American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-01-15

der;-when these statements, false,
misleading, yes, and reasonable, are
received with discontented murmurs, if
not, with cheers, | want to say that the
true American heart turns with re-
newed appreciation to the farm houses,
hard by the peaceful country roads,
and breathes benediction and
prayer. And it is well. For therein is
usually to be found, in full measures,
the three cardinal principles of self
governing people, which are respect for
the past, confidence in the present and
hope for the future.
George Laird Shoup, in honor of
whose life and memory we have set
aside this hour, was product of the
American farm. From the moment he
opened his eyes to the world in a mod
est cottage in Armstrong county, Penn
sylvania, June Is, 1886, until his death
in Boise, Idaho, December %, 1904, he
lived close to the soil, as true, steadfast
and devoted to the institutions of his
country as is the needle to the pole.
Like Lincoln, che was born upon the
border and grew up along the ragged
edges of civilization" In 1852, as a
boy of Is, he moved with his parents to
the then distant state of Illinois. Sub
sequent events proved that the change
was inopportune and untimely. No
sooner had the family settled down
than ominous clouds began to gather
on the financial horizon, and in 1857 the
panic came with the force of a tornedo.
The Shoups, always in modest circum-
stances, were particularly unprepared
for the event, and when the clouds at
last uplifted, it found the old folks
worn, disconsolate and broken sitting
upon the wreck of a new home, sadly
contemplating the comforts of the old.
But fortunately for the human race.
there are always those, who, though
the heavens fall, rise sublimely above
the tumult and eapefully and calmly
face the tempest. Out of such fibre
George L. Shoup was evidently made.
Close upon the heels of the panic came
word that the granite hills at the base
of the Rocky Mountains were rich in
gold. Toward the new Eldorado young
Shoup directed his footsteps, and the
year, 1859, discovered him one of that
hardy band of Argonauts who carried
civilization and the flag to Pixies Peak,
Colorado. There he encountered new
and unexplored empire, rich beyond
compare in natural resources, awaiting
the hand of the master builders. Strong
of limb and stout of heart, his youthful
ardor knew no bounds. He at once be-
came part and parcel of this new and
fascinating life, and in his chosen oc-
cupation as prospector, miner and
merchant met with instantaneous sue
cess, thus early displaying those excep-
tional business qualities which charact-
erized him all through life. But if
these were the sum total of his accomp-
lishments, the full measure of his pub
lie services, Idaho would not claim the
proud privilege of this hour to do HIM
honor.
That age of chivalry when knighthood
was in flower fails to record deeds more
romantic, valorous and valuable than
such as are connected with the winning
of the West. Into this unexplored will
derness of that far off land went men
whose courage and devotion were con-
stantly subjected to most heroic tests.
To the country nature has been prodigal
of gifts. Lofty mountains, pregnant
with richest ore, valleys far more fer
tile than the Nile, water sheds, snow
crowned, the source, supply and in
spiration of future fertile fields, and
from lowliest hill to loftiest crag an
amplitude of priceless timber, all pa
tiently awaiting the advent of the stout
heart and the willing hand. But the
valleys require patience to subdue, the
mountain heights were hard to climb,
the forests difficult and hazardous to
penetrate, and every nook and Granny,
every stone and bush and tree that alb
original cunning could discover or de-
wise was appropriated as an ambush
for the treacherous savage, resentful
of the white mans intrusion in his
happy hunting ground. "
Far removed from danger of invasion
by the hostile armies of the Confeder-
acy, and eagerly engaged in extracting
wealth from the ever-generous hills,
one would naturally expect the people
of that remote territory to display but
little interest in the bloody scenes being
enacted along the Potomac, and many
no doubt did, but George l.. Shoup was
not one of them. The withdrawal of
the regular troops from the frontier in
1861 for the defense of Washington,