Year: 1874




GERRIT SMITH.


Tie great days of the struggle which de-
stroyed Slavery in this country are frequently
and sadly brought to our minds. Within how
brief q period have We been called upon to
remember our incalculable obligations to Gree
lev, Chase, Seward, and Sumner! We arc now
forced to associate with them, in our regret
and their glory, the venerable figure of Ger
rit Smith, second to none of those who opened
the war and carried it on, in the elements of
dignity and sort of heroic picturcsqucncss.
lie was stricken down by paralysis while on
visit to this city, and at q late hour last night
his life was dcspaired Of. His thousands of
friends and admirers will hope, as long as
hope is possible. that the bright example of a
life so honored and so spotlcss may be left to
us for many years to come. But as the news
of his dangerous condition goes over the coun-
try, it will everywhere excite the deepest III
terest and sorrow.


There are few men better known than be,
and there never was q reputation more entirely
founded upon personal character, or owing
less to accidental circumstances. He can hardly
be said to have been i'll public life. 1t is true
that in the critical days of 1852, when it first
became evident to sagaciOus men that the
question of Slavery was to be the prcdOm-
mating ono in our politics, Mr.. Smith was
elected to Congress from the OswcgO and
Madison District. But he retired after q
single Winter in Washington. The vulgar
intrigue of practical politics was so distastcful
TO him that he found no sufficient cOmpcnsa-
ton in the influence he might exert in
Office. With that brief excursion his pOlt-
ical lifo began and ended. But through
out longer term of years than is usual
even to men of bis magnificent constitution,
ho pursued one object with uniailing persist
ence and largo measure of success, that Of
using his powers and his wealth for the bene-
fit of others less favored than himself. lie
was born to riches and luxury, but he held
his great estates merely as q steward and ad
ministered them with q discreet generosity
as raro as it was admirable His most con-
trolling passion was that for the abolition of
Slavery, which he rightly considered to en-
brace the deepest national dishonor and the
largest sum of human misery and Degrade
ton. But his sympathies were not restricted
by any limo of color or condition. lie gave
away princely domain to white and black
settlers alike. The possession Of great tracts
of land makes common men conservative and
monopollsts. 1t made Of Gerrit Smith one of
the most radical and generous of men. His
charities, scattered through half a century,
have become almost as familiar to mems
thoughts as the heavenly gifts of rain and
sunshine. Wherever the cry of distress has
gone forth, his ear has been one of the first
to hear it, and his hand one of the first to
succOr


He has not been merely givcr. He has
been speaker and writer also, always fear
less and honest, always doing his best for the
cause he regarded as just. We have pub
lished many pages Of his OratiOns in this
paper. Sometimes we have approved and
sometimes have opposed his views of public
policy. But we have never doubted or failed
to recognize the earnest sincerity of his char
acter, the integrity and unse,fish elevation of
his purposes, and his warm and energetic de-
sire for the welfare of all mankind. lie has
never written word which was not prompted
by q love of liberty. and wish to broaden
and make easy the road by which men could
go forward to higher and better destinles.
His means and measures were not always so
fautless as his aspirations. But none were
ever dictated by anything less than con-
scientous desire to serve God in freedom and
help his fellow men.


There have been few men in our history who
have conquered greater degree of personal re-
spect. People were accustomed to say that there
was something "princely about him, though in
fact there are few princes who could vie with
him in the qualities indicated by the phrase
lie had the easy and assured manners of one
born to position of power and response, ~,
tall and commanding person, and that sincere
and direct address of men Of profound con-
victions and high courage. In Washington,
he was treated with equal respect by friends
and enemies. At time when the name of
Aboltionist was detested and cOntemned with
an intensity which it is now difficult to under
stand, Mr.. Smith was universally popular in
Congress. Ills stately courtesy, his stature,
and his wealth. all doubtless had their effect
upon tho Southern politicians. but it would be
doing them injustice to deny that they also ap-