The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-19


enjoying the full of earth's bounties,
distressed him with doubt. But he an
swered every doubt by dedicating his
powers to relieve the distressed, to di-
happiness and make earth the sweeter
and dearer and better for all who
come inside the Tavern gates.
MIR. Overmyer's life was his re-
ligion. No creed hid his Creator; he
limned the Jehovah as large as his
splendid and caDacious mind could
picture Omniscience from creation.
IF there is solution for this per-
picking riddle, if there is compensa-
ton, his wholesome life has earned
the right to taste the sweetness of the
eternities.
The answer to affection is not 81
lence, the end of love is not the grave,
nor is the vaster purpose of life blasted
in the bud at the very hour it should
break into bloom.
Did We dare attempt to assert the
thought that life here commences and
here ends. the farthest butt of all our
sail, it would be renegade to all that
endears life, a trayesty on creation, a
mockery of family affection and a sac
rilege to that whisper of God to wo-
man, when. of all His jewels, he gave
her motherhood.
The Sting Of Death.
THE sting and bitterness of death
is in the sudden and awful separation;
in the reach of hand, to find it closes
upon an empty palm; to imagine the
football of his feet along these halls,
deserted them and Silence with finger
on its mute lips, stands warder, guard
ing his old and faycrite haunts.
Gentleman of the bar, the pitted
paneled jury. the bailiff, the idle spec
tators, in expectancy may listen, but
no more the lion like gladiator shall
fling his Challenging gauntlet down
We speak for his brothers of the bar
who knew him and gave him affection
for affection, and especially for the
younger members for whom at all
times he has shown the highest regard
and given his assistance. We speak for
the splendid bar of this state; we speak
for the great people who shrouded his
his coffin lid their sobbing prayers. All
who knew him or his life mourn his de-
parture and well they may for a great
commoner is dead.
his victorious arms brought to camp
only captive friends and trophies of
affection. Wholly without malice. re-
venge. envy or hate; his anger like
lightning stroke came through an April
shower. In his impasSioned vehemence
at it's climax, he sent forgiveness with
his -anathema and hurled his threat
from an open and velveted hand. In all
the gentle offices of life he was ten
der as a woman, simple as child. out
pouring his Astounding charity and far
reaching brotherhood upon the distant
tribes and races of men, as he gave to
friend and neighbor.
When duty called or occasion re-
quired him to champion a menaced or
invaded right of the people, white
plumed, another Henry of Navarro he
plunged into the thick of the fight; in
denouncing a wrong, he burned as Wit
riol on the unscarred flesh. and in pro-
tecting the helpless he was a lioness
defending her whelps.
He has sounded, defiant and clear,
the clarion note of liberty and was voiced
its .apothegms, grand the Star
patriotic blood, as the chant of the
Marseillaise is to time a Frenchman's
feet or the Watch on the Rhine to dim
with tears the eyes of German Father
land. An eloquent and powerful orator,
DICTATOR, and lawyer; he was, as many
and many of US believed, in diction and
eloquent speech, the superior, and in
devotion and zeal to the cause he adj
chieftain he so delighted to honor.
His Idea of Government.
Mr.. Overmyer for a score of years.
principles of government
that were not then dominant or politi
cally popular; he advocated them in
the face of established power, and on
a field where the entrenched allies of
the spoilsmen held the vantag e
ground. He fought with the sun in his
face, challenging them to a duel unto
death. Wherever, over that field the
conflict ragged, his trumpet gave no UNI
certain sound of battle. Above bland
beyond corruption. he fought
the fight. He lived to see the reforms
and principles he so cherished and adj
vocated. engrafted in the platform of
each of the great political parties, and |
at last the plant he had nourish ed
and watered, had greened and grown
and he saw the fruit upon the tree,
ripening to its fall. at the time he died.
He lived to see the American people
making ready to enjoy again their
wrested inheritance. It must have
been gracious to his soul that he had
headed the phalanx that was to give
the land back again to its own.
Mr.. Overmyer had none of the
characteristics of a politician He was
of too great fiber and mind to be pos
sessed of guile, machination or
scheme, and too true and rudy drop
ped to be recreant to a pledge. With
so many instances of mans ingrati |
tude and trea chery- as a part of his
experiences as lawyer in big practice, |
there was no word of warning, advice