Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-23
Association With Mr.. Bayard.

My association with Mr. Bayard began
with our mutual participation in the respon-
sibilities of the highest public service.
need not assure you that such a relation
ship could not exist between US without go
ing further and giving to each a clear view
OF the others qualities of heart and Gre
ating mutual feeling of personal affection
and close comradeship. And thus | came
to know not only the patient wisdom of my
colleague, but the heart of my friend ut
was like fire, for it was warm it was like
snow, for it was pure; it was like DEATH
for it was strong Deep in this heart he
closely held beyond the gaze even of many
who knew him well a reverent realization
of guidance and living kindness surer and
better than humanity can offer; nor did he
doubt the divine goodness which reserves
final rest and peace for mortals who look
with humble faith and hope beyond the
gate of death.
With placid confidence. but in spirit of
deep humility he was willing to rely upon
the mercy and compassion of God for
refuge and peace after lifes fitful fever -
But he firmly believed there was an apti-
tude in the heart of man which could be
cultivated to yield in this world balm
for the wounds of life 1t was not long be-
fore his death that he wrote the following
words in a private record of his thoughts:
Devotion to Clear Belief
After the experience of more than three
score years If 1 Were asked for the best
recipe TOT ndppIlleSS-IOT an eNdltatlOn
above the power of material condtious-I
should say devotion to a clear belief
strengthened into conviction-which was
usually under the shadow of adversity
That the more it was opposed and threat
ened the more clear its demand for faith
full adhesion and that a joy springs out of
such conditions that mere success can
never know and which enables a man to
smile in secret happiness. when others
nat md
pity
have quoted these We rds not only be-
cause they indicate the philosophical
thoughtfulneSS of the man who wrote them
but for the further reason that their full
Interpretation makes clearly manifest the
motive that actuated all he did the spirit
in which he wrought. and he calm estima-
ton of the abundant rewards of an approx
Ing conscience. They spell out the word
duty. This was the word of command
which during all his life enlistment he
never failed to hear nor to obey unqueS-
tioningly. 1t dominated his affections and
impulses and gave imperative direction to
his thought and endeavor.
l have never known a maa and l do not
believe there ever lived man who &C
cepted the guidance of duty more Loyalty
and more unreservedly than Thomas F.
Bayard He was strongly attached to the
political party of his choice. but he cared
nothing for partisan manipulation and de-
tested wherever found. the pursuit of ig-
noble sordtd purposes under the pretense
of soctude for the public good. The habit
of his mind was such that lie could not
narrow his contemplation of political theo-
res to a mere estimation of their value as
party assets, and his love of humanity was
so broad that he deemed no political doc
trine worthy of party support which bred
favoritism or withheld its advantages from
any condition of American citizenship in
any corner of our land. Under the guild
ance of uncontaminated patriotism he
reached the highest plane of political use
fulness and party service. He was out of
place in the counsels OF tho Sc who play the
game of poEtics and look upon party or
ganization as a school where tricks are
taught
Party Activity.
While in the strife and hurly- burly of
party activity a tendency is too often ap-
parent in party management to rely for
success on demagogic sophistries and dex-
trous sleight of hand. the best indication
the past has furnished of our national Sc
curty and perpetuity has been found In the
acknowledgment by political parties that.
in stress of weather. IL they are to regain
or retain popular confidence and support
they must turn to the leadership and coun-
sells of such men Thomas F. Bayard. Let
high public honors he received at the hands
of his countrymen. and that those came to
him without the least diminution of his al
legiance to duty, with no lowering of his
high standards of patriotic citizenship and
with no loss to his faith in the potency
OF devotion to a clear beliEf-Strengthened
into . conviction which the more 1t Was