The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1906-04-27
Platt stands out from the multitude
M xuoc a 1ooAor 10 dSd mot 1ood no.


he was leader. He did not lead be-
cause he tried to lead, but because the
people followed him. He did not lead
because he pretended to be the special
friend Of the people, as demogogs are
course by bis own compass and that
compass always pointed to the true
pole. In the long run the people can
always be relied upon to distinguish
between a demagog and patriot, and
they always did 50 in the case of Mr.
Platt. Five consecutive times the
people of Connecticut accredited him
as their ambassador to this great con-
clave Of the representatives OF the
sovereign states Of this republic. For
26 years he sat in this chamber and
charged that trust. If that may
truthfully be said of any man, it is, in
my opinion. the highest encomium that
can be pronounced upon him. Mr.
Platt entered this body in 1879 at the
age of So years. He had previously
been honored by the confidence aud
esteem Of the people of his state. He
had been the chairman of the state
central committee of his party, the
speaker of the Connecticut House OF
Representatives., state senator, the
secretary of the stat :, and the state IS
attorney of New Haven county. He
was we'll known and able lawyer, and
had devoted himself more particularly
to the law of patents, in which he had
attained high proficiency. He there
fore entered upon his duties here in
middle life, equipped with a ripe ex-
perience in the law, in politics, in busi-
ness and in public affairs. He devoted
this fund of knowledge to practical use
in bis legislative work. He was no
theorist. He was not a doctrinaire.
He had none OF the traits of the
visionary or the mystic. He dreamed
chimeras. He insisted upon the
facts. He was virile and powerful.
mentally and physically. His appear
ance was most impressive. He lowered
to a height OF six feet and four inches,
and his frame and head were as
massive and rugged as the granite
lodges and crags Of his native Litch-
field county. His features were
large and somewhat furrowed and
to those who saw him for the
first time his countenance was apt to
this defect was relieved by the saving
grace of delicious sense OF humOr and
an inimitable twinkle of the eye. His
manner was deliberate and he was we'll
balanced and at all times perfectly
self-cOntrOlled He was patient, In
dustrious, kindly, cautious and sound.
He was pre-eminently safe and sane.
His judgment was excellent and bis
gift Of commandments approached to
genius. His temperament was judicial
and he clearly perceived and carefully
With his clear vision he penetrated
the heart of every problem and dis
eliminated with unerring precision be-
tween the vital principle upon which a
correct solution depended and the ir-
relevant and delusive matters which
confuse other minds. He was possessed
of an intuitive sense as to the wiSeSt
course to pursue, which was so accur'
ate as to amount almost to prescience
He despised shams, hypocracy and pre-
tense. He was straightforward, sin.
cere and reliable. He was q man OF
sterling integrity and was as honest
with himself as with his fellows. II
was as impossible to deceive him as II
was for him to attempt to deceive
others. He was inspired with higt
ideals and was endowed with
a deep religious nature. His logica
mind moved with the mathematics
accuracy of an adding machine, ant
the most complicated questions were
reduced and clarified in the ferven1
crucible of his intellectual analysis
!, He was intensely human and was al
ways glad to cloak the faults Of Others
with the broad mantle of charity. HI
! was passionately fond of Nature. II
the death Of Senator Platt, Connect1
: cut lost her ablest and most distin
: guished public servant; this body on
Of its wisest and most trusted counsel
Z ors, and the nation one of it's soundes1
! statesmen. He always dared to act a
: he believed. He never compromised
with expediency. He was a grea
man, lin stature, In brain, In charac
e ter, in influence, in deeds, and II
( righteousness. Mr. Platt was q pro