Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-12
PUBLIC SERVICE,

st. Louis Globe-Democrat: The late
Vice President Sherman gave his time
and capacities chiefly to the public
service. He acted in the generous
spirit OF one who realizes that free
government demands the earnest ef-
forts Of It's citizens, and that emergen-
cies arise that call for the full exercise
OF their strength and self sacrificing
devotion. Mr.. Sherman would be alive
today II he had made his health the
chief consideration, but he would not
do less than he felt to be his complete
duty to the best interests Of the coun.
try If his main object in life had been
making money he would not have
been an active worker in politics, for
he was an able man in commercial
affairs, and leader in that respect as
far as he cared to go into them. But
from the time he was singled out to
be mayor of his native city he labored
with whole souled zeal for the public
welfare. This was the mission that
enlisted his enthusiasm, and not for
his own gain. From the first to last
he spent more than he received from
the emoluments Of office. but that
never lessened his ardor in American
civic progress! Through twenty years
in congress he was in the thick of the
work to be done on the floor and in
committee rooms but not for himself
He was not one to hesitate In useful
ness because selected to be second in
stead Of first. He gave all that he had
to a cause, and not in selfish ambition.
1t will be said that he was party
man. So were Washington, Lincoln
Hamilton, Jefferson and others In the
line Of patriotic and gifted Americans.
A party is organized strength, a con-
centration Of public opinion, an army
directed to apply it's powers to essential
points, an aggregation OF men who
think alike in matters of government
policy and associate themselves volun-
tarily to effect purposes held in COM
mon. A party may be deluded by false
leaders and become degenerate, but
in that case no great body Of Ameri
cans will long sustain it with their
ballots They will align themselves
anew in the spirit that has always
mainly animated the citizenship Of the
republic. Mr.. Sherman was a clear
headed man, who, by virtue of his
ability and perception, long had a
prominent part in shaping legislative
affairs at time when the party of his
choice controlled all departments of
the government. He was a man Of
weight in his party, but never narrow
partisan. The tributes paid to him by
men Of all parties, now that his labors
are ended, are the sincere acknowl
edgement that the good Of all was his
aim, and that his endeavors were Of
others more than himself. To an un-
usual degree he enjoyed the altruism
that marked his high standard Of poll.
tics. It kindled in him even genial
|ity that never failed. t-
Our country has always had the ad-
vantage Of such men at the front. The
government is first in their estimation.
They place it above all other incen-
tives to action. Their own aggrand-
izement does not appeal to action.
They are above all forms Of egotism
and proof against selfish allurements
of any nature Washington did not
consider pay for his services. Lincoln
gave no thought to the arts Of making
money. He would rather accomplish
some unnoted end Of Justice In court
than secure large fee. He lived in
the mental region where the wrongs
of the human race were to be redress
ed and the mists of error that deceive
them were to be cleared away. Yet he
was no visionary. Rather he was a
giant In reason for everyday use, an