdure, and an unpretentious
shaft will tell the tale-he was. Yet
thousands there be in Oregon, who will
keep as fresh and green as the grass
above his grave the memory Of gener'
Gus deeds, Of kindly words, Of friendly
aid, Of prompt response In time Of
trouble. He has assisted In making
much Of tho history Of Oregon, and by
that record he will be judged by those
who como after us, more Justly, and,
perhaps. moro leniently and generously
than by the present generation.
Ho had many Of the elements Of
greatness. and was undoubtedly the
peer, intellectually, Of any Of his con
frores. OF great energy, tirclcss and
persistent. he labored always for ore.
CONS advancement, and he laborod not
in vain. From appropriations amount.
ing 90 millions for tho whole state, 90
Tho plea Of tho homosteadcr, whose 1T
tlo home was jcopardizcd by Tho en-.
croachmcnt Of railroads, or threatened
by land grabbors, or tho old veteran or
his widowed mate, he devoted alike bis
timo and talents No appeal was ever
made 20 him that dii not receive con.
aidoration and response, and In many
an humble Oregon home. alike In tho
big forests Of Western Oregon and the
rolling prairios Of tho Inland Empire
thcro are those who mourn tho loss Of
n truo friend.
Ills passing i' pathetic. There In Tho
little city whore more than forty years
OF hia lifo had been passed-whieh he
had seen grow from country villag-
20 tho metropolis Of thc Northwest, tho
end came suddenly and unexpected.
while tho fairy creation at Guilds
Lake. which his efforts did % much 90
create. was attracting tho attention Of
tho world, suddenly, as bolt from tho
sky, came tllo ehnrgo that he had
been using tho Office be- bad 30 long
allod FOR private gain. That he had ae.
cepted tho pitiful sum of $1,000, which
tho law says he should not have taken.
Proud, sensitive, he held himself aloof
from his old associates, and, tho pity OF
Il, they permitted him 10 do ~. ore
gon reioieed, he alone took no part In
h. Others we're honoFed, but FOR him
there was tho bitterness OF death. Gull
" or innocent matters not now, since
the mortal Is beyond the reach Of praise
or blame. aud the spirit 10 with Hin
who gave Il, La the height OF his pow
or and fame, he was not swayed by
pride, and Ia the hour of his humilia
tion ne bore himself manfully and un
eomplainingly, finding no fault anc
making no recTiminations. With those
who we're near aud dear 10 him, almost
al the other side Of the world, lifet
evening faded into darkness, sn'
"Death touched him with his fingers
and he slept