Year: 1872

Great Career.


| The statesman whose remains will to-day
find their last place of repose in his time filed
such important positions Of honor and trust,
| and exerted ON influence SO vast and 80 CON-
manding that the ordinary tributes to de-
ceased greatness fall short of what is due to
his merits and the grandeur Of his achieve
ments. No Senator Of the United States ever
uttered more touching eulogies to the memory
of his departed associates. There was some
thing in Mr.. Stewards oratory peculiarly fit
ting to funeral occasions and as he mourned
for others as great as he the nation now
mourns for him. The news columns of the
HERALD this morning bear ample testimony to
the general regret that is felt at his death.
Though an old man, his retirement from
public life was SO recent, and his
interest in the affairs Of nations and
of men was still SO active. the people had
not yet begun to lose sight of him or Of his
career. During his journey round the world
the solicitude of his countrymen followed him.
On his return he was welcomed as if coming
back to hold again the reins. Of power. In his





him the excellence Of his counsel. and his
buoyant words left the nation not without
hopefulness for the future. Death came un-
expectedly even to him. As the word was
whispered from ear to ear sadness took the
place Of joy, and there was universal regret at
his loss. 1t is not always thus when the great
ones die, but here was great man, as well as
great statesman, who had lived long enough
to outgrow the asperities of his political career,
and could eulogium be uttered over his grave
this day as grand as that with which Pericles
consecrated the Athenian dead it would find
its echo in the popular heart.


That Mr.. Seward was a very great man few
beginning to the end Of his public life, is evil
dence Of his greatness. When q very young
man in the Senate at Albany he showed
grasp of intellect and power of analysis such
as most men seldom exhibit. As Governor of
the Empire State ten years later, he COM
manded the love of his friends and the admi-
nation Of his foes As a Senator Of the United
States, at the end of another decade, he star
tied friends and enemies alike by the boldness
of his views and the earnestness of his state
craft. He took upon himself to be the cham
pion of Higher Law, which was only attained
through the slaughter of battle, and announced
an ''irrepressible conflict which was only
ended in blood; but he clung to his purposes
with tenacity which was only equalled by his
simplicity, and tried to heal the wounds when
the issue was decided. II it had been in the
power of craftsmanship to bring about the
speedy peace he so often predicted the work
of reconciliation would not have 50 tardily fol-
lowed the work of reconstruction. Where he
failed in this, success at the time was impossi-
speeches and state papers we find nothing in
them to mar the history Of his country or i'm
pair the fulness Of his fame.


Mr.. Stewards standing as Senator was
attained under difficulties which only genius
could overcome. He took his place among
colleagues Of recognized power and established
reputation, and commanded them to look
upon him as their equal. The Senate was not
then as now body Of mediocrity, where it
was easy for men Of moderate abilities to take
leading part. In 1850 Clay and Webster,
and Cass and Calhoun and Benton, divided
among themselves the attention Of the coun-
try. young man whose Legislative expe-
rience was acquired only at the Capitol of his
own State was little fitted for taking up the
gauntlet against such giants The New York
Senator essayed difficult part in meeting
them in debate, but to meet them as the
champion of questions which antagonized
nearly the whole country showed temerity
that bordered on recklessness. But Seward
was not reckless. Few lawmakers were more
cautious or better prepared for every emer-
gency. He bided his time, and when
he was humbled it was the humility
of the lion, ready to pounce upon its
enemy at the first unguarded moment.
II Clay was eloquent Seward was even more
classical; if Webster was the great expounder
OF the constitution Seward overeaped him by
pointing to law higher than the constitu-
ton; if Cass breathed fury at what he con-
sidered the effrontery of the new Senator he
was met by calmness Of demeanor that
would have baffied cooler adversary; if CAL
houn was dogmatic in the speciousness Of his
philosophy Seward showed him dogmatism
as specious as his own; or if Benton sought to
strike him down by subtlety in the arrange
ment Of facts and figures that has never been
surpassed Seward answered him with recital
as clear and concise as his own best efforts.
With these great men he was compelled to
contend only long enough to show that they
were not his masters either in oratory or
| stafesmanshiD and before his FIRST term of
service had expired a new set Of Senator'S had
taken their places, who looked up to him as a
superior, if not leader Of these only Sum-
ner has attained to very great distinction, and
| Summer will never be regarded rs the ready