The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-03-27

A Beautiful Tribute to the Memory
Of Florids's Youthful Senator.
Worthy the Pen of Henry
Grady

o. Florioa's Youthful Senator.
Worthy the Pen of Henry
Grady
Death comes at times with such
startling suddenness and with such an
parent inconsistency that one is puz-
zled 10 account for the mysterious
workings of that Divine, and AIl-See-
ing Providence which levels lust and
unjust.
In the death which Florida mourns
today there would seem to be a most
unfortunate interpOsitiOn of the Mast
er's keen-edged scythe; a blow that is
so cruel in its paralyzing stroke that
one is almost tempted to question the
manifestation OF Supreme Power
which finds its echo in a weeping cir
Gle about a new-made grave.
Nowhere could death, in all its ever
present evidences, have sought or
found a more shining mark. A career
which at an age when man usually is
only beginning TO realize the callings
Of higher ambition, had already realiz-
ed a lofty place and power generally
reserved for those Of mature years
and long experience, filling, in the
flOodtide of his youth, a seat among
the mighty of his country, surrounded
almost entirely by sage graybeards
with a lifetime of honors and useful
ness behind them; mounting, at the
threshold of his public service, an en-
inence which, in American history has
nearly always been attained only as
the summit of a distinguished life,
rather than the stepping-stone to
things yet higher, this young man
from Florida had before him a bright
CT future than is vOuchsafed TO mil
lions Of his kind, and. entering upon
the radiant promise of that future as
a member of the greatest legislative
body Of the world, he found the fore
cast darkened by the ominous shadow
Of disease, and almost before he had
time to realize the first fruits of his
unusual blessings, he sinks into that
unwaking sleep, which must come to
the highest and the lowliest. but
which, sometimes, is so untimely as
to be inexplicable by any process of
human reasoning.
Here was a voice that had just
reached a sphere of influence where
it might have been used for the en-
richment of people and the greater
glory Of a state and nation-and be-
fore its accents could have been lift
ed In the fulfllment Of what appeared
to be a noble mission, it passes into
the eternal silences. Here was a life
that might have proved a lesson and
a light, TO instruct and illuminate a
Iand-and il ends with the sudden
ness Of doom, as strange and as start
ling as would be the setting of the
sun before il had mounted TO a bril-
liant MONDAY.
William James Bryan came to high
Office endowed not only with unusual
gifts, but with unusual opportunities.
Before he was 80, be had taken a fore
most place among the public men of
his native state. At an age when
most men are just beginning to feel
their way, uncertainty and inconspic-
uOusly, along the treacherous path
way OF usefulness and attainment, he
had leaped, full-fedged. to the sunlit
heights.
In a campaign Of intense feeling, he
had successfully managed the candi-
dacy of a friend for high Office, and
had won the eulogium which the peo-
pie speak when they designate a
coming man"
But a few months beyond the mini
mum of years which the fathers of
the republic decreed, in their wisdom,
as a qualification for senatorial hon
Ors. Mr.. Bryan succeeded TO the seat
of Stephen r Mallory, and going to
Washington. was placed by the side of
that venerable statesman. William
Pnckney Whyte of Maryland, forming
a striking contrast-the Oldest and the