Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-03-21
Ex-senator j. R. Burton.

Ex-senator j. R. Burton will be
discharged from custody Friday,
the 22d, and will depart the same
day for his home, Abilene, Kansas.
His wife and two nieces, who have
shared his sojourn here, will ac-
company him, and the family
party will arrive at their destina-
ton Saturday. They will, there
fore, make no halt at any of the
cities on their way. Mr.. Burton
will address his home people at
the Abilene opera house Saturday
night, and no doubt a large audi
ence will greet him and felicitate
him upon his return to freedom.
| think the stay of the Burtons
in our little city has been not with
out its brighter days. The wife
and neices have been comfortably
lodged in the Sanitarium not far
distant FRONT the Senator, and three
times a day the presence of his
wife has cheered and comforted
him. She has received frequent
calls from the ladies of the town,
and one and all have been inspired
with the desire to make her resi-
dence here as pleasant as possible
under the circumstances. Hell faith
in her husband and her conviction
that he has done no wrong but is
the victim of political persecution
has given her o courage that has
never faltered. When l first met
her, she said to me, 81 understand
the reporters for the city papers
want to know if | am about to
break down, What is there to
break me down? My husband is
as innocent of wrong as you or l..
Shall | break down because he has
been maliciously pursued and per-
secuted? Those who think so do
not know mel" And they did not
know her. Loyal and true, she
has been cheerful and courageous
as becomes a loving wife. All
honor to her, and may she and he
Yet see many happy years to-
gether!
Neither has Senator Burton
''broken down." but will go forth
with perfect physique and mind
unimpaired. Though sorely i'm
pressed with the acts that have
darkened the midday of his life,
he is not embittered. Determined
to vindicate his good name, he will
take up the broken thread of his
career and pursue a higher aim
than revenge. He says, "My ma
ture is to be grateful for favors
rather than to nurse hatred for
wrongs"
He is quite a philosopher and
knows how to make the best of
bad conditions. All during his
incarceration he has labored
diligently and without ceasing
upon the story of his life and the
events leading to his trial and con-
viction. He has not neglected his
physical being, but has exercised
limb and muscle in every way per-
mitted by the rules of his prison.
He has not embarrassed the jailor
by asking extra privileges, but has
always shown himself considerate
of those about him: the gentle
man has not been lost in the
prisoner.
Nearly every day of the five
months he has been confined,
visitors from near and far have
called to see him-some of them
of national fame-Senators, Judg-
es, and business men. Innumer-
able tokens of friendship and
esteem have been sent him, and he
has been made to know that he is
neither forgotten nor forsaken by
those who knew him in his more
fortunate days.
For one, while I rejoice in his
freedom, | regret to say, "Good-
bye!" [ have called upon him
many times, and am glad to say
that I know j. Ralph Burton. l
am not much of a believer in the
sanctity of courts, and their de-
crees do not always fasten con-
viction upon my mind. So l trust
it is not treason or lese mdjeste to
say to him
Go forth full panoplied in right,
Nor falter on the way!
For God is just, and in His might
Will not your trust betray.