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About The commoner. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-1923 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 1912)
Xt'"i'f' Wj-- fm Si. "i:- .. " v APRIL 12, 1912 The Commoner. 7 :r Immortalxty ) Eulogy, delivered July 14, 1,89,4, on a colleague, in congress. ' Mr. Bryan 'said: ' '" Mr. Speaker, George W. Houk was my friend, and while no words' of mine' can add peace to his ashes or sweetness to his sleep, I beg to place on record my tribute of affection and esteem. He was one of the first members of the Fifty-second congress whom I met after my own election, and the acquaintance which we formed while cross-, ing Lake Superior together in the summer of 1891, riperted into an attachment which I en joyed during his life, and which I cherish in. memory now. He was a well-rounded man one of the most complete men I ever knew. Some are specialists and excel in a particular line of work, or becqme famous because of- some faculty abnormally de veloped. Not so with Mr. Houk. He was not a one-sided man, nor- a man with but one idea or one virtue. He so blended graces and good qualities, so combined the traits and characteris tics which distinguish men as to be worthy of Antony's compliment to Brutus: His life was gentle, and the elements So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up And say to. all the world. "This was a man!" He found his inspiration at his fireside, and approached the ideal in his domestic life. He and his faithful wife, who was both his help meet .and companion, inhabited as tenants in common that sacred spot called homo and needed no court to define their relative rights and duties. The invisible walls which shut in that home and shut out all else had their founda tions upon the earth and their battlements in the skies. No force could break them down, no poisoned arrows could cross their"top, and at the gates thereof love and confidence stood ever upon guard. In such a home the devoted parents reared a , loving and dutiful family, and lived to see each son and daughter settled in life. And fortune had so smiled upon the children that the father was as far removed from anxious care concern ing them as his beautiful estate, Runnymede, overlooking the Miami valley, was removed front' the noise and turmoil of the busy city with whose history his achievements were entwined. He did not leave to his children that doubtful bless ing, a large fortune, but he left that priceless heritage which money can not buy a name without a stain, a reputation without a blemish. He was a man of surpassing geniality, and his cheerful face shed its radiance on all around him. It was my good fortune to sit by him dur ing both terms of congress, and I learned to look for the friendly salutation with which he greeted me every morning. He was a boon companion, and allowed no humor to escape him. He abounded in wise proverbs, in stories and in fables, and in all the affairs of life mingled with an artist's skill the lively colors with the grave. With him citizenship was a sacred trust as well as a privilege, and in the discharge of its responsibilities he exercised the most conscien tious care. He was a politician in the sense that he was a student of the science of government, and a successful legislator in that he wrought into effective law the principles in which he be lieved. He possessed all the characteristics of the statesman. He reasoned out each proposi tion that came before him with a singleness of purpose and a desire to know the right. He was honest, both with himself and with others. Not only was he incorruptible so far as pecuniary influences go, but he was true to his own convictions. His fidelity to others was in sured by strict adherence to the injunction To thine own self be true: And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. He was a brave man, and dared to follow hia own judgment, even when it led him into dis agreement with his party associates. His moral courage was developed to a high degree,, and he was willing to assume responsibility for his every act, conscious of the rectitude of his pur pose. His ability was recognized by his as sociates in congress, and his opinions, based upon extensive research and wide experience, illuminated and ornameuted by quotations from history, fiction and poetry were sought after snore and more as men knew him better. His life waa one long journey upward, with out a halt or backward step. His success was START THE 1912 FIGHT NOW k BY GETTING GOOD DEMOCRATIC LITERA TURE INTO THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS One of the most important tasks confronting t the democratic party in the coming campaign is the work of placing its position squaroly before the people by a thorough CAMPAIGN OF EDU CATION. The time to start this work is NOW not after the country is deluged with tons of mis leading campaign literature. NOW is the time when the voters are Jn a receptive mood and have the time to weigh questions carefully. NOW is the time when the most effective work can be done. Victory in 1912 Is a POSSIBILITY not a CERTAINTY. Success will depend on whether the democratic party is alive to its opportuni ties in this campaign. Much will depend on placing good literature into the hands of the voters, old and young alike. The American people can be trusted to settle questions right, but they want the facts, figures, arguments and reasons from authoritative sources. How can this bo done to the best advantage? Through the medium of roliable democratic newspapers. It is an admitted fact that good newspapers have a greater influence with all classes of voters than any kind of campaign literature that can be circulated. A' newspaper paid for by the reader has a far more definite value and influence than any publication sent out for free distribution. Every campaign manager recognizes this fact. Hence the impor tance of assisting in the work of getting good democratic papers into the hnnds of the voters. Many democratic papers will make special campaign rates rates so low that it will bo an easy matter to get these papers into the hands of a large number of now and doubtful voters. Democratic workers could do nothing better to strengthen their party than help circulato demo cratic newspapers in their own precincts. To aid in this work The Commoner also makes a special campaign rate of 35c on new subscrip tions from now until the close of the campaign or THREE NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS for $1.00. Are you willing to do your part in this work? Will you do your part to help place in the hands of new and doubtful voters a medium that will keep them posted on the democratic position clear through tho campaign? If you arc, get up a club of THREE NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR $1.00, and send in at once. It is the surest way to win votes in. your precinct and add to the strength of the party. Every democrat can form at least one CLUB OF THREE in his pre cinct. It will be only a matter of a few minutes work to secure ONE club many will send in a number. Ask your neighbors and friends to join a CLUB OF THREE; invite tho now or doubtful voters to join a club.' Use tho coupon below: THREE FOR $ 1 .00 CLUB THE COMMONER, Lincoln, Neb: Gentlemen Enclosed find $1.00 for which please send The Commoner to the' following new subscribers under your special campaign offer THREE FOR $1.00. Name Name Name .P. O. ,P. O. .P. O. not meteoric; he won his way step by step, and pitched his tent. on higher ground at the end of each day's travel. For more than sixty-five years his home was at Dayton, Ohio. There he attended school, taught school, read law, id practiced at the bar. There he spent the days of his boyhood and manhood, and there, after he had almost completed his three-score years and ten, he rests from his labors. The sorrow ing multitudes who attended his funeral testi fied, as no language can, to the character of the man. Their expressions of tenderness and affec tion, and their gentle ministrations fitly crowned tho career which they had watched with pride and love. Truly, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." I shall not believe that even now his light Is extinguished. If tho Father deigns to touch with divine power tho cold and pulseless heart of the buried acorn, and make It burst forth from its prison walls, will He leave neglected in the ear.th the soul of man, who was made in tho Image of his Creator? If He stoops to give to the rosebush, whose withered blossoms float upon the breeze, the sweet assurance of another spring time, will He withhold tho words of hopo from the sons of men when the frosts of winter come? If Matter, mute and inanimate, though changed by the forces of Nature into a multitude of forms, can never die, will the imperial spirit of Jinan suffer annihilation after it has paid a brief visit, like a royal guest, to this tenement of clay? Rather let us believe that He who, ia his ap parent prodigality, wastes not the raindrop, tho blade of grass, or the evening's sighing zephyr, but makes them all to carry out His eternal plans, has given immortality to the mortal, and gathered to Himself the generous spirit of our friend. Instead of mourning, let us look up and ad dress him in the words of the poet: Thy day has come, not gone; Thy sun has risen, not set; Thy life is now beyond The reach of death or change, Not ended but begun. O, noble soul! O, gentle heart! Hail, and farewell DEMOCRATIC DATES Democratic primaries or conventions will b held as follows: April 12 New York democratic state con vention. April 13 Primaries for Pennsylvania. April 17 Illinois congressional district con ventions. April 19 Primaries for Nebraska. April 19 Primaries for Oregon. April 27 Primaries for Tennessee. April 29 Colorado democratic state conven tion. April 30 Primaries for Florida. May 1 Connecticut state convention. J May 9 Iowa state convention. tt,; May 14 California primaries. .' May 16 Iowa state convention. May 21 Ohio primaries. May 28 rPrimaries for New Jersey. June 4 Primaries for South Dakota. a: 1 3 3 ' k i ft.