Gunnison news-champion., 1919-03-28


We'll. Bart, what do you think We
had better do about itf''
IL was hoplng-you-you would
take it, stammered-
That's because the excitement OF
the convention Is on you he an.
swered- LET Us look At the COMPASS.
They have refused to nominate Mr..
Van Buren because he In opposed TO
the annexation Of Texas. On that sub
iect the will Of the convention Is now
clear. II l. possible that they would
nominate me. We don't know ahou.
that. We never shall know. II they
!id. and accepted. what would be eI-
pected OF me Is also clear. They
would expect me 20 abandon my prin-
fples and that course of conduct
shlch ! conceive TO be best for the
country. Therefore should have TO
sccept IL under false prerenses and
lake their yoke upon me. Would you
.hink the needle pointed that wayT
NO" answered.
Immediately he turned TO his desk
and wrote the telegram which fixed
ais place In history. II said no.
Into the lives OF few men has such
moment fallen. looked a; him with
: feeling Of ave. What sublime calm
Tess and serenity was In his face, As
Il II were a mere detail In the work Of
The day. and without a moments fal-
.ering. he had declined crown. for he
Eould surely have been nominated and
elected. He rose and stood looking
out OF the open window. Always !
think OF him standing there with the
nornlng sunlight falling upon his face
and shoulders. He had observed my
emotion and ! think II had touched
bin a little. There was Il moment OF
silence. A curious Illusion came TO me
then. for II seemed as II i heard the
ihoughtfully out OF the window he
asked:
Bart, do you know when our first
fathers turned out Of the trail OF the
beast and found the long road OF hu-
mnni'yf ! think II was when they dis
So now nt last We have come TO that
high and lonely place, where we may
look back upon the toilsome. adyen-
lurous way We have travelled with the
aid OF the candle and the compass.
Now let us stop a moment to rest and
TO think. How sweet the air Is here!
The night is falling. see the stars in
the sky.
Just below me is the valley OF Eter-
nal silence. You will understand my
haste now. l have sought only to do
justice to my friend and To give my
country n name, long neglected, but
Equal In glory 10 those OF Washington
and Lincoln.
Come, let US take one last look to-
rether down the road we have trav-
eled, now dim In the evening shad.
ows. Scattered along II are the little
houses OF the poor Of which have
written. See the lights In the win
dows-the lights that are shining into
the souls Of the young-the eager,
open. expectant. welcoming souls OF
the young-and the light carries many
things. but best OF all Il respect for the
old, unchanging way OF the compass.
After all that Is the end and aim OF
the whole matter-believe me.
Ny life has heightened into these
days when most of our tnsks are ac-
complished by machinery. We try TO
make men by the thousand. In vast
educational machines, and no longer
By the one as OF old. II was the Low.
Ing. forgiring. forbearing. patient.
ceaseless toll OF mother and father on
the tender soul OF childhood which
quickened that ineItinguishable sense
OF responsibility TO God and man In
these people whon I now leave to the
judgment of my countrymen.
/ have lived to see the ancient plan
Of kingcraft, for self-protection. COM
ing back into the world. II demands
TINT the will and conscience Of every
Individual shall be regulated and con-
trolled by some conceited prince.
backed by nm army. II cannot fail. I
foresee. to accomplish such devasta-
ton In the human spirit as shall i'm
petil tue uehIest posseSslOu OI mdu.
II one II to follow the compass he
can have but one king-his God.
I am near the end. I rode back to
Baltimore that forenoon They had
nominated Mr.. Polk Of Tennease for
president and silas Wright for vice
president, the latter BY acciamation.
knew that Wright would decline the
honor. n he did.
Hurried northFsrd to keep my ap-
pointment with Sally. The boats we're
slowed BY fog. At Albany was q day
behind my schedule. / should have
only an hours leeway II the boats on
the upper lakes and the stass from
Plattsburg were on time. I feared to
trust them So I caught the west.
bound train and reached Utiea three
horra late Thoro hns,1ht . s<,A