The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-03-08
TIE LaTE i W. BLYTHE.

TIE LATE ]. W. BLYTHE.
TIE death Of Joseph " Blythe OF
Burlington leaves greet void il
basfness and po.iticzs Ifs in Iowa
ara tie wcSt GEd in he hearts OF his
thousands Of frieacs which can never
be nll,d Early II his professional
career be Won By sheer force OF char
actcr and dcsoEyingncss position OF
grezk distinction and responsibility in
connection with the Chicago, Burling
ton & Quincy railroad company, and
he grew with mis- opportunities until
he attained a degree OF capability, in
fLance and usefulness not exceeded
By any man who las ever honored the
state By becoming a part OF IT, AT
the same time. by reason of his per-
sonal qualities and his serviceable-
ness to his fellowmen, he won 10 him
self host OF warm personal
and political friends who held
him in the highest confidence
and esteem All these now
mourn the loss of one of the
greatest and best men they were
ever pIlNiieScu W
Mr. Blythe was not simply al able
man: he was truly great and good
man in the fullest and best sense of
the term. No man was ever more
grossly or more unjustly misrepresent
ed. vet he never uttered word In
self-defense or a word of complaint.
He was & man of rare attainments,
iot iHea1S
which found expression in his daily
life Combined with mental grasp
OF things that commanded profound
admiration We're heart qualities which
stamped him as one Of natures noble
men Great as was his brain, ii was
matched by the bigness OF his heart.
1t can be truly affirmed that the
elements were so mixed in him that
Nature might stand UP and say to all
the world, This is Mani"
Mr.. Blythe's admirable characters
tics were SO many and so well pro
nounccd that it would require large
newspaper space to do them justice
He was. among other things, master
ful man and born leader OF men
He did not. however arrogate to him
r.n authority TO command. Men IN
stinctively turned to him and &C
ouiesced in his Judgment, which wa
rarely at fault In addition TIC grea
natural acumen and thoroug
knowledge of human nature and pub
lie affairs. he was possessed OF
stable. well-poised mind. Other
might become excited. elated or de
ressed. Mr. Blythe was ever sci
Possessed. calm and impassive. On
Of the qualities of his leadership wa
his superb courage; another was NJ
answering Loyalty 10 his friends. H
would not engage in a political col
test unless he was firmly convince
that it was for the best interests of h
marty and the state that he shout
do so. Once engaged, he was fearles
and indefadgable Defeat had L
pls.ce in his lexicon. least of all On h
programme. but he always fougl
openly and fairly md harbored I
malice nor hatreds. Whatever Il
PROPAGATION, he invariably conducte
himself and his campaigns in Wa
to win the admiration and respect
his opponents AS victor ne W;
generous to the point of magnanimit
In defeat he bore himself with gni
and honor An element of his gre
strength as a political leader was h
personal unsclfishness. He aske
nothing for himself and would a
cept nothing. He was content
serve Others. He would have made
great United States senator or
great President and was worthy of al
place in the gift of the people, but
repeatedly refused public office In
noteworthy degree he was master
men because ne was a helper Of me
In his personal intercourse vi
men Mr.. Blythe was cordial coul
eous, frank, kindly. modest. TRUTH
and sincere II has been well said
him that he had the instincts i
manners. the character and lived I
life of a gentleman. Higher prai
than this or better deserved prai
is NOT possible man OF unusu
force. he was al the same time M
OF unaffected simplicity pleasing p
sonality and the embodiment OF [
highest and best christian s4rtut
The death Of such man is re
calamity