St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-01-13
Tributes to Proctor.
EulOgieS Delivered by Senators Page
and Dillingham; and SIX Others.


: The United States senate on Jan. pa
IS tribute to the memory of Senator Re
field Proctor. Eight senator's delivert
. eulogies and appropriate resolution
- were adopted. New England. the soutl
the middle west, the far west and II
Pacific coast, through their senator
joined in lauding the life, character an
achievements of Mr. Proctor.
=, Senator Dillingham; opened the exel
cises with warm tribute to his forme
associate and friend of many years
standing. Senator Page. in closing tn
session, delivered his maiden speech il
the senate and it was pronounced one @
the best of the eulogies. Eulogies wer
also delivered by Senators Daniel of Vir
ginia. Perkins of California, Clay o
Georgia, Smoot of Utah, Crane of Mass
achusetts and Hemenway of Indiana, ir
the order named.
One of the most interesting features Of
the occasion was an anecdote told by
Senator Daniel. He said that while he
and Mr.. Proctor were visiting a south
ern battlefield some years ago Mr..
| Proctor said that if he died first, as he
expected to, he would like Mr. Daniel to
attend his funeral. when Mr.. Proctor
died, +" said the Virginia senator, II was
sick in bed with the grip, but arose and
had a mOurnful satisfaction in accom-
panying the remains to Vermont and be-
ing present when my lost friend was in
tered"
After reviewing Senator Proctor's
descent, early life and military services,
Senator Dillingham; said:
las a member of the senate Mr..
Proctor left his impress. The possibility
of a war with Spain stirred him deeply
and reused him to characteristic action.
The debates preceding the declaration
of war against Spain showed such a
lack of authoritative information of
existing conditions in Cuba and as
consequence such wide differences of
opinion among senators as to the policy
which ought to be adopted by the
government, that he was filled with APP
prehenson, and with characteristic fore
thought and following a lifelong prac-
tice to seek the fullest knowledge of
underlying conditions upon which to
base his judgment and action he, on his
own responsibility, at his own expense,
sought by personal visit to Cuba to
ascertain the real conditions there exist
ing.
when, upon his return, he gave to
the senate cold. bare, plain statement
of what he had learned, unaccompanied
either by argument or recommendation,
he did it with such gravity and such
impressiveness that the facts stated
burned themselves into the mind of every
senator present and, being heralded by
the press, reused the nation to action"
Many Vermont people were in the
gallery during the eulogies, but they did
not include, so far as known, any
member of Senator Proctor's family.
Senator Page was the closing speak,r
and delivered his maiden speech before
the senate. 1t was pronounced one of
the best of the eulogies. After dwelling
on the fact that Senator Proctor was
the embodiment of the distinguishing
of his native state and
the sum of his ancestors, Senator Page
said:
He was generous, large-hearted COM
rade and friend 1t seemed to those who
knew him most intimately that the social
side OF his nature was developed to
degree rarely found in men whose lives
were packed so full of strenuous effort
and exacting duties. His inexhaustble
fund of humor and of native wit made
him most enjoyable companion. He
attached himself to those he loved with
hooks of steel, and no man would fight
harder to promote the welfare of friend
than Redheld Proctor.
During his many years of public service,
commencing with his enlistment in 1861
his patriotic, uncompromising devotion
to his countrys welfare knew no limita-
lions. AS soldier, governor, secretary of
war and senator, he served his state and
the nation with signal ability, and in his
death the country suffers an irreparable
loss.
One OF the most commanding figures Of
our time has gone to his rest. He has
lived his life, he has fought his fight. he
has finished his work. In the midst of
one of our fercest mountain storms, we
bore him to his last resting place. Fora
mile on either side. and forming double
row as guard of honor, stood the men
who labored in his workshops and in his
quarries-men who had come to love
him with an affection begotten of long
years OF generous acts and of thoughtful
regard for their welfare.
In a mausoleum built of his own
beautiful marble, we placed his body and
there he sleeps beneath the monument
erected to commemorate his name; but
his life shall have memorial more last
ing than the enduring stone, in the hearts
OF the people of that state which he loved
Z. I'D rnr.roI 81. Ill