wood's speech. It richly deserves all that has been said in its favor. I was fortunate enough to hear most of it. When I entered the Senate Mr. Kirkwood was on the floor just getting fairly under way in his speech. He looked every inch a Senator, yet as modest as a child. He had a full house, the galleries were crowded, and there were many on the floor of the Senate, including a large number of members of the House who had come in to hear the speech. Every one listened with close attention. His manner was excellent, and the matter speaks for itself. I think the speech displays great ability in more respects than one. It is clear and logical, comprehensive and conclusive. It will give full satisfaction to his own party. It presents the Republican side with ability and distinctness. * There is no man in the Senate that could have done as well as Kirkwood did. You have read Ben Hill's remarks immediately following Kirkwood. Hill's manner showed that he meant what he said, and it was no idle compliment. That evening Conklin referred to Kirkwood's speech, in very complimentary terms, saying it was the most effective speech made during the session. I heard a number of Senators speak of it in private, and all spoke of it in the highest terms. Don Cameron said, 'The Old Man always talks good sense.'"

The New York Tribune says:

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*

"By universal consent, it is pronounced a gem of legal and political oratory. It is rarely the case that senatorial compliments mean anything at all, but when at the end of Governor Kirkwood's speech to-day, Senator Hill rose, and in unstinted terms of praise commended the matter and manner of the speech, every listener, and there were many of them, mentally said, 'That is true,' He is one of the most amiable men in Congress, and is universally respected for his unswerving integrity of character."

The Dubuque Herald, a Democratic paper, after the delivery and publication of the speech, has this to say:

"Senator Kirkwood has been making an excellent record of himself during the present session of Congress. He has figured conspicuously on all important questions, his opinions have invariably been clear, vigorous and timely, and he is astonishing his constituents by an unexpected display of statesmanship. We candidly confess that the opinion hitherto expressed by the Telegraph, that the Senator's age had impaired his usefulness, was premature. He is really one of the most valuable members of the Senate-always in his seat at the proper time, always taking an active interest in whatever question may be under consideration, and always cheerfully and faithfully performing whatever committee work may be assigned him. Though he has been in the Senate but little more than half a term, he has

achieved a remarkable prominence, and is daily developing qualities that promise ere long to place him in the first rank of legislators."

Senator Beck said of it:

"It was the best speech that had been made by a Republican Senator."

It even created a deep impression in the South. The Rome, Georgia, Tribune said of it:

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*

"We do not know when we have read a speech with more pleasure than we did that delivered by Governor Kirkwood in the Senate on the 20th ult. * It is characteristic of the man and his conservatism. The speech was delivered in the interest of the country, and not party, and hence it went to the people as a part of the regular proceedings, and not in a supplement for campaign uses. It was as modest as it was patriotic-a standard which we can commend to all as the proper test of merit. * * We would be glad to lay the speech before our readers, not that we agree with the Senator upon his propositions, but to show how manly he has treated the subject. There is much in his arguments which we oppose, and much from which we differ, but the difference is an honest one, and we feel that such a difference can be tolerated by an honest mau."

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CHAPTER XVII.

Death of Hon. Rush Clark-Gov. Kirkwood's Speech in the Senate on the Occasion-Kirkwood and Vance-Speeches in Indiana in 1880 -Plain Talk to the Business Men of Indianapolis—Estimate of Gov. K. as a Stump Speaker.

On the 28th of April the member of the House of Representatives in Congress from Gov. Kirkwood's own district, died very suddenly, and proceedings relating to his death were held in both Houses. Among the addresses on that occasion was the following by Senator Kirkwood:

Mr. President:-Other senators have spoken fully of Rush Clark in the ralations he bore to the public whom he had served as a lawyer and a legislator. It becomes me by reason of my more intimate personal acquaintance with him, to speak of him as he was known to those who like myself, had the pleasure and the advantage of frequent, close and friendly intercourse with him.

He represented in the Forty-fifth Congress, and until his death, in the Forty-sixth Congress, the Congressional district in which I live. I was one of his constituents; he was my fellow-townsman, my neighbor, and I am glad to be able to say, my friend. He was by some two years an older resident of our young State than myself. When I went to reside in Iowa City in 1855, I found him there a young man and a young lawyer, struggling for and gradually winning by his knowledge of the law, his close attention to his business, his energy and his perseverance, that high rank in his profession to which he afterwards attained. When he came to Iowa his capital, or as we sometimes express it in our quaint western way, his "outfit" was his head, his heart, and his hands; a clear head, a stout heart, and willing hands.

After closing his collegiate life in Pennsylvania, he judged, as I think wisely, that there was a better chance for him to win his way in the battle of life in the new, broad, free west, than in the older, more crowded, and I trust I may say without offense, less liberal older States. He knew well that the journey of life for him was not to be an easy, pleasant travel over a broad, smooth highway, but a tedious and painful progress, over a rough and rugged path, every foot of which was to be made by his own labor and perseverance. He did not quail at the prospect, but went to work manfully and persistently.

He met as such men most always do meet many obstacles in his way; but he met them boldly, overcame them, and left them behind him, monuments of his energy and courage.

Before his death these qualities had brought him to where his pathway was broader and smoother, and the outlook for his future more bright and cheering. And then he died; died in the prime of life, died of overwork; died of the earnest and exhausting labor he gave to the interests of his country and his constituents, which was greater than his physical powers, never strong, could endure.

My colleague has told of the different honorable positions held by Mr. Clark, by the favor of those among whom he lived and how he performed the duties attached to them. He held at one time a posi tion, not by election, but by my appointment; that brought us into close and cordial relations. I had the honor to hold during the first three years of our civil war, the war of the rebellion, as it is in my judgment properly called, the office of Governor of the loyal State of Iowa, and thereby was charged with the duty of raising and organizing the volunteers called for from that State for the preservation of the Union. I needed, to aid me in that work the services of some bright, earnest, energetic, active young men. Mr. Clark was one of them; my colleague (W. B. Allison), (I trust he will pardon me,) was another. Largely by their aid and the aid of others, associated with them in giving form and direction to the patriotism of our young men, the quota of Iowa's soldiers was always full; and I must be allowed to say in this presence, where men who fought on the same side with them, and men who fought against them, no better or braver soldiers fought under either flag in that unhappy strife.

As a citizen, Rush Clark was orderly, law-abiding and publicspirited; as a neighbor, kind, generous and helpful; as a friend, true and trusty; as a husband and father, kind, loving and devoted.

The scene on the arrival of his remains at his home showed the estimation in which he was held by his neighbors, those who knew him best, and to whom his sudden death had given a great and painful shock. It was late at night when the train carrying his corpse reached our quiet town, and yet the depot and the street between that and his home were filled by his friends and neighbors, who came to testify by their presence, their respect for him and their sorrow for his loss, and who on the next day followed him to our quiet cemetery, where his mortal remains, "rest in peace."

When we look about us and see death choosing his victims, we sometimes wonder why the idler is left, and the active, earnest worker is called away; why those in the pride and vigor of their manhood are taken, and those who are older and perhaps weary of life are permitted to remain. We do not know why; we know that God who does all things well, so wills it, and we bow in submission to His will. We

only know that he to whose memory we do honor to-day, has gone before us to learn the mysteries of that other life in which we all believe, as to which many fear so much, and as to which all hope so much and know so little.

If it be true, as many believe, that the best service we can render here to the Great Father of all, is to give strength to the weak and help to the helpless of His children, then my friend has done his proper work well.

If it be true, as many believe, that in the other life we shall be assigned to do the work for which our mental and moral development here has best fitted us, then my friend there will be given important work to do.

If it be true, as many believe, and it is becoming very pleasant for me so to believe, that in the other life we shall know and enjoy the society of those we knew and loved here, then my friend who has gone before is enjoying pleasant communings in his new home, and waits with patient longing the coming of those whom he loved and left behind.

After the entrance of Gov. Kirkwood upon his duties as Secretary of the Interior, when stories in regard to him were in order, Gov. Vance, of North Carolina, made his contribution to them as follows:

'When two years since I made my maiden speech in the Senate, I was particularly gratified by the respectful attention paid by all the Senators, and made what I thought, and what my friends afterwards assured me, was a good speech. The principal theme upon which I dwelt was the acquisition of territory under Democratic administrations, and upon this I laid great stress. At the conclusion Senators crowded about to congratutate me, and among others came Kirkwood, of Iowa, who shaking my hand heartily said: 'Well, Governor, you made a pretty good speech; I used to be a Democrat myself, used to talk about the acquisition of territory by the Democrats; but if it had not been your maiden speech I should have taken the liberty to ask you a question.' 'Well why didn't you do it, Kirkwood, I have no doubt I should have been glad to reply. What was it?' 'Why,' replied Senator Kirkwood, 'it was this: When you were talking about the great acquisition of territory by the Democrats, I wanted to ask you, if it had not been for us 'Black Republicans,' if you Democrats wouldn't have taken out a great deal more territory than you brought in? Kirkwood,' I replied, if you had cut me off at the legs that way, I should have wanted to shoot you on the spot.'

Indiana was regarded

In the presidential canvass of 1880. as a pivotal State, and the best speakers in the Republican ranks were sent there to do some heavy work. Among them