The Irish standard., 1914-10-24

the senate of the United States. The
of the Civil War found him a
resident Of California. At once he
buckled on his warrior sword, and
was appointed by President Lincoln
brigadier-general, soon to be major
general of the volunteer army. In 1868
he resigned his commission in the
army, owing to Misunderstanding
with the Secretary of War, Mr.. Stan
ton. Missouri now became his home
Here he was chosen again to member
ship in the senate Of the United
States, occupying the seat vacated
through the death Of Senator Bogy.
Later he filled two terms in the state
legislature. The last years of his life
were spent in cultivating a modest
farm near Carrollton, in Missouri, and
giving lectures in different parts of
the country in aid of charitable and
religious works. He died in 1879
leaving to his wife and children all
that he was able to leave to them, as
the pecuniary result Of his many years
of civil and militant oftice-holding-
his few acres of farmland, the dia-
mond-studded swords, given him, one
by the state of South Carolina, the
other by the state of 1llinois-and his
blessing.
A wonderful career, that of James
Shields, in the picturesqueness of its
varieties, In the confidence reposed in
him by his fellow-Americans from ILL.,
nois to Washington City, from Mime
sofa to Missouri, in the enthusiasm his
name everywhere was wont to evoke;
and wonderful. equally so, in the tai
ents he displayed wherever the call to
Office placed him, magnificently so. in
the martial skill and bravery of which
his sword was ever the token upon
fields of gore and glory. Picturesque
ness it is, seldom equalled, in the for.
tunes of other heroes-though 50
many and so illustrious-in the an
nails of America. Only recall the chief
headlines in the narratives Of his ca
reer-soldier and Statesman; Jurist
and Orator; Legislator In the CHIEF
| cities Of two states; Senator of the
United States from three of its com
monwealths; Soldier in three Amerl
can wars.
Fellow Americans. we announce /,
noble name. when that Of Jame
Shields is spoken; we glorify a nobl'
memory when we fling out his hgur'
to the gratitude and the admiration o
Americans Of today, of Americans o
tomorrow.
To what do we attribute the mani
fold honors. bedecking the years II
the career Of James Shields?
It is plain from the record tha
James Shields was no intriguer Il
politics, no shrewd, insidious wire
puller. He was ignorant of the art
Of combinations and machineries. H
was the single-minded and the oper
tongued citizen. He simply shove
himself as he was, willing to tax
what was offered. unwilling, unabl
even, to plan for favor of prefermen
He was the old-fashioned knight, will
out fear, but, also, without reproacl
Nor, as distinction of Office came, wa
he cunning in schemes to retain /
He did his duty, regardless of COZ
sequences, regardless of the dictate
of the political party that had entrus
ed him with power, bidding friend
and foes to Judge his deeds on thei
bare desert. At all times, and in a
stations, he was James Shields, to b
taken, or to be pushed aside, for wha
he was, for what he was believed to b.
To what, then, is due his career? T
personal character and qualifications
to value Of service rendered whateve
the position to which he was lifted: t
the willingness of America to reco,
nize and reward merit, wherever mer,
is discernable.
Shields was the good man. His pr
vate life was above reproach. N
weakness was his in the use of drink
no moral stain ever darkened his el
cutcheon. In him deep religious col
viction begot the personal and socia
virtues. and frightened their uses an
practices. might. perhaps. blame tn
impetuosity of a moment which lie
him to the brink of a duel with
famed citizen. Abraham Lincoln. LIE
the false notions of honor, prevailin
at the time, excuse the one and tn
other.
Shields was the gentleman, in maj
ner polished and refined; in the main
tenance of DrinciDle the ao,,l itsol