Tonopah bonanza. [volume] (Butler City [i.e. Butler], Nev.) 1901-1909, 1908-06-13
Would we have 1t otherwise nov?

individual enterprise and melting
creative genius by assuring full re-
compense, shall we permit ourselves
to be led by fair-speaking pandere,s
into the morass of mediocrity, which
is now, ever will be, and eyer should
be, the abiding place of a people who
|~refuse to maximum of capacity the
maximum of reward?
The lesson of John w. Mackay's
life lies not in the wealth he acquired,
but in the work he did. His was the
true American spirit. Money was
but mean to an end. The millions
he had won he risked without hesita-
ton upon a project of worldwide
dimensions and of incalculable bene-
fit to his countrymen in facilitating
communication and commerce. What
had he to gain when, well In middle
life, against odds which would have
dismayed one less intrepid, he lai /
the foundation of the great cable ami
telegraph system which remains to-
day the growing monument Of his
sagacity and determination? OF great
or riches he had no need; for fame
he never cared. That his great ul-
dertaking was philanthropic in the
common meaning of the word, him
self would have been the first to deny.
There was no cautiously reasoned
motive in his ~endeavor. 1t was no
more or less than the instinct of Il
FESTIVE, rustless mind to utilize the
store of energy within him in cou-
sonance with the spirit OF progress
which he had breathed into his lungs
from the very air in which he had
lived. And so he worked on and on.
untiring, overcoming obstacles, sue
ceeding from sheer force of invincibil-
ity and laying down the burden final
ly in the happy consciousness not only
that his work had not been In vain,
but that 1t had been carried to com
pletion by him to whom he had con
ided his trust and consigned his OBJ
legation.
Others here are far better qualified
than ] to speak of John w. Mackay
in a personal way. | know him only
as q type-a type of what | conceive
to BE the best Of creative, producing
Americans. Regarding him as such,
we may we'll inquire why it Is that a
these days, when it has become 4
common practice of the unsuccessful
and envious to decry acquisition. 81
not indeed achievement, no voice ha,
been raised against this man. The
answer / believe TO be plain. John
w. Mackay had character. He never
lied OF cheated or, under any subtle
DTetence of any kind, deprived anoth-
er of what was rightfully his. OF his
generosity and personal Kindness
mention need hardly be made. But.
In duty to the youths of today no less
than in justice to the man, too great
emphasis cannot be placed upon the
fact that the bases of John w. Mac
kay's uccess while living and OF his
unsullied reputation, may be summei
up In a single word-recognized in.
tegrity.
II is fitting that this beautiful
memorial should be such as it is, and
that 1t should be here. In honorin,,
such a man this State and Universltj
honor themselves. In paying loving
tribute to a memory SO vel worth
cherishing. wife and son ftiy unite.
In keeping this dedication free from
ostentation not uncommon, those re.
sponsible aptiy recognize tsat sim.
plicity which is ever the chief char.
scteristic of strength. sincerity and
truth. We may well believe and re
joice in the certainty that upon this
ceremony, memorable in the annals
OF the State and University, memot.
able to those whose hearts are still
knit close TO the great heart that has
ceased TO beat, memorable to all oi
US whose privilege 1t is to participate
in this recognition of true worth.
there rests today the blessing of thu
manly spirit long since passed away
but never TO be forgotten.
,
t.. Three BaptisIms Last SUNDAY.