Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-30

another political belief, the speaker
said that he had always been an ad-
mirer Of the decedent and made a
practice Of hearing him not alone when
he came to Ottumwa during the days
of his congressional career. but when
in nearby towns as we'll. He recount
ed instances that showed the excep-
ticnal quick wit of the dead lawyer,
and said he was the most logical ex-
ponent Of the principles OF his political
party that the speaker had ever heard
or known. Major Lacey" he said,
was no political accident. / was
proud Of him as congressman and he
held the office because of his premier
chip among men,"
Compared to Great Men.
In concluding his remarks, Mr.. Lewis
paid the memory of Major Lacey his
tribute of respect in the following:
After all, the greatest contribution
made by Major Lacey Is the example
to be had in his life and character.
I'm these times of ceaseless agita-
ton and destructive change, when the
clamors Of Hypocrisy and lawiess-
ness have well nigh bewildered the
people and filled the lists of strong
men with dread, the memory OF sucn
q life as Major Lacey lived IS
priceless heritage.
Here tonight let us recall the genu-
ireness ,of that life, its loyalty TO
American ideals, its devotion to every
duty of the citizen.
Il may pay his memory no greater
tribute than to say that Major Lacey
belongs in spirit to the old school OF
American statesmen. Like those
great men who in 1889 laid the founda-
tons OF civil and religious liberty, ne
was a builder. not a destroyer. He
had high opinion Of that constitution
which James Bryce has called the
greatest single contribution to the
science Of human government since
the history Of the race was written.
In daring to avow this faith in the gov
eminent Of our fathers, Major Lacey
takes his place by the side OF SUCH az
Marshall, Webster, Story, Madison
and Jackson, Douglas and Lincoln,
Cooley, Blaine, Thurman and Edmonds,
Reed. Cleveland and Mckinley.
"Our friend has gone to join this
cloud of deathless witnesses. So LET
us be unmoved by the charlatan ana
demagogue whose shrek for the mo-
ment frets the land, and recall this
splendid life of our departed leader,
his erect form which from youth to the
grave never turned back on his coun.
try's foe, that proud head never bend
ing save before his God, those hasn1ng
eyes and clean chiseled features from
which high spirit and manly honor
spoke forth. And let us devoutly
trust that through true wisdom our
people may ever find men as worthy
as he to serve them"
Example For the Boy.
The tribute paid to the memory 9!
Major Lacey by Col. M. L. Temple OF
Osceola, United States district at
torney for the southern part of Iowa,
dealt with the man as typified by the
life the decedent had lived. The
speaker recounting many OF the priVa'
lions, the poverty, efforts to get an
education. and the vicissitudes en-
countered by Major Lacey from his
early boyhood until he reached the
high station in life in which he dwelt
when death overlook him, were
brought out by the speaker to show
the young man and average boy OF TO-
1ay what can be accomplished by
I nulating such a life. Col. Temple
/ id that the life OF the departed
skaloosan should be an incentive to
he American boy to work with an
ambition to succeed because the goal
Ia attainable to him as 1t was TO
Major Lacey.
Had Thought For Others.
William McNett brought out some OF
~ oh roN n.
phasized in the life Of Major Lacey.
His acquaintance formed in 1870 was
said to have grown into a love Tor
each other and the speaker mentioned
the ready and warm handclasp OF MS
departed friend; his solicitude for the
well being of his friends, and Withal
the note of sincerely in his friend
ship. His humanitarianism was allud-
ed to and his authorship OF the bill TO
protect the birds OF plumage and song
birds was shown as an evidence that
although busy man, he still had time
to think for welfare Of other creatures.
Lacey the Soldier.
The career Of Major Lacey through
the civil war was related by his old
friend and fellow officer, Major A. II.
Hamilton The venerable Ottumwan
in detail related many of the import
ant campaigns and actions In which ne
was engaged with his. departed friend.
History with which the average per-
son in his audience was familiar, was
recounted only to show that the par.
Elephants in these various struggles in
cluded the man whose memory was be-
ing honored by special session Of the
United States district court In Of
tumwa. The rigors Of the campaigns
in the civil war and the hardships
suffered were related only to serve to