Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1909-04-16
GROVER CLEVELAND.
fPoem read by Richard Watson Glider
at the memorial gathering in New York,
March 1871

March lS.J
He shrank from praise, this Supplemented
man
Therefore we praise him. Yet. as he would
wish,
Chiefly our praise not for the things he
did,
But for his spirit in doing. All. great
heart,
And humble! Great and simple heart! for
give
The homage we may not withhold! Strong
o brave and faithful servant of the
state.
Who labored day and night in little things.
No less than large, for the loved country's
With patient hand that plodded while
others slept.
who flung to the winds preferment and
the future,
Daring TO put clear truth to the perilous
test,
Fearing no seattle II but the people gained,
ana happiest far In sacrifice and loss.
YES s asRP'eS' ne when' plain !" all men's
He turned contemptuous from the lure OF
Spurning the laurel that should crown
success
soiled by surrender and a perjured soul.
The people, Never once his faith was
In them his countrymen; ah, never once:
For III doubt shook him., twas but a fleet
ing mood;
Though others wavered, never wavered he.
Though madness. like "A food, swept DER
the land,
This way, now that; though love of pelf
subdued
The civic conscience, still ne held his faith.
Unfaltering, In mans observation-disclosures.
And In the final Judgment OF free men.
Firm with the powerful. gentle with the
weak,
His was the sweetness of the strong! His
voice
Took tenderness In speech with little folk,
And he was pitiful OF man and brute.
So, for the struggle with high things OF
state,
He strengthened his W heart with
kindly deeds
acts of power
That, fashioned in the secret place OF
thought,
And In the lonely and the silent shrine
OF conscience, came momentous on the
world:
Built stronger the foundations Of the
state;
Upheld the word OF honor. no whit less
'Twixt nation and nation than 'twixt man
and man;
Held righteousness the one law OF the
m higher SET the hopes of all mankind.
~.
Lonely the heart that listens to no voice
Save that OF Duty: lonely he how Oft
When, turning from the smooth, advised
He climbed tho chill and solitary way;
Wondering that any wondered, when so
clear
The light that led--the light OF perfect
And passion for the right, that fire of
heaven
Wherein self dies, and only truth lives on
Lonely how oft when, with the states
mans art,
He waited for the f~ullness OF the time.
And wrought the good he willed by slow
degrees,
And in due order conquered wrong on
wrong.
Lonely how oft when mid dark disesteem
He moved straightforward to a ionged-for
goal,
Doing each day the best he might. with
vision
Firm ixt above, kept pure by pure intent.
Some spirits are built to take the shocks
OF the world,
To interpose against blind currents OF fate.
Or wrath, or ignorant purpose, a fixt will;
Against the bursting storm a front OF
calm;
AS, when the Atlantic RACES. some stern
cliff
Hurls back the tempest and the ponderous
wave.
So stood he firm when lesser wills were
broken;
So he endured when others failed and fell
Bearing, in silent suffering. the stress.
h blame, the burden of the fateful day.
VI.
So single and so simple was his mind,
So unperturbed by learned subtleties,
And so devout OF justice and the right
His thought. his act, held something Of
the prime:
The wide, sure vision of the ancient day
Prophetic: even a touch Of natures force.
Large, elemental, healing: builded well
On the deep bases OF humanity.
. strong oak riveni o tower of defense
Falleni O captain of the hosts struck
down!
o cries of lamentation-turnlng swift
To sounds OF triumph and great victories!
Great trust was laid, and he that trust
fulfilled.
So he who died accomplished mighty
deeds.
And he who fought has won the Infinite
peace,
And sleeps enshrined In his own peoples
hearts,
And in the praise OF nations and the world,
And rests immortal among the immortal
Great.
by Richard Watson Glider.
~