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S2D Congress, \ .SENATE. f 
 
 is/ Sr-ssio)!. i \ 
 
 .SEN.\TE. / Mis. Uoc. 
 
 No. 228. 
 
 MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 
 
 LIFE AND CH.ARACTER 
 
 Preston B. Plumb, 
 
 (A SENATOR FROM KANSAS). 
 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESEXT.\TIVES. 
 
 February 20 and March ig, 1892. 
 
 5^^/X^-. flox^/ic.v<;, 
 
 Prepared in accordance with joint resolution of Congress, and under direction 
 of the Joint Committee on Printing, 
 
 W. H. MICHAEL, 
 
 CLERK 01" FRINTINC, RECORDS, UNHF.D STATES SENATE. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 
 I S9 2. 
 
AUG e 1908 
 
THE DEATH OF SENATOR PLUMB. 
 
 SERVICES IX THE SENATE CHAMBER. 
 
 December 21, the United States Senate, the House of Repre- 
 sentatives, the Executive and Judiciary Departments of tlie 
 Government, representatives of foreign powers, and thousands 
 from among the Washington public ]iaid the last tribute of 
 affection and resjject to the mem(ay of the dead Senator. 
 
 The body was i)laced in a handsome i'h)th-covered casket of 
 cedar, on the lid of which was a plain silver plate bearing the 
 following iuscriptiou: "Preston B. Plumb, born October 12, 
 1837; died December I'O, ISOl." 
 
 At 10 o'clocli the casket was borne from the house to tlie 
 hearse by eight of the Cai>itol police, under direction of Assist- 
 ant Sergeantat-Arms Merritt. 
 
 Immediately tlie small funeral cortege, consisting of the 
 hearse, drawn by two coal-black horses caparisoned with 
 heavy robes of black netting, and a few carriages containing 
 immediate fiiends, started towards the Capitol. There were 
 no floral decorations at the house, and, save a small wreath of 
 white immortelles on the top of the casket, sent by the chief 
 clerk of the Treasury Dejiartmeut, there was nothing to relieve 
 the somber blackness of the casket. 
 
 The small procession moved slowly down Fourteenth street 
 to Pennsylvania avenue and wended its way up through the 
 Capitol grounds to the Capitol. At the entrance to the build 
 iug the remains were met by Sergeaut-at-Arms Valentine, who 
 
 3 
 
4 Uft- auH Characlir of Ptistou li. Plumb. 
 
 esoortfil tlii-iM ti> the marlilc nuini in the rear of tlie Sonat<' 
 c-liaiii)>fr ami only a slmrt disiaiM't' IVoiii the \'ici'Presidt'iit's 
 chair. Tlicri' tlicy wen- phiccd <iii a hhick catalahjiU' in tlio 
 ceuti'i of the luiiiii. 
 
 Soon alter tlic casket was depositpd in the marhh' room a 
 lai-;^e number of persons gathered armind the doors at the 
 entrance anxious to take a last look at the features of the 
 de|>arted. 
 
 When the Senate met at noon the cliamher was partly ar- 
 ranged for the ol)se(|uies. The desk and chair of the deceased 
 Senator were heavily drajx'ii. The galleries were crowded 
 with spectators, except the diplomatic and the Vice-Presideut's 
 galleries, which were reserved. 
 
 In the opening ]>rayer Ivev. J. (1. Butler, tlie idiaplain, re- 
 ferred in a feeling manner to the death of Senator I'Lt'MU. 
 "Sanctitied.'" he sai<l, "be this last bereavement. Teach us 
 heavenly wisdom; hear us when we commend to Thee, very 
 tendirly. Th.\ handmaiden in her solitude and sadness ami 
 overwhelming sorrow in her distant home. We pray that 
 Thou wilt sustain and comfort her in Thy peace." 
 
 On motion of Mr. ."Mandersou the reading of the .lournal was 
 disiiensed with, and Mr. I'elfei- rose to make the formal an 
 nouncement <)f Mr. Plvmb'.'^ death and to otfer projier reso- 
 lutions. Me said: 
 
 ".Mr. Pkk.siuext : I esteem mvMll peculiarly unfortunate in 
 that, liefnre I iia\e been a member of this body long enough 
 to have become familiar with even the dimensions of the cham- 
 ber in whicii we sit. I am called upon to announce the death 
 of my distinguished colleague, u])on whose wcuulerful resources 
 I had expecled largely to rely. 
 
 ■ ri!i:sTON P.. Pm'.mh, a Senator from Kansa.s, died in this 
 city yesterday at ten nnnutes before 1- o'clock. This is nr>t 
 the tune nor tlie occasion to speak at length of the life and the 
 
^ X <FK-\TF f Mis. Uoc. 
 
 52D Congress, -1 bENAlL. | No. 228. 
 
 I St Session. \ ^ 
 
 MEMORIAL ADDRESSES 
 
 (IN THK 
 
 LIFE AND CH.ARACTER 
 
 OF 
 
 Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 (A SENATOR FROM KANSAS). 
 DELIVERED IN THE 
 
 SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESEMWTIYES, 
 
 FeBRU.^RY 20 .-^ND M.\RCH 19, 1892. 
 
 Prepared m accordance with joint resolution of Congress, and under direction 
 of the Joint Committee on Printing, 
 
 \N . H. MICHAEL, 
 
 CLERK OF PRINTING RECORIib. UNITEn STATES SENATE. 
 
 WA.SHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 I 892. 
 
Fiiiitial Ccrt'Dioiiiis in the Senate Clianibey. 5 
 
 public st'ivii-es lit' till' ahsi'iit Senator. Tliu diirk (liapciy 
 about the seat he so Vn\% occupicil forcibly reiniinis his fcllow- 
 iiieinbcrs that they have lost one of their most acti\c and in- 
 (histrious workers. His experience, iiis piactical way of doing 
 things, his sagacity and his great jiowcrs of endurance, his 
 constancy and faithfulness on duty and his alertness in action 
 niacb' his a •■(inspicuous figure among the strong men of the 
 nation, lint there are others who feel this bereavement more 
 keenly than we, upon whom tin- lilow has fallen with crushing 
 weight. There is a home, where this man was known as the 
 world knows him not; a place where hearts are lacerated and 
 bleeding: where a loving family will be glad, even in their 
 grief, to receive at our hands what is left of tin- fond iiusl)and 
 anil father in whose life theirs was closely bound. To them, 
 at least, there are two sources of consolation, one that he fell 
 while on duty at his post in the seivice of his country, the 
 other that there is a fountain of strength, intinite in power 
 and duration, from which we may ail draw in time of need. 
 At the proper time I will ask the Senate to nami' a time when 
 we may pay tribute to our deceased brother in an aiipropriate 
 manner; and now, Mr. I'resident, I offer the following reso- 
 lutions: 
 
 ^'Risoh-ed, That the sudden death of Hon. Treston B. 
 I'lUJIB causes profound sorrow and deei> regret to his asso- 
 ciates in the Senate. 
 
 •^h'esolvcd, That a committei' of five Senators lie aiipointed 
 by the Vice-President to take order with a committee of the 
 House of Representatives for superintending the funeral of 
 the late Senator Plumb; and as a mark of respect for his 
 memory that his body l)e removeil from the capital to the 
 State of Kansas iu charge of the Sergeaut-at-Arms and at 
 tended by said committee, which shall have full jxiwer to carry 
 the resolution into effect. 
 
*i Life and Chaini/fr of Prcstou B. riutub. 
 
 ••h'enolrtil. Tliat tin- Senate will, at 1 :.!<• tD-.lay. ati.ml ni its 
 rliamher tin- exenises iiu-ideut t<> his fuueial, and that these 
 H'siilutions 111- (oMiiiiiinicaled ti) the House of Reiiresentatives." 
 
 Tlic lesolutious were a;,'ree(l to uuaiiiiuoiisly. and tlic Viee- 
 President announced as the eoniinitter <>u tin- pari ot' tiie Sen- 
 ate Messrs. I'l-tVer. I».il|ili. raddoik, Kansom. and i'alnier. 
 
 Tin- Senate then, on niotion of Mr. Sliciniaii. look a reeess 
 till 1 p. ni. 
 
 Shortly before 1 o'clock the Cabinet ollicers and assistant sec- 
 retariesof the l^xei iilive I)e|paitnnMiIsbc.-an lo arrive and were 
 .shown to the President's room. Amonj; them were Sei-retary 
 Blaine, Secretary Uusk. .V-sistant Secretary of War Grant, 
 Solicitor-General Taft, and Assistant Secretaries of the Treas- 
 ury Spauldinj,' and Xetth-ton. Tlic President. a<conii(anicd 
 l)y Private Secretary Ilalford, arrived a few minutes past 1 
 and joined the others in the Pre.sident's room. Mrs. Harri.son, 
 o.seortcd l)y Lieut. Parker, of the Navy, oc<'Ui)ied a seat in the 
 rcscived j;allcry. 
 
 At 1 :■_•(» i'apt. Ha.s.sett, the Doorkeeper, anuouuced the 
 Speaki 1 and members of the I louse. The Sjieakcr was escorted 
 liy Serjeant at Arms Valentine to the seat on the ri<rht of the 
 \'ice ['resident and the uicmbcrs liled in and look seats 
 assijjnetl to IlicMi on the Democratic sideof the ciuunber. The 
 number inclndcil luany of the older nu'inbersof the House who 
 had known Senator I'l.r.Ml! for years. Five minutes after- 
 wards thcmendjers ot' the I »iplomatic Corps — some twenty- live 
 in number — not wcarin;^ their otlieial uniforms, arrived and 
 were shown their seats in front of tlic members of the House. 
 They were followed by the Chief .lust ice and Justices of the 
 Supreme Couri. who took seats in front of the l)i])h»matic Corps. 
 At exactly half-past 1 Capt. Ilassett aniM»nnced the presence of 
 Hie President of the T'nited States and his Cabinet. 
 
 Till' Senators and spectators stood up to do them 1 ir (as 
 
Fiiin-ra/ Cfrt-zi/o/iics in llif Soiatc Chambey. 7 
 
 they hiid done also in tin- case oti lie I )i|iloinatie Corps aiidot'tlie 
 Supreme Court). President Harrison and the meinbers of the 
 Cabinet were shown to the aim cliaiis on the rigiit of the 
 area, President Harrison nearest the central aish> and Mr. 
 Blaine next to him. 
 
 At 1:40 the ollicial committee, escortinji' the body of tin- 
 dead Senator, appeared at the main entrance, and while 
 all in the chamber arose the procession moved up the aisle, 
 the Chaplain reciting the opening sentences of the funeral serv- 
 ice: "'lam the resurrection and the life,' saith the Lord." 
 The casket, borne by Capit>l jiolice, was deposited on the 
 catatalque in front of the Clerk's desk. 
 
 The tioral decorations consisted of a sheaf of palms and a 
 large bunch of orchids sent by Senator Quay, a wreath of white 
 carnations and roses from the Loyal Legion of Washington 
 City, a pillow of ivy leaves with the corners decorated Avith 
 violets and roses, sent by the Senator's friends here. Resting 
 on the lid of the casket was a wreath of white immortelles 
 from Chief Clerk Fred A. Stocks, of the Treasury Department. 
 
 The Chaplain tinished from the Clerk's desk the reading of 
 the funeral service and appropriate selections from the Scrip- 
 tures, closing with the recitation of the poem : 
 
 oil. Id 111' riMily whoii (Iriitli sIimII coivie : 
 I )li, IIP 111- iiMily to hiishii liuiiii-. 
 
 Then he closed with a prayer, in which he offered thanks for a 
 a risen Saviour, for a reigning Loi'd, and for a Kingilom that 
 shall survive death. The strong and noble man had fallen, but 
 he had left the record of a useful life. 
 
 When the prayer was concluded tlie Vice-President ro.se and 
 said: ''The Sergeant-at- Arms, under the direction of the com- 
 mittee, will execute the order of the Senate and escort the 
 remains of the late Senator Plumb to his home in Kansas." 
 
8 Life and Character oj J'nsion B. Plumb. 
 
 Theu. with tbi' whole a.sseiiiblatje staudiut; iii lespec-t for the 
 dtfea.-^fd, tht- procession was ic-foniU'd and tlie body ot' the 
 dead Seiiatt)!- was liorne out to be taken to the iaih<)a<l station. 
 
 Tlie liudy. prereded 1).\' tlie Oougressloiial loiiiniiiiee. was 
 then rarried tliriiuf;h tlie corridors to the east front of the 
 Capitol, and tlii-nce dnwn tlie iiiauy stejts of the marble stairway 
 to the hearse. 
 
 I'lillowin^' the remains came tlie .Senators and Uejiresenta- 
 tives. who formed by twos, with Mee-1'resident Morton at the 
 head, and ae<-omitanied the body (HI foot to the station. 
 
 The President and his Cabinet and other distin.unished i)er- 
 sons were nsheied to I lieir carriages and joined the pioression. 
 
 Till- maicli tu the station oci-npied a little less than half 
 an hour. The route was tlirou.L;li the Capitol jimunds, Penn- 
 sylvania avenue, and Sixth street to the I'ennsylvania liailinad 
 station. Crowds of people pas.siufi on the Avenue stop]K'd to 
 view tlie ])roe(ssioM. Airiviiij;- at the station, the members of 
 the .Senate and ma!i,\' other friends of the th'ad Senator went 
 inside and ianj;ed themselves in two lines alontr the sideof the 
 car ill wiiich the body was to be placed. The casket, jireeeded 
 by the Congressional committee, was then conxcyed to the car. 
 The (-'ongressional cnminittee had a special car for their use 
 during the trii). The names of the Senate Committee have 
 been given previously. Tiie House Committee consisted of 
 Messrs. IlrndericU and I'nnston. ot' Kansas: ('ate and Peel, oi' 
 Arkansas; Voumans, ol' Michigan: Post, of Illinois, and Cogs- 
 well, of .Massachu.setts. The two cars were attacheil to the 
 Columbian express train, which left the city at3:l,'.j o'clock. 
 
Editorial Notices. 
 
 EDITOKIAL .NOTJCKS ON SENATOR PLUMIVS DKATII. 
 
 PERTAlNlNli Til I'll].: SK^•AT()K's DEATH. 
 
 ; Kxlniits Ircjiii tin- KmpoiKi (K:uis.| llaily K.lmlilkMii.J 
 
 Of all tlif iiifii liokling- a loiemost place in i>ul)lic life iit 
 LSitl. few seemed less likely to soi.ii leave this life than Peks- 
 TON B. I'LUJiB, the senior Senator from Kansas. Couspicu- 
 onsly powerful in appearance and in all his methods of work 
 and action lie seemed certain to snr\ive all assaults save those 
 of the ultimate years of man's allotted time. The auuounce- 
 ment of his sudden death, tlierefore, cauie to the country as a 
 terrible shock. The news seemed incredible, and wonderment 
 gave way only after a full explanation. The wonder then be- 
 came that he had so lony survived. It developed that, as a direct 
 result of his extraordinary labors, Ids une(pia]ed api>licatioii 
 to jmblic and jirivate duties, lie had siiffereil an impairment 
 of the nervous system to such au extent as to bring him direct 
 warnings of the end. For some time he had occasionally snf 
 fered a partial or comjilete temporary jirostration of the gov- 
 erning forces of the liody, and those nearest him had warned 
 him fre(piently of his danger. The t\ill campaign iu Kansas 
 in 1891 drew from the Senator a remarkable series of addresses 
 delivered at a great expense of time and strength in all parts 
 of the State. Following the campaign he made a hurried trip 
 to Montana and then I'etuined to Washington to resume his 
 legislative labors. What he did in the tirst weeks of the session 
 indicated clearly that he had outlined for himself an unusually 
 arduous year's work. Nearly all his former colleagues in Kan- 
 sas had failed of rel'lection and his duties were, therefore, many 
 
10 Life and Characlcr of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 tiiiu's imiltipliod by reason of the iiH-xperieiK'e of his new as- 
 sociates. With (hiuntloss courage he entered ou the new leg 
 ishitive struggle. But he eould not ignore the danger signals 
 which came to him. He (uncluded to take counsel of jihysi 
 cians in I'hila(leli)hia and went to that city for tliat ])nriio.se. 
 Dr. Pepjier advised immediate and ab.solate rest and a<'centu- 
 ated his advice In the strongest possible manner. The Sen 
 ator returned to Washington determined to follow I>r. I'ejjper's 
 directions. His mind was fully unide up to take rest, regard- 
 less of the countless demands on him. Returning from IMiil 
 adeljjhia he reached Washington at about 7 o'clock in the excii 
 ingof Saturday, the 10th day of December. ISIH. Having had 
 no dinner he left his lodgings and went to (Jliamberlin's hotel 
 for a lunch. There he met several gentlemen with whom he 
 chatted jdeasantly until after midtiight. His friends of the 
 evening remembered afterwards an unusual shade of repressed 
 melaiicliiily in liis remarks and liis deiiieaiioi-. though his con 
 ver.satiou was as interesting as ever. The Senator left his 
 friends, returned t<i his rooms, and. after wi-iting a few lines to 
 his pri\ate secretary, retired. At about 2 o'clock of Sunday 
 morning (Deceml>er litl) the Senator called .Mr. .leiuiings. the 
 j)roprietor of the house in which his rooms were, at No. (III! 
 Fourteenth street, and asked him to summon a iiliysician. as he 
 was sutlering from intense i>ain in his heail. Ui. I'liilij) Wales 
 .soon arrived and ailiiiinistered. by liyiioclerniic iiijeciion. a 
 poweiful sedative, from the elVects of which the suHerer fell 
 into a dee|) slee]>. He contimieil UTiconscious until half-i)ast 
 <> o'clock in the morning, when he s])rang from his bed with a 
 violent nausea. When this had i-easeij tiie Senator put liis 
 haMil> 111 his liead. as if in excruciating ]iain. and exclaimed, 
 '•( >h. my ( bid I my head I my heaill" These were his last words. 
 Me soon lost consciousTu'ss, sleejting again heavily. Latei 
 in the morning Mr. I'.. I". I'lennikeii. the Senator's secretary, 
 
Edilflrial Notices. 11 
 
 arrived and at once I'clt urcat alarm. FTo sent again for Dr. 
 Wales, who iirouounccd tlic case one ot'apojjlexy. At 10 min- 
 utes of 12 o'clocik tlic Senator died. 
 
 There were piesent at tlie juoiiient of death Mr. Ph'nnikeii, 
 Dr. Wales, and Mr. Jenninj>s. Instantly the sad news spread 
 over the city and almost as (jniekly it went to all parts 
 of the country as a telegrai)hie bulletin and by private mes- 
 sages. The modest apartments wlien^ the dead Senator lay 
 were immediately visited by thousands of interested eitizeus. 
 Among the tiist to arrive was Mr. Secretary I'usk, whose un- 
 restrained expressions of love and admiration for the dead 
 Senator and grief at his untimely death were most touehingly 
 eloquent. Many Senators, Cabinet ofticers, and other officials 
 and finally the President called to express their sorrowful 
 sur|)rise. 
 
 The immediate members ol' tlie bereaved family though 
 far apart were soon reached. Mrs. Phunb and her eldest 
 daughter were at home in Emjioria. Mr. Amos H. Plumb, the 
 eldest son, was in Philadelphia. Miss Ruth Plumli was in 
 Topeka and the young son and daughter, Preston M(n-rill 
 Plumb and Caroline Plumb, were at their res]ieeti\e schools 
 in Pennsylvania. IVIrs. Plumb and Mi-. Amos Plumb were in 
 poor health. Mrs. Plumb having that day attended church for 
 the first time in months. All absent members of the family 
 were able to start for home at onci- and did so. 
 
 THE WORDS OF A STANCH FRIEND. 
 
 [Hon. Frank Hatton, in tlie Washington Tost ] 
 
 In the death of Preston 11. Piami? the country loses an emi- 
 nent and patriotic citizen, the lie|)nblican ])art\ one of its earli- 
 est, ablest, and most consistent leaders, the United States Sen- 
 
I'J Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 ato an honest and i-ipiira;;e<>u.sstat*'siiiuii. To tlic State of Kan- 
 sas the sudden closi- dC his luiiicinilile and usi-fiil lil'e, so con- 
 spicuously marked liy a taithl'iil devotion to tlie interests of 
 bis constituents, will lie a ealaniily indt'cd. To tlie host of 
 friends whom the Senator had y:athered about him his decease 
 will lie an iiiejiarable loss, for these best knew the inner dejiths 
 and true nobility of his character. He was as true to his sense 
 of personal honor as he was to his sense of public duty, and in 
 both resju'cts In- was irreproachable. 
 
 Mr. Pi.tMH l(»ok his seat in the Senate in 1S77 and rajiidly 
 rose to distinction in legislation and debate. There he found 
 a theater worthy of his i)owers, and no member of that august 
 body ever consecrated himself to its duties with a more con- 
 scientious spirit or acquitted himself of their iierforuiance with 
 more constant and sterling fidelity. 
 
 The deceased Senator was a man of prononiiced convictions 
 on all ^'leat (|Uestions, ])olitical or otherwise, and he was as 
 fearless in their utterance as he was sincere in their entertain- 
 ment, if not a gifted orator in the ordinary sense of the term, 
 he was endowed with that greatest of all oratorical gifts, the 
 power ot' commanding the attention of his hearers wheiiexer he 
 s]ioke and imiiressing his views clearly and durably upon the 
 public intelligence. When lie arose to address rlie Senate the 
 country listened. 
 
 It was the rugged honesty of Mr. I'l.UMn, coupled with his 
 admitted knowledge of atlairs, that gave weight to his judg- 
 ment and exacted the resjjcct of his oi)])onents. He was a 
 hater of cant in all its forms, lie had no use tor shams of any 
 sort. In the lexicon of his true and inardy iiatiiie then' was 
 no such wordasliy])ocrisy. Asa Senator of I lie Cnited States 
 he based his action upon the same ingenuous and upright 
 piincl|(les as those by which he governed his conduct as an 
 nntitle(l citi/.eii. lie was not a man nl iiolicje-. and expedients, 
 
I-'di/orial A^ot/irs. ' 13 
 
 offoiiii.roiiiisc.s or coiicfalimMirs. citluT ;is It-jiisliitor or i>oliti- 
 
 ciaii. 
 
 Thr Wcualor will !»■ rriiK'iiilMMfd loii-' ami lirarcfiilly liy tlic 
 <'iti/.ciis oflhc District olCi'liiiiibia lor liis disinterested and 
 energetic labors in h.Oiaildl' tlic welfare and i>rogress of the 
 :N"ationiil Capital. As a inendicr of the Ajipropi-iations Com- 
 mittee and chairman of the snhcommittee on Distriet ainiro- 
 priations he had ren(h>r.'d eflicieut .servi<'e. and his recent ap^ 
 liointment as a member of tlie new Distriet committee of tlie 
 Senate was a subjeet of genei-al ooiigratnhition. 
 
 Mr. Pltmb was a hard worker in ami cmt of the Senate. 
 ^'o responsibility devolved upon him to be neglected or untul- 
 filled. JTo demand upon his time or serv-ices whieh he knew to 
 be legitimate in itself was ever ignored. It is not too much to 
 say that his i)ublic life was a life of laborious self-sacriflee in be- 
 half of others. It was this constant strain in tlie line of du- 
 tiful endeavor that gradually undermined his strength and at 
 last precipitated the crisis that s(Hiiier or later nurst overtake 
 all men who, in the iilenitude of a generous and ambitious 
 zeal, make similar drafts uiion their mental and physical 
 powers. 
 
 Plain and uupretentioiis of manner, abounding in human 
 sympathies, a lover of his kind and a lover of his eountry, Mr. 
 Plumb was essentially a man of the people. Yet the arts of 
 the demagogue he held in thorough contempt. He was a rep- 
 resentative American citizen, with exalted ideas of the obliga- 
 tions which citizenshij) imposes; he was a statesman to be 
 trusted in any emergency; he was unfaltering in his loyalty 
 to Eepubbcan principles; he was firm to faultlessness in his 
 fi-iendships : he stood squarely upon his merits as a man in all 
 the relations of life, anil he died leaving a worthy example, a 
 fadeless memory, and a name without a l>lemish. 
 
14 Lijt and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 KANSAS AM) TIIK NATION STRKKKN. 
 
 [Kiliutriul ill till' KiinrtiiH City •loiinial.] 
 
 Siinr Liiiriiln tiL'll lui ilialli has i-viT bidiiglir such jfiii'l' to 
 Kansas as tliat of TuKsToN B. I'LUMB, her senior Senator. 
 
 Tlic ilt-ath of .laiiu's H. Lane was a shock to liis many 
 anient personal adherents, Iml his countless bitter enemies 
 conhl not tnoniii. 
 
 The ileath of President (larlield drew heavily on the syni- 
 patliies ot" every citi/.en, lint the loss did Tint quite come as a 
 personal one. 
 
 The deatli oCileneral (Irani iiciwcd t he Inads nl' ihnnsands 
 ot' his former coni|)anioiis of camji and ticld, Imt his wcuk ha<l 
 been rounded t<i a perfect close. 
 
 Others have passed away who were loved or esteemetl by 
 Kansans for some near relation ot'a social, commercial, or polit- 
 ical nature, but the loss iias touched the few rather than the 
 many. i'>y tlie death of Senator 1'lu:mb scarcely a citizen 
 iif the entire State will feel otherwise than as personally be- 
 ica\ed. lie has left no citizen untouched, sin<;ly or in classes. 
 Me jiave his hand to every man and said to iiim : •• 1 am your 
 servant: tell me what 1 shall do; tell me |iarlicularl\ wliai 1 
 shall do for yon." 
 
 lie hail stru^filed with prixation and ]io\erIy: therelorc he 
 knew the hearts of his fellow s. lb- liad braved all the hard 
 shijis of frontier life; therefoie he knew how his State had 
 been made, ami he l'oi-j;ot mi part of the record or no indi- 
 vidual of the many who were with him in that memorable 
 makili;;. lie had been a worker at the cratt of his choice, a 
 printer, dependent on his toil for a liviiifi; therefore he knew 
 the need> of all those of like situation. He had toiled at the 
 treadmill of the pres.s; therefore he knew how the i)eo)ile learn 
 
/{i/if<in'al Xo/ices. 15 
 
 :uul liipw Tliry slunild he tMuylit. lie li;ul triiuiii)lic(l in the 
 jiractiee of the hiw ; tlieiefore lie knew of all the iuinieasurable 
 stresses which are \m\ on nu-n who take the hazard of com- 
 niereial fortnnes. lie had licen close to the enchanted realms 
 of wealth or within them, and he knew how much and how 
 little to call them yood; and, tinally, he had I )orne the crushing- 
 burdens of the peojile in his work as their rex)reseutative iu the 
 highest delil^erative body of the world. 
 
 Year in and year out he had tlung himself into his work 
 with an energy almost unparalleled. He tlinehed from uo un- 
 dertaking, how ever arduous, and never asked for rest or rec- 
 reation. It might have been better if he had. He assailed all 
 public questions with an impetuous power almost amounting' 
 to fury. A task undone to him was an irritation and a chal- 
 lenge. 
 
 Xo wish of a onistituent was counted as a trifle. To grind 
 every grist and grind it Hue was his habit. 
 
 This was the man in outline at all times. Who can fully 
 appreciate what he became in the past year, when all hi.s asso- 
 ciates but one had been retired and their work had come to 
 him? hi him centered the hopes of hundreds of thousands, 
 anil up to him led the lines of thought of all his active and 
 intelligent constituents, and this not alone of the State. The 
 nation had come to consider him its own, and no community 
 in the whole land will be without sadness at his demise. 
 
 Kansas will have the sympathy of her sister States. Her 
 champion is gone, and no other can fully take his place. The 
 times that bred him will never be rei>eated. The founding of 
 the State will not be done twice. What lias been has been, 
 and time has set its seal. 
 
 Preston B. Plumb has driven his name into the living- 
 rock which underlies his beloved Kansas, and there it will be 
 read so long as her people know history. 
 
16 Life and Characttr of Pi-fslon B. Plumb. 
 
 win AI.I. KANSAS IS IN SORROW. 
 
 ' K<Iil«iri;il III Kiiii-iiiM Stiiti' •Iiitiriial. T«>p4'ka.i 
 
 Deatli lias struck its most savajie tilowat Kansas, as if in 
 Vfii;;fance. Senator I'MMli isdcail. At tlic vt-iy liour wlicii 
 thf nee«ls of tin- Stati- wne suiierlativf and wlicn liis equip- 
 ment was most romjdete. lie is stricken down at his post of 
 duty. Tile help that lie was .so able and so williiij;: to {rive 
 can not come to us. The lumiiiy lie was so ea^fcr to add to 
 That already ;riven his beloved jieople can not now be ours. 
 His loiifj years ot' usefulness, filled with every form of {jener- 
 ous action, have come to an end and there is no consolation. 
 
 N\'c arc lierca\'ccl indeed. He was the pcojije's servant. 
 but lie was a fatherly servant. He served because he loved. 
 Kansas was elose to his heart. From the jioorest wild tiowers 
 of the remotest jirairie to the cliiiibin;: dome of thecapitol tin- 
 State he helped to fotuid was his pride and his joy. Himself 
 a laifre part of the Titanic strujcgle for tlie planting: of free- 
 dom on this soil, he had come down the subseipieiit years of 
 our history hand in hand with our iirosjierity. soundin;: our 
 virtues, eoiicealiiii,' our faults, Ufjhting our battles, ;uid rejoiiiii'r 
 with our joys. 
 
 His clear vision, aided by the lamp of ex]>eriencc. which 
 burned so brilliantly for him. saw far ahead the course of the 
 sliiji of state and his steady hand si't the rudder rifrht. 
 
 He was a plain man. a man of the | pie. Withoui arm 
 
 ;,'anee. he vaunted not himself. The more his jiower jiiew the 
 more he seemed to feel that it was of the people and for the 
 people. He never posed as tile author of his own {jreatiiess 
 and never demanded homage in return for his -nod dee(l>. lb- 
 kept no books with his fellow citi/ens. He did not .set ilown 
 either charges against others orcrcdits for himself. He felt the 
 
Ediliirial Notices. 17 
 
 swift rusli of tlie cunriit nf life and knew there was no time fs- 
 cept for doing good. He did uot suflicicntl.N know tlie limit set 
 on linniau strengtli and human endeavor, so swift was he and so 
 powerful in the race of life. There seemed to be nothing lie 
 (•(uild not do and little that he left undone, exeei)t to care for 
 his own liealth. His friends no doubt shared his own thought- 
 lessness as to his reserves of vitality and drew on him too 
 heavily. Though many of them spoke to him at one time or 
 another of his o\ erwhelmiug burdens it was more to express 
 surprise at his power than fear for his safety. 
 
 And so he went on to the end. Doing for all. caring for all, 
 his mind full of his people — of both State and nation — he wore 
 himself out and fell at is post. Kansas will uot know his like 
 again and will not forget him while her history lasts. 
 
 OITR GREAT LOS.S. 
 [Hon. ('. v. Eakridge, in Emiioriji Republican.] 
 
 The announcement of the sudden and totally unexpected 
 death of our senior United 8tates Senatoi' comes as a shock and 
 a blow to Kansas. The entire nation will be grieved as well 
 as startled at the sad intelligence, luit in Kansas the feeling 
 is one of personal l)ereavement and inexjiressilile sorrow. 
 
 No other public official of the State held so higli a place 
 in the affections of all the people. No other oflicial was so 
 generally useful or so nearly indisi)ensal)le. Years of patient, 
 faithful, self-sacriflcing service had gained for him the confi- 
 dence and the gratitude of citizens of every county and town- 
 ship. Me!i who radically differed from him politically esteemed 
 and admired him personally'. In season and out of season he 
 labored for the good of the peojile lu' rei)resented, and his great 
 publi(^ services were universally recognized and ap])reciated. 
 
 S. Mis, 228 13 
 
18 Life and Character of Preston B. I'lmiib. 
 
 His rciiutatiim had cuiiie to be national, and his name was 
 frequently inentione<l in eouneetion with the hifjhest ottice in 
 the {jift of the American people. Tlu' tlioronghgointr business 
 habits which he took with him into official life made him a must 
 useful man iu the Senate antl jrave him a standinjj amonj; his 
 colleajjues which few occiiiiied. It was •generally conceded 
 that when Plu.mh had sifted any inactical subject he had yol 
 all there was in it, and his statements of fact were seldom 
 (juestioned. Wliile others studied rhetoricals and attitudes, 
 he plodded throuy;h figures and departmental reports and got 
 at the groundwork and sul)Stance of national problems. His 
 re]>utatioii was that ot' a business Senator; and never was a 
 re]iutation more faithfully won or better deserved. 
 
 In his home town and county. Senator I'li'mh was known 
 as a publiesjiirited citizen and kind neighbor. He always met 
 the most liiimbleof his fellow citi/cns witiia genial familiarity 
 that made them feel he was one among them and could be ap- 
 proached without ceremony or embarrassment. As nnilti- 
 tudinous as were the demands made upon his time, he never 
 ignored the request of any constituent or failed to do what he 
 reasonably could to have the request granteil. Ollicial duties 
 took him from home most of the time, but he was always in- 
 terested in home affairs and seldom if ever refused to cinitrib- 
 ute to home charities and juiblic enteri)rises. His alliicted 
 and stricken family will have all the heartfelt sympathy which 
 a sorrowing i)eo])]e can bestow. The loss falls deeply uixm the 
 nation, the State, the county, and the town, but to the family 
 it is crushing and irreparable. 
 
 Hon. Pkkston B. I'lumb was born in Delaware County, 
 Ohio. October 12,1837. He resided iu Ohio until 1850 and 
 received his early education in the common si'hools of tliat 
 State, lie came t(» Kansas in ,lniie. IS.'jIi. Ideating, in the fall 
 of that year, in Saline Countv. The winter of ls."i(;_'.")7 la- 
 
Edilnrial Xolicrs. 19 
 
 S])ent in LawTciut' and in March, Is.'iT, located in Ilnipoiia. 
 He was one of tne orij;iiial town company. He liad been bred 
 as ii printer and educated as a Joiiinalist. and estahlislied The 
 News, the tiist nnniher beint,'' issued .lune fi, 1857. His con- 
 nection with tlie pajiei' continued Tintil ISdl'. He was adnut- 
 ted to tlie bar in ISOl and coninienced the luactice of hiw. 
 In IStW lie reeruited two companies fur the Hleventh Kansas 
 regiment and was mustered into service as second lieutenant 
 Anjiust 12, 1SG2. He was successively promoted to captain, 
 to major, and to lieutenant-colonel, and was mustered out at 
 Fort Leavenworth Sejjteniber 3(», 18(55. He returned to Em- 
 poria and resumed the practice of law. He was elected to the 
 State Legislature in 180(! and rei'lected in 18(>7. In the tall 
 of 1867 he formed a law partnership with Judge Ruggles, 
 under tlie firm name of Ruggles & Plumli, and continued the 
 practice of law until the dissolution of the partnership in 1872. 
 He subsequently engaged in manufacturing and coal-mining 
 at Osage. In January, 187.'?, he was elected president of the 
 Emporia iSTational r>ank. lie was elected to the Fnited States 
 Senate in February, 1877, and rei^lected in 188;3. In 1889 he 
 was rei'lected for a third term, practic-ally without opposition, 
 he being in Washington at the time. He had still four years 
 of unex]pired term to serve at the time of his death. For the 
 honoraldecareer of Senator Plumb as a citizen of Kansas, the 
 reader is referred to the history of the State with which his 
 life is interwoven. As a Journalist, a public spirited citizen, 
 and an ardent champion of his State, his name is inseparably 
 connected witli all that gives a Kansaii pride. 
 
 Of the many eminent names enrolled upon the State's record 
 of great men, none stands higher, either from the standpoint of 
 a <-itizen or public servant, than that of Preston B. Plumb of 
 Emxioria. 
 
 But a few brief davs ago Senator Ph^mr bade adieu to his 
 
20 IJfc and Character of I^-csloii li. I'litmb. 
 
 KiiiIMiria triiMi<ls and his family and departi'd f<ir Wasliiiijjton 
 to coiitiiiiic his laliors in l)('liall' of Kansas ami the nation. 
 To-day Emporia is in the habiliments nf inoiuninfr to w 
 ceive back all ttiat rcniaiii.s of the onc-f stronji- man and 
 eminent leader. To Kansas he wa.s a most worthy eitizeu 
 and lopiesentative, a statesman of whose hij^h abilities the 
 whole State was justly prond; to Emjioria he was more; he 
 was our townsman, our friend, our benefactor, and our chief 
 Iiriile. Other communities will regret the State's lo.ss; Em- 
 poria will mourn for him with a grief akin to personal bereave- 
 ment. He belonged to Kansas, it is true, lint he was from 
 Enipoiia and of i;ni|)oiia, and Ijuporia's (^laini was a little 
 stronger and her alfection a little deei)er than that of any 
 other community. When here he was among his neighbors 
 and his personal friends, among the people with whom he had 
 associated as a private citizen, who \<w\\ him best and es- 
 teeniiii liiin most. Here was ins abiding i)lace, the one spot 
 on earth — as lie himself exi)ressed it — that he called home, 
 where he expected to spend the remainder of life when his 
 ofKcial duties were einled and where he intended thii.t his bones 
 should be buried. Emporia has watched his ]>ul)lic career 
 from its begimung with .scdicitude and with admiration. She 
 has rejoiced in his successes and hoped for him yet greater 
 honors to come. Now she bows in deepest sorrow to a fate 
 no ]n)wer can alter and shares the jmignant grief that weighs 
 down a stricken family. 
 
 iiiK ( Ai;i:i'-.u OF senakh; i'MMh. 
 
 [IIoii. J;ii<))t .Stotlfr. ill ttii* Siinilirr CiMinly I*r»*)*«.] 
 
 The writer tiist met the late Senator I'lfMii in Maicli, 18.56. 
 He was one of tlie jiulilishers of the Xenia (Ohio) News. He 
 a<lvertised foi- a fuieman and we rode across the countrv bS 
 
Edildiial yoticcs. 21 
 
 iiiilfs from onr old home and K"' >' .!"'»• 'l'''^' <oimufiic.(l a 
 wiinii tVk'iidship whicli lasted with littl.' iiitiTiuptioii lor tliirly- 
 flve years. He was then a slim, awkward buy of I'.l, but with 
 the same habits of industry that eharacterized ins cut ire career. 
 We were told by his employes that we would not stay in the 
 office three weeks: that I'Ll'MB was liard to K''t alonj;' witii, 
 ete. lie was always exaetini;-, but he was fair ami .just, lie 
 
 hated a lazy nnm or a shirk all his life. We found liflieulty 
 
 in -ettinj; alonj;' with him. lu KS50 the, local department of 
 the .-ountrN- newspaper was little known. I'lujib conducted 
 a column in his paper under the striking head, "Our Tine 
 Box." The imme was a ndsnumer for I'n r^iB, because we do 
 not believe he ever sat ou a store box loni; enough to catch au 
 item. He rather caught tlu^m on the tiy. We never knew 
 much of his younger days. He rarely made allusions to him- 
 self at any time. We learned he came from Union County, 
 Ohio, to Xeuia; that he was born in Delaware (/ounty, same 
 State, October 113, 1S;>7; that he had been at an Ki.iscopaliau 
 school there and learned his trade in theolliceof a paper of that 
 faith while securing his schooling. We learned what we knew 
 of him from a younger brother, ,)osei)hus. who was with him 
 in the Xenia office. This boy was (me of the nn)st religious and 
 conscieutious youths we ever met. He had great faitli in 
 Preston, as he i-alled him, but sometimes had to rebuke the 
 future Senator for slight deviations from the straight aiul nar- 
 row way. The editor had great love for the younger brother. 
 In the Xeuia News office Mr. Plumb began his earnest life 
 woik. He took to politics naturally. The old paper there was 
 published by Robert McBratney, who afterwards came to Kan- 
 sas and died some years ago. The young editor had an andu 
 tion to beat his competitor on all occasions and generally ilid 
 so. We i'ememl>er tiiat in the summer of IS."*!! he went int(» 
 the party convention and overturned the plans of McBratney 
 
22 Life ail i Character of Prcslou li. Plumb. 
 
 iUiil the |iiiliticiaiis ami won a substantial victiny for his new 
 l)a|>or. While he was lull of tii<- life ami fun of youth, his 
 associates in Xenia weie tiiostly men considerably older than 
 himself. Kven then In- was ronsultfd l)y tlic It-ailiii;; men of 
 the town. His iiowi-r to sec the t'rtVct of action was always 
 wonderful. Among hi.s .schoolfellows and neighbors when a 
 boy he was the leader. An accident ha])pened to him wlien a 
 boy whicli iii-arly cost him his lite and must have impressed 
 him with the importance of being more cautious. There was 
 .some .sort of a <-elel)ration. and among the attractions was a 
 tame beai- chained in a barn. This was fun for the boys, and 
 young I'l.iMB entered fully into the sport of teasing the young 
 animal. He venturcil too close and was caught and nearly 
 torn to ])ieces. The gieat seal's on his legs and body he carried 
 to liis grave. 
 
 i'lic |ioliiical excitement in Ohio that year over the Kansas 
 struggle was at fever lieat. The late Granville Mciod\ was ilie 
 Methodist iireaclier for Xeuia. He was an agitator and lighter. 
 He stirred the young men and old and he and PuMiJ were 
 frientls. When the Frt'mont campaign was on. the young 
 editor entered into the spirit of the struggle with all the 
 c'.itlnisiasm of his mituie. He was literally working himself 
 to death even at Iliat date to establish his pai)er and make it 
 the leader. \\'e know of his working three idghts in a week 
 all night. In l)roken health he canu' into the otHce om- day 
 and announced his intention of going to Kansas. •• When 
 will you go ?" "To-morroW'." And he went. He traveled over 
 the territory mostly on foot, going as far west as where Salina 
 now stands, wiieie lie ami olliers laid oiil a town. 1 think. 
 which they named .Marii)osa, in honor of FrenH)nt. When he 
 went he was for noninterference with slavery. When he re- 
 turned he was a thorough abolitionist and for a ligiit if neces- 
 .sary. lie had no jiatience \\ith or respect for the timeserving 
 
luiiloria! Xolicrs. 23 
 
 ami sla\('r\ -worsliijtiiii; adiiiinistialiini wliicli was usini;- all its 
 power to force slavi'iy (111 Kansas by fan- iiicaii.s or foul. His 
 hcallli liad so far improved in the six or seven weeks' trip aail 
 be had become so rolnist and bronzed that his Xeiiia friends 
 liardly roeoj;mzed him. From that time on his whole life was 
 for Kansas. Sacriticinjiliis interests in Xenia he raised a small 
 company for the Kansas service and was chosen its h'ader. 
 That company came thron.uh most of the way on foot. It had 
 charge of a cannon from Iowa ('ity, w liicii was delivered safel\ 
 at Topeka. At one time they were jiressed and burled their 
 gun. At another time there was a mutiny in tlie company, 
 which was speeilily suiijiressed by Mr. l'Lr:viB and one of his 
 fuithtul friends. 
 
 During the winter Mr. Plumb and his Mariposa friends had 
 to abandon their quarters in the far West and retreat to Law- 
 rence to keep from starving. Here for a time lie worked at 
 the printers' trade and fell in with a party wlio were about to 
 lay out the new town of Emporia. He agreed for his jtart to 
 start a paper to speak for the interests of the wondertul new 
 city. Returning to Ohio in ^larcli, IS.".?, he induced a number 
 of young men, including tlie writer, to go to the new town. 
 The first number of the Emporia News was issued June 0, 
 1857. The new town was 75 miles from Lawrence, the leading 
 town in the Territory, and the embryo Senator not infrequently 
 made the trip on foot. 
 
 l\Ir. Plumb was a born leader. At the new town nothing 
 could be d(me without him. His guidini; hand was in everv- 
 tliiiig. He was poor and all were jioor, but the interests of 
 Emporia were always kept in the front. I'lumi! liad railroad 
 men, merchants, professional men. mechanics, and manufac- 
 turers there all the time looking at the new city. No railroad 
 meeting in any jiart of the Territory was aIlo\ve<l to jiass witii- 
 out an Emporia rei)resentati\-e. So, with iiolitical movements, 
 
24 Life ami Character of Preston B. J'iiinib. 
 
 Emporia was in i-vtivtliiii.ir. His artivity l)t"<rat eiii'mies, who 
 iiccasiiuially iiiaili' sorties a;.Miiist liiui, but they retired always 
 from the eontest woiste<l. Tlie News was a siiiprisinijly well- 
 edited paper. Ittonk rank at once with the I.est in the Terri- 
 tory, and never o((U])ied a doubttnl jjosition on any question. 
 PLfMif seemed to know everything- at twenty, and what sur- 
 prised his tVien<Is was where he leaiiied so mueii, l)eeause his 
 educatiiinal ad\ama;.:es were limited. His p(pwer as a writer 
 was reco.unized all over the Territory. At home he was the 
 center around which the scattered settlement larjrely revolved. 
 If the boys had a little fun on hand, I'lumij was in it. If the 
 community was in any sort «if trouble, the lirst (luestion was, 
 •• Where is I'lcjiij ?" If he was not at home he was sent for. 
 We remember that in 18»)I there were freiiuent incursicjns of 
 bushwhackers in the southeastern part of the State. Hum- 
 boldt, an outiiost. was sacked twice. The leadn .>i this gang 
 was a desperado named Matthew.s. The settlers on the lower 
 Neo.sho appealed to their brethren farther up the river for 
 hel]). ri.fMB was ready in a few hours. With nineteen Em- 
 poria boys he was riding rapidly to the .scene of trouble. By 
 the time they arrived the bushwhackers liad retreated to 
 where Cherokee County now is. Quite a force of settlers had 
 gathered from dillerent (piarters. It is ])robable that here 
 I'LUMB and the late (Jeueral lUiinl lirst met. They resolved 
 at once to pursue Matthews. The result was that ."Matthews 
 never again troubled the settlers or anyone else. Here I'LiMH 
 and liluiit smell tiie lirst blood of the war. 
 
 Ml. I'M-Mii's fatlier and lii> lainily followed the son to Kan- 
 sas. They settled on the Neosho, near EmiHU'ia. Their alfec- 
 tion for the son was very great and it was recii)rocated. The 
 father was a .piiet man of sterling i|Ualities. He is still living 
 at Emporia. The mother died a few years ago. .She was a 
 woman of superior intelligence and strong will ]M.wer. These 
 
Editorial Xi'liccs. 25 
 
 old |i»'(i|ilc st'tiiicd Id he of Ilic rmitan stock. Miss I'^llon 
 Plumb li;is been in tlic liook liiisincss in l';ini)oria for twciit-y 
 years or iiioic, anil is a most excellent woman. The brother 
 spoken of in the bef^innini;' of tliis article died s(jon after their 
 arrival, and the loss was seriously felt by all the family. One 
 brotlier, William ■!.. has been in Xe\ada or Idado for many 
 years. (ieori;t' I'lumb is a farnu'r near lOmiJoria. jVrtlinr is a 
 merehant at Iteadint;. He has been in the lejfislature. The 
 yonngest eliild. Mary, is the wife of Perry Ed'svards, a farmer 
 near Emporia. 
 
 He soon determined to leave the news])aj)er and to study- 
 law. He attended lectures two winter.s at Cleveland. Return- 
 ing to Emporia in 1801, he opened a law ottice. He told the 
 ■wi'iter it was not much of a law ollice, with a rude table and 
 some store boxes for seats, but that the ollice was as good as 
 the lawyer. During this time his health was precarious. lie 
 had frequent and severe hemorrhages of the lungs, and it was 
 feared he would not reeover. luLSlil-'the war fever seized him. 
 lie was a warm admirer of (xcn. Tom Ewing, and w hen that 
 gentleman was authorized to raise the Eleventh Kansas Infan- 
 try Plumb joined him and raised two companies at Emporia 
 and surrounding country. He threw all his energy and zeal 
 into this movement and was very eflicient in assisting (len. 
 Ewing. He served until tlie close of the struggle and came out 
 brevet colonel. In the service he regained his health. In fact, 
 it seems to have saved his life for the hom>ralile and useful 
 career before him. Coming out ol' the war he formed a partner- 
 ship with the late .•udgeRuggles, and won distinction and suc- 
 cess at the bar. In this he worked day and night. Xo task or 
 duty ever staggered him. The firm had a business in the last 
 two or three years of its existence only surpassed by one in 
 the young State. His next undertaking was banking. He 
 had induced Ohio frieiLds and others to invest in a liank, ami, 
 
26 Life and Clutraclcr of I'rcstoii n. Pltoitb. 
 
 the returns not beiiijr satisfactory, they finally ileinaudeil he 
 slmnlil take the niana<;enient of the eoneern. He did so. and 
 tlie result wasaniitlief success. The hank soon took rank ainonjj 
 the best in the State. Mr. Pumh hail secured considerable 
 wealth by his habitsof industry and ccipuoiny and by fortunate 
 .sjM'culations. He was a money maker. He i)ossessed a fore- 
 sight in this respect which was wonderful. At Ihiilnsi- ol' tin- 
 war he said to a friend, "There is going to be a chance to make 
 some money iu the next live or ten years which neither of us 
 may ever have again. I havedetermini'd to avail my.self of it. 
 I shall devote all my energy and jmwers in securing my share of 
 it. \\ f have had a uood time as boys together in Hniporia; 
 now we are men. and it is time for us to do something for 
 ourselves. I shall pursue this course and I ad\ise you to do 
 the same." He carried out his programme and won. He had 
 nut made aiiytliingdut c)f liis tiiwii s])eciilalioii. Ih' gave away 
 the most of his lots. At the close of the war he was not worth 
 over S;i,00t>. He had an intuitive knowledge of investm<'nts. 
 In twenty years he had an immense fortune. 
 
 Senator Pn'"vi I! hclil the idlldwing oilicial ]i(isiti(iiis: Mem- 
 ber of the Leavenworth constitutioiuil convention, 18"».S; re- 
 porter of the su])reme court in l.SIU, which he vacated by resig- 
 nation; re])resentativcin the legislature in ISGl'; representative 
 and si)eak<'r in 1867: representative in ISOS; elected Inited 
 States Senator in IsTT. ami reelected in 18.S;? and 188<,t, ]irac- 
 tically without ()|)i)osition in his party. His candidacy in 1877 
 was purely tlie work of his friends, lie did md believe he 
 ciuild succeed, saying that his time had not come to run for 
 so high an ol1ic<>. .lust preceding this he had spent ten or 
 twehe years in the law and banlcing business, had paid little 
 attention to juditics. and was not so well known as Ibrmerly. 
 He however yielded to the solicitations of friends who sin- 
 cerely tlesireil to see him in the Senate and win maintained 
 
Editorial Notices. 2~ 
 
 that (U'tVnt, ifit caiiii'. woiilil init tiiirt liiiii. Mr. I'lj'Mi! liail 
 always been an ardnit adiiiirci- of Horace (Irecicy anil liad 
 voted l'i>r liini for rresidont in ISTi'. (Jld-linie Ifcpuhlicans 
 pre(lieted tins act would hint liini in tlie race, aud it did. Had 
 it not been for that vote he wonld have made a Letter race, ii', 
 indeed, lie had not seemed iiis election. He was recoyni/.ed 
 by all as in many respects the ablest and best man in the race 
 at the time. As it was, he and his friends made a <-lean and 
 spirited light and retired in most excelh-nt condition, leaving 
 all interests t'rieiHlly and ]\Ir. Putmb in most excellent sbajje 
 for the next contest. In bSTT. after a stubbornly fonght con 
 test, he was elected on the sixteenth ballot. Xo man ever had 
 more ardent su])porters than he. Mis course in the Senate is 
 so well know n by the peo]ile of the State that it need hardly 
 be mentioned. No >State ever had a more efticient, faithful, or 
 truer representative in that body. I'rom the day he entered 
 the Senate he grew. He was better accpiainted with people 
 personally than any Kansas politician has ever been. He lived 
 near them and he worked for them. No man e\cr wrote to him 
 who did not get an answer, which stated frankly what could 
 or could not be done for him. He kept himself constantly in 
 accord with the public sentiment of the State. From this he 
 largely shaped his course. He was in constant correspondence 
 with hundreds of his constituents, asking about the condition 
 of the crops or this or that interest. He had an interest in 
 everything that jiertaiued to his State. He began to stiuly it 
 in l.sr>7. He knew more about it than anyone else. He was 
 careful and painstaking in everything, but in nothing more 
 than in gathering information about Kansas. He perceived it 
 to be his duty to be represeiitati\e of Kansas interests. In 
 this regard he was the highest tyjie of a Senator. While 
 taking a general interest in national affairs and everything in 
 
28 
 
 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 freiicriil tlcbatf. In- was inci-iiiiin'iitly a ifprcst'iitativc of lii.s 
 uwii pi-oitle. 
 
 The pionlc of Kansas have lost a valuable frii-ml. (Hii- whose 
 jilai-i- will probably iii'verbc lillcil, and the sorrow is universal. 
 The whole State is in niourninj;. He has more i)ersonal friends 
 in Kansas than any other man ever 1iad. Ontlu-iSth of .March, 
 1S(»7. at .Vshlaliiila. ( )hio. .Mr. I'l.iM i; married -Aliss Caroline 
 Soutliuirk. The liiiits of this marriajie weri- si.\ ehildren, 
 who. ;;iven in order, are as follows: ^lary. .Vnios, Thomas, 
 Iliitli. Caroline, and Preston. Thomas died February 4. 1871.'; 
 Prest<m is attending sehool at Nazareth. I'a.. and Caroline at Lit- 
 it/, I'a. ISiii li. in company with .\mos. who was under niedieal 
 tieatnieiit in Philadeli)hia when the newsreaeheil liiin. started 
 for Emporia at once, to be at the fuiu-ral of their father. 
 
 Seuatiu- PLf.MB literally made himself what he was. liis 
 career shows the possibilities of American citizenship to him 
 who is willing to seize his o])piMtuiiit ies and use rhein for ail 
 they are worth. He was a great student as well as a great 
 worker. He had a wonderfully retentixe memory. The sen- 
 sible practical pari of everything was made useful by him. 
 He was little in society, lie had not much time I'm the ordi 
 luiry forms of social life. Hut peoide were emleared to him in 
 high degree tor his woith as a man and his work for them. 
 His work is linished. It was a life iiuistery of everything that 
 came before him for action. His career stands nut in the broad, 
 bright light of genius, of energy, of devotion to duty. His 
 nanu' is written in colors that will last in the high i)laces of 
 the nation ami on tiie hearts of the jtcoiilt-. Had he lived ten 
 Vears longer he would ha\i' lieen I'resident. 
 
EdiloriaL Notices. 29 
 
 HOW WIO lU'KIKD HIM. 
 
 [Hon. M. M. SIunl...k, in fin- Wi.hita Daily EaL'l.-. I)i'ieiiil)cr 2fi, 1391.] 
 
 Ill (^oiiipaiiy with iiiaiiy t'cllow citizens, we went up to !mry 
 the friend of the many. Ilavin.i;' for the last tinit' hioked upon 
 his great, kind, ruj;ged fare, whicli heM only the jientle repose 
 of a natural, restful sleep, we k'ft him, all alone, out in the sad 
 prairie, ihiwii four feet under the eold weight of the coarse 
 H'ravel of a bleak knoll, whose luownji'ray summit overhxiks 
 the scenes of his life's supreinest struggles ami freshest hopes; 
 clustering along whose lower slojies are the ties and interests 
 of the homes and institutions for which his loyalty never 
 wavered, and for the rude foundations of whose commonplace 
 superstructures he hekl a more abiding love, a truer pride, 
 than for even those which in magniticence inclose the crypt, 
 the marble doors, and sustain the mighty dome of the Nation's 
 Capitol. This friend of the many was thus left there, all 
 alone, in the gloom of the waning day, while the many who 
 had by him been befriended stood disturbed, vexed, and dis- 
 contented, to be whirled, full soon, homeward, away through 
 the uight, to face again, with mayhap a more subdued ambition, 
 the problems and duties of life. The day had been a perfect 
 one in its mocking ghiry of warm sunshine, l)ut as the hard 
 clods fell heavily down over the iiuiet face and unresisting 
 breast of him whom we all were sit loath to leave to such loneli- 
 ness, the protecting arch of heaven's blue depths were sud- 
 denly veiled in troulded clouds like folds of mourning crape, 
 aud as the dark came down the lamenting winds, in an increas- 
 ing chill, swept with regretful sighs that desolate spot, de- 
 serted by the living for the dead. 
 
30 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 THE STORY OF THK SKNATOR AND THK ACTOR. 
 
 ;Mr. Al»*xninii-r Kutls. in tbt- KaimaM City Stjur.j 
 
 f'liarh's I). Koadc. the assistant ser};i'aiitatarms of the 
 United States Senate, who had eharjte of the Conjfressional 
 party that attended the funeral of the hite Senator PUMB. 
 was for a iiinnlifr of years tbe personal friend of tlic man whose 
 hody he escorted to its last restinfi; place. 
 
 Iteade introduced Senatt)r I'H'MU to ••Billy" Crane, whose 
 character in ••The Senator"* is a study of the Kansas Senator. 
 
 " 1 have been wonderiujt for tlie hist (hiy ui two," remarked 
 Heade, last evening, on the train returuing from Emporia, 
 •'whether 'Billy' Crane will ever play 'The Senator' ajrain. 
 I infroduee(l I'l.rMi! and Crane. It was like this: Crane is an 
 iild iVicuil of mine, ami one evening; w hen he was ]ilayin}^ in 
 Washinj^ton I was sittinjr in his dressinjtj room. He had been 
 tellinfrme that lie and IJohson were to ])art ciim))any and that 
 he was to stap' a play himself, Imt lie did not tell me what tiie 
 play was to be. Duriii;;' the cotirse of the evening he remarked 
 that he would like much to meet some members of the I'nited 
 States Senate. I told him that if he would do nie the honor to 
 dine witli me 1 would introduce him to a number. He ei)U- 
 seiited at once, and I arranged a little dinner party. 
 
 ••Tlic repast was spread in the private rooms of the .Senate 
 restaurant. I invited a little party. Hale was there and 
 IJIaeklmrn and half a dozen others. l'i.i'."\iB was invited, lint 
 lie was very busy that afternoon and did not get there until we 
 had reached crackers and collee. W hen I'UMli arrived Crane 
 at once devoted his attention to I'limi!. The two got away 
 from the rest of the iiarty and sat lor a long time at a little 
 side table. After that Crane came into the Senate chamber 
 
Editorial Notices. -'51 
 
 every "lay while lie remained in Waslii)ij;tou ami sat tlieic with 
 his eyes fixed on Tlumi!. i conhl not imagine why he was so 
 ;;ieatly interested in the gentleman from Kansas. 
 
 '•A week or two after he had first presented his new iday I 
 saw Crane at the Star theater, New York. I sat and watched 
 the first act and then went behind. 'Billy,' I said, ' I. see now 
 why yon were studyinji' Tlumb so elosely.' He lan.gheil and 
 liointed to his mirror. Jnst above it was nailed a hu\<;e portrait 
 of Senator PiAMii. 
 
 "The first time Crane prodneed -The Senator' in Wash- 
 ington he said that he would nmeh like to meet Plitmb again, 
 and I told him that 1 would see if 1 could arrange it. I did 
 not know how PLtniB would feel about it. All the critics had 
 at once recognized Plumb in Crane's Senator, and there had 
 been a great deal of newspaper gossip about it. I went to 
 Plumb, however, and asked him if he would accept an invita- 
 tion to a dinner party to meet Crane again. He said that he 
 would be delighted to do so, and so I gave the party. The 
 dinner was served in the room of the Committee on Naval Af- 
 fairs and there was a pleasant crowd present. In its way I 
 think that it was one of the most nniqne dinner parties ever 
 given. As host I, of conrse, sat at the head of the table. 
 PLU3IB was on my right and Crane upon my left. It was one 
 of Plumb's playdays. He was in great spirits. He had to 
 leave the table once to nuike a motion on the floor, but it was 
 not a busy day with him and he gave tip the whole afternoon 
 to the dinner. Crane, as every one knows, is one of the fine, 
 old-class, stage gentlemen, and a most entertaining entertainer. 
 He told his stories as no one else can tell them, aiul so much 
 had he entered into the spirit of his character of the Seimtor 
 that he punctuated all his stories with unmistakable Plumb 
 gestures. Everyone at the tabh> noticed it and enjoyed it 
 hugely, no one so much, however, as Plumb. He watched 
 
32 Lift- and CItaracicr of Preston />. Plumb. 
 
 Crane with roars of laujrlitiT. Not a motion of the aotor es- 
 capeil him. • Gooil,' he would exckiini, as Crane tlitl sciniethiMg 
 chara<'teristic of PLr>rB. Crane, getting iuto the spirit of it, 
 acteil the Senator at the cliuuer table as i>erfectly as he ever 
 actetl it ai)on the boards. 
 
 "Then I'LUMU would tell a story. It was his storytelling 
 day. When PiAiMii began to talk then Crane watched PusiB 
 even more elosely than Pl.Uinj watched Crane. !■> eiy now 
 and then Pli"5II5 would notice it. and. pausing in his story, 
 would exclaim: ' Here, Craue, stop studying me," in a manner 
 tliat woidd send the whole iiarty off' into roars of laughter. 
 
 ••it was a iiKTry jiarly. I'mn I'i.tmh. 
 
 '■ Seriously, Pi.timh said before we left the table that lie 
 wished it understood that he took no often.se at Crane's plac- 
 ing his ciiaracteri.sties ui)on the stage. The play, he said, 
 was a good one and mie with a liij;li iimral, and the actor 
 was a man whom he was i)roud to call his fiiend. 
 
 " As ' The Senator ' Crane does not attemj)! to make uii as 
 Plt'MB, altliough he wears tlie same style of beard Pi.t'MH 
 always wore, but he tried tn mold cxitn characteristic of his 
 Senatoi- to correspond to those of the man from Kansas. .Vt 
 first he api)eared in tlie last act wearing a silk hat. Imt I re 
 marked once tliat I never saw Plumij wear a high hat in my 
 life. an<l that night lie put the higli iial aside. 1 sjioivc to him 
 once ot how Pi.fMH used his iiandkei'chief while sjieaking, 
 and after that Crane niop])ed his tace in the old way so famil- 
 iar to all of Plumu's friends. 
 
 '•Crane aud Plvmb afterward became great iriends ;in<l 
 never missed a chance to get together, and. now tiial l'i,r:^ii! 
 is dead. I woiidei' what liilly is goiugtodo with ''llic Senator.''" 
 
Editorial Notices. 33 
 
 A CLOSE observer's DESCRIPTION. 
 
 [Mr. W, B. Slivi-iis. in Ilif St. Louis Glolie-Demncr.il.] 
 
 Senator Plumh was the most ai'ccssible man in public life. 
 Yon ranji' tlie bell at the house on Fouiteentli street and asked : 
 "Is the Senator in?" The formula of reiily was the same 
 every tinu'. The maid who answered the bell glanced at the 
 door of the Senator's i)arloi'. If the key was in the lock, she 
 nodded. If the key was not in sight, she looked behind the 
 door to see if it was hanging on the accustomed nail. If it 
 was there she knew tlu- Senator was not in and shook her 
 head, if she nodded yon stepped to the Senator's do(n- and 
 knocked. A genuine Western -Gome in!" tbllowed. Aud 
 that was the whole ceremony of admission to Senator Plumb's 
 presence. Xobody ever sent in a card a second time. If the 
 Senator was "in" he was in to everybody. If lie was "out" 
 he was out in fact. For business or begging, for social call or 
 curiosity, the latchstring hung on the outside. 
 
 When you stepped within you faced the rear elevation of 
 a desk. This desk stood in the center of the room. Above it 
 a rack of pigeonholes rose halfway to the chandelier. On top 
 of the pigeonholes were papers. Somebody was behind the 
 desk and the pigeoidH)les. As the door closed behind you the 
 Senator laised his head Just high enough to see over the top of 
 the rack, greeted you by name, said "Sit down," aud then 
 dropped his face to the pile of letters again. The picture of 
 that face over the top of the desk will come l«ick to many who 
 had the common experience of those who called at Senator 
 Pumb's room. The Senator had a way of dropping the lower 
 jaw as he threw his head back, and there was a look of inrpiir- 
 Ing expectancy on his face. 
 
 S. Mis. 2l*S .S 
 
34 Life and Character of Preston Ji. P/iinib. 
 
 Around the ctl^^es ol' the iodiu wert' ])];iiiily upliolsteicil 
 i-liaiis anil solas. Tlu'V were always nioii' or less ofLiii)ie(l. 
 SouH'lxKly was ever waiting to see the Senator. From one to 
 liall a dozen (icojile had business willi liiin. A revolving book- 
 ease in a corner was packfcl full of volumes. There were letter 
 tiles on the mantelpiece, newspapers on the floor, and a large 
 print of Gladstone on the wall. 
 
 The Senator's inetlKuls of work r<'ndered this accessibility 
 possibh'. lie could not have made himself so utterly free to 
 all callers if he had been in the habit of doing one thing at a 
 time. He did two, three, and four things at one time. Often 
 and often he sat dictating letters to his stenographer, glancing 
 over newsi)apers, and transacting business with callers. Was 
 it any wonder that the tissue of the cells of the brain gAve way 
 under that kind of mental strain .' There was no ordinary 
 stenograplier who could keep up with him. so he would dictate 
 three or four sentences like a flash, turn in conversation for ten 
 or fifteen seconds to his visitor and at the same time keej) ou 
 openuig and scanning uewsi)apers. And here was the remark- 
 able thing about his mind's operation. In the gaps between 
 dictation he carrietl the thread of what he wanted to say in the 
 letter. He carried the thread of conversation at the same 
 time. rerhai)s tlic latest remark of the visitiu- was made after 
 the Senator had resumed dictation. The trained ear and Ini.sy 
 mind caujilit it. Wiien the dictation stopped the Senator went 
 right on with the con\ersation. lie did not repeat to his ste- 
 nographer. He did not ask his visitor what he had Just said. 
 And the ojieniug and reading of newspapers continued. The 
 mind had triple caiiacity seemingly. This statement nuiy be 
 called incredible. Those who knew the Senator will verify it. 
 Mr. I'Li Dili's fellow Senatius often remarked \\\nn\ tills jit-culiar 
 faculty or activity of mind. It «as this which enabled him to 
 carry so long -'as much work as six men could iia\e done ami 
 
luUtorial Notices. :15 
 
 Id-csiTVc tln'ir lives," III (|n(.ic tlic wdids .iC Si-iiaini .Mjiiidcrson. 
 Of \ii|iolf(iii \\w liisfoiiaiis say lie could ica<l witii mic eve and 
 write with the .idicr: that is, he cdiiid caiiy Iwo train- (if 
 tlu.iiglit in liis tiiiiid at tlic same time. This cxtraordinarv 
 faculty Senator Pi.tMU possessed. Often lie arose to address 
 tlie Senate and as lie did so would jiiek uj) from tlie desk in 
 front of him paper after paper. The casual oliserver tliou.i;hi 
 tliese were notes of what tlie Senator wanted to .say. Thev 
 were not. They were the letters of the morning's mail which 
 lie had -athered up and brouiilit into the Senate chamber with 
 hull. He was actually addressiiii;- the Senate and at the same 
 time .u'oing thioii^h his correspondence. 
 
 He took a thousand periodicals, and he bouylit more books 
 than any other member of the Senate. Most of the jieriod- 
 icals were weekly jjapers. For the purchase of books he had a 
 peculiar arrangement which he explained not long- ago. One 
 of the largest book-dealing houses in Xew York sent him 
 monthly, or oftener. a descriptive ILst of everything received 
 in stock since the Ibrmer report. On this list the Senator 
 checked all that aroused his interest. The list was returned 
 to the dealer and the box of books came. It was seldom that 
 the Senator's room did not contain one of these monthly or 
 fortnightly consignments ot the latest volumes. He went 
 through the books in the same steam-enginelike way he did 
 everything. 
 
 Senator rLUMU answered over .Kt.ood letters a year. Sen- 
 ator Manderson says: "A jiuy would probably tind that Sena 
 tor Plumb was killed by his correspondents." While Congress 
 was in session ^Ir. Tlumb's letter mail never dro](ped be- 
 low 100 a day and often it reached 200 a day. And all let 
 ters were answered. There are public men who hav.- litho- 
 graphed forms to meet ordinary demands of correspondents. 
 They receive a letter and reply with one of these forms. Tell 
 
:^6 Life a)ui Character of IVcsloii li. Plumb. 
 
 iiitr the corrfsiiiiiitii-iit liis •■ ict|iiest \vill n-cci\c (lucatteiitimi." 
 Tliis was not tlickiml nf trfiitiiR-iit Sfii:it(ir Pi.UMH <;avo. He 
 was iiitfnsi-ly ami lioncstly inactical. Wln-ii aiivbtxly wrnte 
 
 asking liiiii t"i ilo s 'tliiiij; lu- tried lo (In it it' it was williin 
 
 the range ut' pnilia'iif ;ii(()iiii)lisliiiient. Tlie Senator liad let- 
 ters tVoni pension aii]ili( ants, letters liom homesteaders, letters 
 fioui fanners who wanted seeds, from jteople who had sutVeied 
 from Indian iaid>. litters from those who wanted ai)i(oint 
 ments. I'.esides all of these classes whom he tried to serve he 
 was in correspondenee with i)eople all over the country who 
 wanted to exchange ideas. To this latter kind of correspoml- 
 eiice he gave a great deal of time, for it was a cardinal iirinci- 
 ple with him to kee]) track of public sentinu-nt. That was one 
 reason why he receive<l and read every Republican paper and 
 and most of the other papers published in the State of Kan- 
 sas. He could go through these news])ai)ers w itli the practiced 
 hand anil eye of an old newspaiier man, but he saw all that lie 
 wanted to see in every one of them. These newspai>ers were 
 not taken to his committee room to l)e run over by a i)rivate 
 secretary who might call the Senator's attention to what he 
 thought interesting to him. To the day of hisdeath the\ went 
 to the Seimtor's rooms to be handled by him alom\ 
 
 '•1 am rei)resenting the peoiile of Kansas. Tiny want 
 these things, and they elected nn- to carry out their wishes.'" 
 This is what the Senator said one da,\ to some of the j-'.astern 
 ]!ei)ublicans when they Sought to intluencc him during the 
 taritf and silver .struggle in the last Congress. He made it 
 his business to be in line w ith the sentiment of his State. He 
 hail that |iurposc in niiiiil when he said this wholesale reading 
 of his State papers was the best political investment he ever 
 made. Kansas is a State where sentiment changes ipiickly. 
 The raretied atmosphere sweei)ing down from the Rocky 
 :Monntains inspires intellectual activity. Senator I'l.rMB 
 
Hdilonal Notices. 37 
 
 might be away lor the best part of the year, l)ut this cuustaiit 
 contact with Kansas sentiment through the newspapers k('])t 
 him in touch with iiis people. He grew strongx'r in tlieir es- 
 teem every year. C^)nay used to say, with evident adniiratiim : 
 "He is the best politician of us alh He lias got the local polit- 
 ical conditions of his State at his lingers" ends all of the time." 
 
 Does any one ask for more detiniteness about the load Sena- 
 tor Pm'MB was cairying for hiscoustitueuts? There are pend- 
 ing to-day in the Pension Office over (),000 claims for Kansas 
 iu various stages of ])rogress, all tiled and pushed by Seuator 
 PLr:\ii!. '-Let me see: there was something I wanted to talk 
 to yon about," he said one morning as he came out of the Sen- 
 ate restaurant ; it was less than a week before he died. As he 
 walked slowly toward the Senate barber shop he said: " We 
 have got to do something ab<uit this pension business. It is 
 going too far. 1 think you could get up an interesting letter 
 on the s\ibject. I can furnish you with a lot of material." Au 
 iudetinite engagement was made for the near future, but death 
 canu' before it was fulfilled. 
 
 Thcie was a conversation of some length on Thursday, the 
 day the Seuator went to Philadelphia to consult the specialist. 
 Dr. Pepper. Ft related to the candidacy of Ex-(tov. George T. 
 Anthony for the Interstate ( 'ommerce conimissi(niership. The 
 scene was a typical one for the Senator's room. Air. Plumb 
 sat at his tall desk, without any vest aiul without a shirt collar. 
 A great gray dressing gown, without ornamentation, plain as 
 an army blanket and of not much finer texture, was thrown 
 around him. He had not had time to go to breakfast. The 
 Iiour was an early one tbr A\"ashington. On the desk was a 
 heap t)f typewritten answers to correspondents. Two ladies 
 sat waiting in one corner of the room. Private Secretary Flen- 
 nikcn stood behind the Senator, taking memoranda of various 
 Department matters to be attended to. ('ol. Manning sat at 
 
3S fjfc and CItaractcr of Preston />'. Plii»ib. 
 
 the wiiiilow waitiu!,' I'ni' a coiilVreuce on a matter nf business. 
 A telegram was shown ti> the Senator. It iiromiiteil liim to 
 hiy aside all other matters and enter into a eonlidential eon- 
 versatiou. Oidy wlun he was greatly interested did he give 
 his mind to a single line of thought. ITe talked for ten or tit- 
 teen minutes, going over the matter of ExGov. Anthony's ean- 
 didacy anil the opi)osition of Congressman Funston. There 
 was no trace of anger in his niauncr. lint in most earnest lan- 
 guage the .Senator exi)ressed his regret that such ])ersoiial dif- 
 ferences had occurred. He told how a State's influence was 
 crijuiled at AYashington when representative men of the ]iarty 
 fell out, as in this case. He described the effect of Mr. I'uns 
 ton's hostility toward Anthony at the White House. The ques- 
 tion was not as to the truth of what Funston had charged. 
 The fact that he had gone to the I'residenf and had |)rotested 
 showed tlie lack of liarniony in Kansas anil ])roMi]iIeil tlic Pres- 
 ident to ignore the State in the matter of this ai)]»ointment. 
 The Senator deplored the action of Mr. Funston on tlielatter's 
 account. He said that it could notbutluirt tiie l\ei)resentative 
 in his district. He could not see howa man could so permit his 
 personal resentment to injure himself. 
 
 This talk illustrated a jthase of the Senator's character. 
 His intensely practical nature enabled him to see the folly of 
 anger, and it was very seldom that his temper got the better 
 of liini. There are not many i)eiiplc in Washington who ever 
 .saw Scnatoi- IM.imh really angry. 
 
 ^Mention has been made of the Senator at worlc al his desk 
 before breakfast. That was a common custom witli him. Ijcss 
 than a week before lie died lie arose one morning anil ilirlated 
 the answers to Id.j letters l>efore breaklast. I'suallx he die 
 tati'd his letters to the stenographer in the atternoon. Hut he 
 never allowed the tyjiewritten copies to go out nnlil he had 
 read and revised everv line. This was the work he most fre 
 
luUtorial Xoticcs. 39 
 
 ((iiC'iilly (lid llie first tliiiii; iil'tci- lie ai'osc in tlir iiKiriiiiii;. Ilr 
 read closely (^veiy lettei' l)et'()rt^ it went out iiiid lie sinneil his 
 liMlue. Those w lio ieeei\e(l letters lii:iili'(l within the hist three 
 or four (la\s before he (lied will notice the difference in tlie 
 signature. The once strong, hold hand worked irregularly and 
 trenililingly toward the last. The hraiii was failing. 
 
 ExSeiuitor Ingalls made this rather suri)rising remark 
 about Mr. 1'LUMb the other day: "Then; was no gush, no 
 pathos, no reveries, nor reminiscences, nor retrospeetiou about 
 him. He was not by nature or habit a sentimeutalist.'" It 
 seems hardly possible that this is a correct quotation of ^Ir. 
 Ingalls. There was no man in the Senate who enjoyed reminis 
 eeuces more than did Senator Plumb. That was almost the 
 only relaxation be gave himself and his enjoyment of it was 
 infectious. He would at times throw everything aside and 
 talk of the war as he had seen it, of the men he had known, 
 of the places he had visited. His narrations were most vivid. 
 A few nights ago he leaned back in his chair and for the last 
 time told the story of Buck and Uall to Senator Paddock, of 
 Nebraska, and another caller. The anniversary of the first 
 and only issue of Buck and Ball was at hand. The Senator 
 said he was going to celebrate it with a little dinner. "Pad- 
 dock,"' he added, "you must be sure to lie there. Don't make 
 any other eugagenient for that night.'' 
 
 Pltmb's regiment — he was then major — the I'^leventh Kan- 
 sas, had gone down into Arkansas for its baptism of tire. It car- 
 ried a great 72caliber weapon, which was loaded with a feartiil 
 charge of •' l)uck and ball." Tom Ewiug, the colonel, used to in- 
 sist that his command ought to be classed as "light artillery." 
 Plumb said that when the Eleventh went out for target prac- 
 tice people moved over into the next county. At Cane Hill, 
 hidden away in a log cabin on the outskirts of the village, the 
 Eleventh found what was lett of a country newspaper outlit. 
 
40 Life and Cluxractcr of Preston J3. Plnnib. 
 
 It Iiad bet-n iimvcd from Talik-ciiiali, tlie Cherokee rapital, and 
 soiiif 111' till' letters were tlie ("lierokee characters. Tlie tyi)e 
 was soattereil in ilie dirt ami the press was in fragments. 
 I'Ll'MB, Koss, (who voted against the impeachment of Andrew 
 .Johnson I. and 8. J. Crawford (afterwards governor of Kansas) 
 were among the })rinters in tlie Eleventh. Thi-y gathered up 
 the type, sorted it. and in the rest which followed the live days' 
 i-unning tight they inocceded to get out a iiewsi)aper. 
 
 "Oiu- of our lirst difliculties," said the Senator, as he told the 
 story to the two listeners, "was to get enough big letters for 
 the title. The boys who had been ahead of us had pickeil out 
 the Job tyi)e for initial letters and liail carric(l them oil'. We 
 chose the nanu- of the paper to confoi m to our scanty stock of 
 big type. The exigency of the font rather than the appropri- 
 ateness suggested Buck and Hall. Short as it was we needed 
 a letter or two. Crawford or Hoss or somebody else whittled 
 out the substitutes from a sticl;. N\"c did not capitalize in all 
 cases where it was needed and we used italics in the middle of 
 words. It wasn't because we didn"! know better. Welinally 
 got together enough tyi>e of various kinds to set up a six col- 
 umn Ibrni. \\\ I he tinietliat was ready the old press had been 
 tinkered into siiape to run. The next thing was white i)aper. 
 .Some of the l)oys in another command had got hohl of a lot of 
 (luarti-rmaster blanks. These we traded for, agreeing to give 
 om- i)rinted sheet for so many blank sheets. A few rolls of 
 wall i)aper helped out. Alltogether we managed to get the 
 paper to print \.7AV.\ copies ou one side, .lust as we were run- 
 ning off the last sheets word came that Hindman wasajiproach- 
 ing. We dniiijicd e\-erythiiig right there and went into bat- 
 tle." 
 
 The Senator told of the tighting which ensued. In the 
 movement of tlie troojis Cane Hill was temiioraril\ evacuated. 
 As his men fell back through the village Maj. l'l.l■^II! could 
 
Editorial Soliccs. 41 
 
 not resist tlic t<'iii|il;iti(>ii tn li;i vc <iiic moic look ;it liis l('iii])()- 
 rary iiriiitiii<;' iitlicc. 'I'licre lay the form and Ilir picss and 
 lialf-iiriutcd edition oT r>nci< and Kail, ll seemed too had to 
 lose all tliat trouide. 
 
 •• I hastily rolled the iiapeis np in a bundle," said llie Sen- 
 ator, "tied a cord around them, and earried the liundle to the 
 door. Tile last and)nlaiice was Just lieinj; (liiven oH'. I hailed 
 it, threw the Inmdle into the rear end of the \\ai;on. and saw 
 the team dash uji the hill and away. I joined my men and we 
 went in another direerioii. The next day we fouj;ht tlie liattle 
 of I'rairie Grove, and two days afterwards we had oui- hands 
 full with the wounded. The tldrd day I went in search of my 
 papers. The l)uudle was all ri^ht. Soon after nc rt'oeeupied 
 Cane Hill. Onee more we gathered u]> the type from the dirt, 
 where the (Confederates had scattered it, put the old ram- 
 shackle ijress together, set u]) the other side of the pai)er, 
 and jirinted an account of the battle of Prairie Grove. The 
 paper was dated the (ith. The battle of Prairie Grove didn't 
 eome off until the 7th, and that is how the discrepancy oc- 
 curred. We got out and distributed the K.'idO copies of Buck 
 and Ball. Our motto was: • Kansas is Pisen to the Mull on 
 "Em.' We got that sentiment from a long-legged fellow who 
 enlisted in the Eleventh as we passed through northern Ar- 
 kansas, and who had an intense a<lniiration for the way in 
 which we invaded his State."' 
 
 A man lay in a dazed condition in a Lea<lville boarding- 
 house. It was during the rush for fortunes, when th.it I'ity 
 was only a miinng camp. Monntain i)m'umoniai caught its 
 victims and carried them over the divide like a whifl'. This 
 man's condition was that critical stage when a few hours' 
 continuance at 1.100 I'eet altitude meant jmeumonia and death. 
 PLt':MB, \\ho was fortune seeking in the camp, heard of the 
 sick man. Twentvtive vears before the two had been friends 
 
\'2 Life and Characttr of Presloti />'. Plumb. 
 
 iiiiil linsiiics> :iss((ci;itcs ill Kiiiisas. Twenty yt'ius licHuc they 
 had (lirten-d and iniani'led. Tlii-y liad not sijokt-n to carli 
 other in all that intorini, though their paths had crossed and 
 recrossed. l'fihai)s hard words had hci-n spoken to nniiual 
 friends. Into the sick man's room at early morning came 
 I'H'MB, witliont a word of jirevious intimation to pave the 
 way. •■Von must get ont of this." he said, after a look. A 
 couple of Irours later, the sick man. wrapiicd in Mankets, was 
 lifted down stairs and into a four-hor.m' anilmlance, which was 
 wtu'tli nione.v in those days. Over and down the mountain 
 went the outtit to Talk City, then the terminus of the rail 
 roa<l. liie sicl; man was lit'ted iiitn a special car. I'Ll'MB 
 was still by his side. He did not leave liim until he saw him 
 in a hotel in Denver and in the hands of people wlio would 
 nurse him through. Then, with a '"You'll he all right now," 
 he was off. The two did nut meet again for years. But the 
 .story explains why, on Sunday night, Kichard .1. Iliiiton 
 walked the streets of Washington weeping like a cliilil. Tlie 
 news of Senator Plumh's death had just reached him. 
 
 "A strong man was PlUjVIH," said lie wliose life had lieeii 
 saved as described, and his voice shook with emotion, •' in all 
 senses and w;iys except taking care of himself. Re gave gen- 
 erously of liis vital forces and never balanced the spending. 
 It was his ambition to serve well, and as lie was conscious of 
 aliility to do so on a generous scale he was ambitious of ;i 
 large i)Iace. Incb-ra i)rus(|ue. but lu-ver a riide exterior, he 
 veiled one of the kindest of dispositions. He was a man of 
 sim])le courage; lie nexfr could have known how to avoid or 
 evade a danger <ir duty. pli,\ sical or mental. Nn man dcspiseil 
 mere conventionalism more than he did. and so he was at wai' 
 with the liction tlial the I'nited States Senate is the finest 
 ot' clubs. He made it a Ibrcefnl arena and always held it in 
 liiiiiiir as a lofty forum. He was a man Tiot afraid of his \alct. 
 
Ediloriixl S^oliccs. 43 
 
 I'm iir iicxcr (Ircaincd dC bciiii; :i luTn. He (iiily stiuvc to l>r 
 a lully tM|iiij>iicil, lioiM'st workinan. tlir noblest limiuiii in oiii 
 daily lil'f. I lia<l iiotic('(l in liiin of latr a niildci' jiiduiiiciit ; 
 k'ss ol' tlu' IJersei'ki'i', a liioio genial halancint;' ot" will and 
 action." 
 
 Sonatof Vltimi? liad a ciocd. lie did not lu'lifvc iinu-li in 
 saints and lie fonnd some j^ood in all sinners. One time, 
 when tlieie was a \\a\e .if deniHiciatioii aii'ainst the jNIormoiis 
 sweepiii.i; o\fi' the eonnti>' and itromptiiig the ino.st se\ cie 
 IcLlislation, the Senatoi- told a stoiy. After the war closed, 
 I'l-UMi! ami the I'lleveiith ('a\alry were sent out to tight 
 Inditnis on the plains. They continued at this service uutil 
 they were almost the last \dluiiteer troops to be mustered out. 
 While thus engaged they camped one night not far from a 
 ban<l of Mormon con\erts on their way to Salt Lake. The 
 soldiers learned that smallpox had broken out iu the Mormon 
 cara\au; that the j^'oide had remained in camp some days. 
 There was a suspicion that the party might be iu some dis- 
 tress. Plitmi! h'ft his soldiers ami went down to the Mor- 
 mons, lie met an elder in charge of the converts. After 
 he had looked at the sick and had arranged to sujiply their 
 immediate necessities, Plumb entered into eou\ersatiou with 
 the elder. 
 
 "1 found him." he .said, "a i>lain, simple man. ami I drew 
 him out. I got him into (Hinversation about Ins leligioii, about 
 the motives which i)rompted him to go on a mission to these 
 peo])le, to labor with them, and to start with them across the 
 jdains for Salt Lake, We sat there talking well into the night. 
 I tinally left the elder, satisfied in my mind that his motives 
 were i)ure and good and that he was honestly trying, in his 
 own way and according to his own light, to do the best he 
 coiUd fill- humanity. That was the first timi' I had ever had an 
 opiiorttinify to sfuily these jieculiar peojile. 1 maile the most 
 
4 1 Life and Cliaractcr of Pnstoti B. J^liiinb. 
 
 "fit; ami ever since liu-ii, while (■(indeuiiiinn some of their 
 ln-iK-tiees — as all of us must — 1 have felt that they were at least 
 entitled to tie credited with a I'crtain honesty of purpose." 
 
 Ml. ln,L;alls must lie mistaken in another respect. Nobody 
 who witnessed the evident pleasure with which Senator TLfMii 
 jrreeted a friend he had not seen for twenty years would say 
 he was without .sentiment. And the nundx-r of these old ac- 
 i|uaintanees who hunted up the Senator was fnither pionf tliat 
 he was not cold-hhioded. In his busiest hours the Senator 
 welcomed the partners of his pioneer days. He would leave 
 the conijiany of fellow Senators under almost any cinum 
 stam-es to ■•ha\c a talk with a man I haven't seen since 
 the war." Be used to say to those old friends that it felt real 
 pjod to "seethem ami rub noses awhile." One nioniingr helaid 
 down a li-tter with an eia<'ulatiou of pleasure, and tuiiiingtold 
 tliis stoiy: '-In 1S.")7. before we had a postollice at Eiujjoria, 
 we used to leave messages iu the cleft of a tree at the ford of 
 the Neosho above town. A letter left tlieie would in time 
 reach the person to wiiom ir was addressed, for everybody 
 crossed at that ford and Imiked in the cleft of the tree. One 
 day I tbnnd a note there for me. It was from a man who had 
 left it to inform me he was tired of Kansas and was going 
 liack home. From that ilay to this 1 have never heard from 
 him. I didn't know ln' was living until this morning 1 received 
 this letter from him in Oregon.'' Then the Senator smiled. le- 
 read the letter, and put it away. 
 
 The world knows the story of how the marks of the small- 
 l)ox came ujton the Senator's face. He went, when no one else 
 would, to the rescue ol' a poor homesteader « Im was dying in 
 his claim shanty on tlie Kansas ]irairie thirty live years ago. 
 But the world does not know that this Senator who had no 
 "jjathos" in his nature spent every year in m-ver-iiaraded char- 
 ity twice ihe amount of his seinit<irial salar\. \\hen the peo- 
 
Editorial Koticrs. 
 
 4r. 
 
 pie with whom tlic Senator lived imt tliiii.us in (.nl.T a couple 
 of days ajio, after the Iuih ral, they found in a drawer a buii- 
 <lle ..f croehet work for the holidays. They were inystifuMl at 
 first. Then they reinembered that they had seen an old lady 
 at the door with a basket of these articdes tryin.u to sell si.nie 
 of her handiwork. They remembered that on that sanu' morn- 
 inj;- the Senator had come to them and S(>f '» quantity of 
 ehanse. Hince then the old lady has eoni.' a,<;ain, and she has 
 told of her talk with the kind Senator and of his promise to 
 buy all the croehet work she could make njito Christmas time. 
 There was another discovery which brou.cht moisture to 
 the eyes. In the Senator's room, after the removal of the le- 
 niains, was lonnd a eollecton of holiday presents. The Sena- 
 tor had planned to have Lis s<m come down from school in 
 Pennsylvania to spend the holidays with him, and he had 
 found time in the midst of his public eugasements to lay iu a 
 stock of siu'prises. Can a man who loved all children, as Sen- 
 ator Plumb did, be said to have no " pathos," no "sentimental- 
 ism ?" He did nuxeli of the work which came to him from the 
 pure enjoyment it gave liim to be helpful to others and with- 
 out seltishness of motive. It was particularly a pleasure to 
 him to see young men get along well. And he despised thor- 
 oughly anything which savored of cynicism. If there was one 
 thing more than another which aroused the Senator's combat- 
 iveuess, it was when somebody who had soured on the world 
 began to talk in a f;iult-ti;iding, scornful, contemptuous way. 
 He would let out on such a visitor with a vigor which was in 
 
 teresting to hear. 
 
 The gentleness and tenderness toward the invalid wife 
 were beautiful. The Senator was of powerful mold. He had 
 biceps like a blacksmith's. Sometimes when he went out in a 
 hurry he slammed the door so that it could be heard from base- 
 ment to attic. But in the presence of the frail wife and 
 
46 Life and C/iarnc/t r o/ Pristoii />'. Plumb. 
 
 iiiotlier tlie jrifat stmnj,' man was another cliaiactcr. Ilis 
 voice took on a tone luinsual to tliosp who only knew him in 
 pnblic life. Ilis movenu'nts were snbchied and his manner in- 
 describably (h'lieate. His mental stienj,'th was known of all 
 men. The ^ioodness of his charaeter was nut worn upon his 
 sleeve. 
 
 MAXTFESTATIOXS OF SORROW IN TOI'KKA. 
 
 The funeral train pas.sed from Washington to I^mporia by 
 way of the Pennsylvania, Missonii I'acitie, and Atehison, 
 Topeka and Santa Fe lines. Along the route everywhere were 
 manifestations of love and respect for the dead. At Kansas 
 <'ity the governor of Kansas anil a large number of Slate 
 otlicers and other distinguished citizens met the funeral train, 
 which was at once attached to a sjiecial train on the Santa Fe 
 provided by Hon. Cleorgc It. I'c(•]^. .Vt Lawrence an immense 
 throng had gathered at the station, a special demonstration 
 being made Ity the Grand .Viiiiy posts of the city. 
 
 Long before 1(» o'clock a. m., December 23, the hour at 
 which the funeral train was expected to arrive in Topeka. the 
 streets along tlie line of manli of the funcial cortege were 
 lincil with men. women, and children, eager to obtain a view of 
 the solemn procession. lUisincss houses on Kansas a\('nue 
 were draped in mournini; and many of them weic closed in 
 res])ect for the honored dead. Tlic ]iublic schools were dis- 
 missed, and the children tlocked lo the Statchonsc and soon 
 crowded thestepsand tilled the halls and corridors. Incoming 
 trains brought large numbers of peoi)le fromsurroundingtowns, 
 who Idled the hotel lobbies and heli)ed t<j swell the crowds on 
 the streets. A feeling of profound grief seemed to iiei\adi- 
 the community. 
 
Ccrciiionics lu Top( ka. 17 
 
 Wlifii it was liMinrd that tlic riiiicial train was late, the 
 ciiiwd, ratlin- than take any clianci' of missing' the opin)r- 
 tuiiity (if witrn'ssiiij;- the procession, lichl its position ou the 
 street. The number steadily increased, until at noon it was 
 next to impossible to move alony the densely j>acked walks. 
 It was 1 o"cloek when tiie first gun was tired in the State- 
 house S(|uare announein.n' the arrival of the train, and at inter- 
 vals of every thirty seconds from that rime until the procession 
 had made its slow Journey from the depot to the Statehouse 
 the heavy detonation of the cannon was heard. 
 
 After the arrival of the train the procession was formed with 
 little delay and the march to the capitol was taken up. 
 
 Col. J. W. F. Hughes, chief marshal, and Chief of Police 
 .John Gardiner led the procession as it starteil from the station. 
 Following them was a platoon of twelve Topeka, iiolicemen, 
 commanded by Sergeant O'Kourke, and eighteen policemen 
 from Kansas City, Kans., led by Capt. I'orter. Marshall's 
 military band, playing the "Dead ^larch in Saul," followed; 
 and next were the Knights Templar, sixty strong and in full 
 uniform. The next in line were eighteen veterans, the little 
 remnant of Col. Plumb's old regiment, the Eleventh Kansas. 
 Following them marched the Royal Arch Masons. Company 
 C, of the Kansas National Guard, followed, with arms reversed. 
 
 The honorary pallbearers, lion. F. P. Baker, Judge F. G. 
 Adams, Kx Gov. T. A. Osborn. Col. C. K. Holliday, lion. 
 George E. Peck, Judge J. B. Johnson, l>r. S. E. Sheldon, and 
 Di'. M. O'Brien, were next in line. 
 
 The burial car, drawn by four black horses heavily dra]ied, 
 followed. The active pallbearers, eight iu number, marched 
 on either side. They were: Hon. J. K. Hudson, MaJ. William 
 Sims, Col. Joel Ilnntoon, Judge John ^Martin, Judge John 
 Guthrie, Capt. C. :M. Foulks, Fiank P. MacLennan, and S. P. 
 Wa.le. 
 
48 Life and Character of Pres/on li. Plumb. 
 
 Tlio couiiiiiitcc iVuiii the National Conjjfress Iblloweil in car- 
 riages. 
 
 Tlic four <;. A. i;. posts of Toipclia niuiciiril in line, with 
 Lincoln post No. 1 leadinji. They woe I'dlli.wr.j liy Old Abe 
 caiiip. Sons of Veterans. 
 
 The ])rocession was one of the jonjrest ever seen in Topcka, 
 and altiioiifili thr ]iartici|iarits marched in close order the 
 head of the i)rocessiou had reaeiied Sixtli street hefme tiie 
 last carriage left the depot. 
 
 Tiionsaiids gathered about the Statehouse as the procession 
 iieared the end of its journey and a dee|i silence fell over the 
 vast crowd as the i)allbearers witli gentle liands bore the 
 casket u]) the steps of the cajiitol Imilding into tiie senate 
 chamber. Toi)eka coininandery Knights Temi)lar hail i)re- 
 ceded them and as the jiallbearers a))iieared witii tlieir burden 
 
 the knights were drawn uj) in two eolunins ither side of 
 
 the catafalque upon which flic casket was dej)osited. The 
 pallbearers took a ])artiiig view of the dead and passed out the 
 near exit. Tlie committees of Senators and Representatives 
 ])assed through tiie ehand)er and after a short rest were con- 
 veyed to their hotel. The ])ublic was then ailmitted to the 
 senate chamber and it is estimated that fully l."),U(i(i ])cople 
 cast a i)arting glance at the dead Senators face during the 
 three hours following. 
 
 AVlien the time arrived to continue the mournful Journey to 
 -Mr. I'Lt'MH's old iinme niany thousands more massed about 
 the entrances to tlie senate chamber and in the grounds sur- 
 riiuniiing the capilol. At ."> o'clock Ilic <askct was returneil 
 to the special Santa Fe train, accompanied by the ])rocession, 
 which re-formed in its origiiml order and marched .soleniidy 
 back to the railway station. The casket having been re|)laced 
 in the funeral car the tiain resumed its journey. 
 
Ol)ii-(jiius at Emporia. 4!) 
 
 OBSEQUIES AT EMPORIA. 
 
 Tlie siu'cial train arrived in Emporia at 0:50 o'clock, Decem- 
 ber 2.'). The hearse was phiced at the northwest corner of the 
 depot and the members of the G. A. R. in Enijjoria formed 
 ill double lines from the hearse to the car containing the re- 
 mains. Company E, Kansas National Guard, was also formed 
 on the platform. 
 
 Tlie (i. A. R. members and old soldiers, under command of 
 F. S. Domm, numbered three hundred, which, with Company 
 E and the citizens and a committee from the Knights Templar, 
 made fully three thousand people at the depot. A detail of 
 the survivors of Col. Plitmb's old rej;imeut, the Eleventh Kan- 
 sas, in charge of Lieut. VV. V. Phillips, was made up as fol 
 lows : Messrs. John Logan, Noah Gibson, John Ferren, Thomas 
 Barber, B. F. Parker, Chris. Wise, J. G. Schocck, N. Ryno, J. 
 A. Newlin, and Isaac Newall. Tliese ten men were the only 
 members of Col. Plumb's regiment residing in Lyon ('(mnty. 
 The remaining- snr\ivors arrived later. 
 
 Tin- procession was then formed, under the direction of Chief 
 Marshal Col. J. M. Steele, in the following m-der: 
 
 G. A. R. Department Commander T. McCarthy and staff, 
 constituted as follows: A. R. Greene, senior vice-commauder; 
 J. L. Spencer, junior vice-commander; A. B. Campbell, ad- 
 jutant-general; Henry Bootli, quartermaster-general; G. F. 
 Little, judgeadvocate-geueral; N. E. Harmon, department 
 chaplain; T. B. Gerow, chief of staff; and also A. Reynolds 
 and R. H. Campbell, members of the council of administration. 
 J. P. Worrell, of Larned, was the color-bearer. Then came 
 S. Mis. 228 4 
 
50 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 tln' hfarsf. drawn l)y two white horses, with ]iostillioiis at tlicir 
 beads. The j;iiaiil of iioiior and detail from tlie Kh-veiith 
 Kansas, as mentioned above, walked on either side of the 
 hearse, whieh was followed by Mayor Biddle, D. W. Eastman, 
 J. M. Crillith. Dr. Jacobs, ,1. L. W. Bell, T. H. MeMillan, and 
 Samuel Emmons. Next eame carriages coutaining the .Sen- 
 atorial committee, the House committee, aud other otiicials. 
 Following tlie carriages eame the three huiulred (Iraud Army 
 of the lU'imblic members and old soldiers. Then came Com- 
 pany E, Kansas National (iuard, under command of Cai)t. W. 
 P. Wilcox, followed by citizens in carriages and on foot. 
 
 Oti reaching the family resi(h'nce the ciiief marshal and stall" 
 and veterans formed lines on either side of the walk leading 
 to the south door of the house. The detail of survivors then 
 carried tlie remains of their conn-ade to the entrance and de- 
 posited the casket in the liall, wlicic the face of the dead 
 Senator was uncovered to enable his sorrowing friends and 
 comrades to look ui)on the features now composed in death. 
 As the memliers of tlie Eleventh Kansas looked into the calm 
 and <niiet face, liot tears came unbidden from their eyes. 
 Slowly and reverently the friends departeil, leaving the re- 
 mains at the house under a guard detailed from the Grand 
 Army of the lJei)ubIic. This detail was com)>osed chietly of 
 the survivors of Col. I'LUMn's regiment, who. tliough in many 
 cases advanced in years or broken in health. bi>gged the privi- 
 lege of being assigned to this duty, and all night long did as 
 soldiers do, regardless of the bitter winter weather. One of 
 these brave old soldiers was asked late at niglit if he would 
 not like to be relievc<l. "No," he said, '-tliere wmihl be no 
 trouble about getting relieved. All the boys want to come."' 
 Another, .Mr. Evan Davis, who had been an immediate attache 
 of Col. Plumb through the war. led the Senator's horse in the 
 procession, and was ix-rmilled, at his urgent request, to do all 
 
0/j.''('//iu's at Einpuria. 51 
 
 the masonry work in i)r('i>ariiii;- the uravc. Every ohl associ- 
 ate oi' tlie Senator's iu the hard years of the war and before 
 seemed t() mourn as for tlie loss of a brother. Samnel Mid(Ue- 
 ton, the Henator's valet in Washin.i;tou, was iuconsohible. In 
 short, those who knew liim most cdosely monrned him most 
 deeply. 
 
 The private funeral services at tlie fanuly home bes^an a few 
 moments after 1(1 (j'eloek I)eceml)er 1.'4. The casket was snr- 
 ronnded by beautiful floral offerings. On one siile of it was 
 an elaborate Uoral ladder. The uppermost round of the ladder 
 was surmounted by two white doves, their wings exteuded as 
 if iioveriiii;- ovei' the spirit of the depaited. The father and 
 family of the deceased, with the families of George and A. W. 
 Plumb, brothers of the late Senator, were seated in this par- 
 lor. The intimate friends and Senatorial commiutees were in 
 the i)ailor adjoining on the north. The hall was also occu- 
 pied by friends. The ministers were seated at the doors 
 separating the two parlors. The choir, consisting of Mes- 
 dames Charles Harris and .1. C. Penny and Messrs. T. H. 
 Lewis and Charles Fletcher, sang the opening hymn, which 
 was followed by the scripture lesson read by Eev. S. A. Norton, 
 pastor of the First Congregational Church of Emporia. 
 
 Rev. Richard Cordley, of Lawrence, then made a short 
 address, iu which he dwelt upon the li>ss sustained by the 
 nation. State, county, city, and particularly the family, in the 
 death of one who had so endeared himself to the people he 
 represented. Special refereni'e was made to the sterling 
 worth, ability, and energy of the deceased. The one spot 
 dearest to him was his home, and to the family the blow comes 
 with redoubled force. Friends sympathize deeply, but can. 
 not allay the grief. Dr. Cordley closed his touching and elo- 
 quent remarks by ctjmmending the spirit of the deceased to 
 
52 Life and Character of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 the Heavi'uly Father and the nieuibers of the family to the 
 provideuce i«f (led. The choir then sang: "Jesus, Lover of My 
 Soul." Dr. Cordley followed in a l)rief but heartfelt prayer. 
 The choir then san^' ••.Vl)ide With Me," and the services were 
 over. Till- luriains were then drawn in the parlors and the 
 relatives were left alone with the dead. 
 
 Outside the house a vast throng was con}ire<:ated. Forty 
 inend)ers of the Knights Templar iu uuiform. tiuder eomnuuid 
 of ( '. W. Cleaver, were formed in line on either side of the walk 
 from the .south entrance to The curbing. The pallbearers 
 i-onveyed the remains to tlie hear.se. whi(di was drawn by lour 
 black hor.ses, all draped with heavy black nettings. The wlieels 
 were made solid in black crape ami the body of the hearse was 
 covered with drai>ings of black and white crape. The proces- 
 sion was formed under the direction of Chief Marshal Col. .1. 
 M. Steele ami Chief Aide E. F. Sprague. and reached to the 
 Fir.st Congregational ''hiuvh, tlie baud jilayiiig a magnilicent 
 funeral nundjer. 
 
 .\t the church the remains were given a position near the 
 the altar. As the i)allbearers and Congressional conunittee 
 marched into the church with the remains the organLst, Prof. 
 Will Davis, played a solemn dirge. 
 
 The remains were deposited in front of the altar and there 
 formally d<-livered to the Knights Templar. They at once took 
 charge and the sorrowing throng were permitted to take a linal 
 I.iuk at tiie face so familiar to them, but now composed in the 
 sleej) of death. Fiom 11 until '1 o'clock the remains were 
 kept in state and tlmnsaiuls of peoi)le from the city, Lyon 
 County, and all parts of the Slate |)asscd tlirough the clmicli 
 and viewed the remains of the citizen, soldier, and statesman. 
 While the morning services were going on special trains 
 from the various parts of the State brought many visitors to 
 the city who came to pay the last sad tributes of respect. 
 
Ol>s((/ni(S at JCiiiporia. 53 
 
 Over !()(» iiromiuenf citi/.eiis tiaiiif from Wichita, I^O came 
 in on tlic Missouri, Kansas and 'I'cxas noon train iVom the 
 noitli, and a i;rcat('i- immhcr came in on a special over tlie 
 same road from the sontii. Governor l[uni])hrey and State 
 ofliccrs and friends, nunil)erin.n' over L'OO, caim^ in at noon from 
 Topeka in a si)ecial train. Tlu' Clrand Army of tlie i;epnl)lic 
 posts and the Sons of N'eterans from ilait ford, Reading, Strong 
 City, Aniericus, Admire, and nei.^liboriny cities, with otlicr 
 visitors, added to the already larj^-e nnmber i)rcscnt, made at 
 the least calculation 10,000 visitors in the city. 
 
 Long before the hour apjiointed for the services tlie street 
 and sidewalks in the vicinity of the chnrcli were crowded with 
 peo])le. At l-Ao Department Commandei- (hand Army of the 
 Eei)nblic T. McCarthy and staff marched to the church. 
 They were followed liy the members of the (hand Army of the 
 Itcpublic and old soldiers, and later by Governor Humphrey 
 and staff; also, by Chief Justice Horton, Judge Valentine, 
 Su])reme Court Commissioners Simpson, Greeu, and Strang, 
 Hon. George T. Anthony, Hon. A. K. Greene, Hon. J. H. Mc- 
 Bride, suiierintcndent of insurance, and members of the sen- 
 ate and house of representatives. Upon arriving at the 
 church the various delegations remained standing while the 
 family and relatives were escorted to seats in front of the 
 casket. Then the general jmblie was admitted, and in a few 
 moments both the main room and lecture room were crowded 
 and an immense crowd was congregated about the church and 
 grounds. 
 
 The altar and platform were laden with a profusion of Horai 
 otferings from various organizations and friends. ( )n the left 
 stood an easel festooned with flowers surmounted by an Ameri- 
 can eagle. It is impossible to enumerate the various forms of 
 olierings and evidences of esteem, as seen in the floi-al tributes. 
 Promptly at 2 o'clock llev. John Jones, Rev. Dr. Cordley, Rev. S. 
 
54 Life and Character of Preston li. Plumb. 
 
 A. Norton, and IJi-v. Hcriianl Ivelly took seats on tlio nistnim 
 and the services ojieneil with an anthiMu sung l>y the same 
 choir that rendered the music at tiie morning service. Dr. 
 Cordley read a scripture lesson, tullnwed l>y the singing of the 
 bymn, '• In the Cross of Christ 1 glory." 
 
 Kev. Mr. Norton led in a fervent prayer, after which the 
 bymn '"At Evening Time Let There be Light" was suug. Dr. 
 Cordley, <>f Lawrence, then delivered the following funeral 
 sermon : 
 
 '• The life of Senator PuMH reads like a romance. With only 
 a common school education, he learned the printers" trade and 
 entered a printiuu otlice in Ohio. At the age of Ls he came to 
 Kansas, in 185G. Kansas was then in its beginnings and in 
 the throes of the great antislaverj- contest. The next year, 
 boy as he was, he helped to organize a town company, which 
 laid and fostered what is now one of our most enterprising 
 towns, this goodly city of ICmporia. To his wonderful fore- 
 siglit and energy Enii)oria largely owes iier remarkable success. 
 Without ever having had a full law-school education he com- 
 menced the practice of law at the age of 1.'4 and sliowed that 
 which would have made him shine in the legal profession. 
 Without any military training he became a colonel in the Army 
 at the age of -(> and led iiis regiment with skill and credit to 
 the end of the war. lie then entered the ])olitical tield. and 
 at the age of 29 was .speaker of the house of representatives 
 in the Kansas State legislature. In 1S77, at the age of 3Ji, he 
 was elected to the rnited States Senate. Thus in twenty 
 years a poor boy, without education or fortune or intluential 
 fricMids, had risen tn iiirinlifisliip of tijc ablest, most cultured, 
 and intluential body in the United States. 
 
 "Tiius far one might say there was nothing s]iecially strange. 
 Kansas was a new Commonwealth, just planted on the open 
 
Obst-qtiics at /iii/poria. 55 
 
 praiiifs. All tiic |ic(i|ilf were iicwcoincrs, as a itiatter of 
 cour.se. anil most ol' tlu'iii wcif licuiniicrs in iilc and young- in 
 years. Mr. Ph'MR was one with the rest. 
 
 " It was necessary tliat some of these sliouhl ji'o to the front 
 and occupy the positions which the cominji' in of a new State 
 bad created. In .uoinj;- to thi' Senate he simply came ont from 
 amonii' his peers to take a position which some of them must 
 take. But when he entered the Senate he became the associate 
 of men -to the manner born;' men for whom the best schools 
 had doue their best; men whose entire life had been spent 
 amid cultured surroundin,i;s and stinnilatiug influences; men 
 ■who had traveled and seen the world; men of large gifts and 
 long experience. The marvelous thing is that in such a body 
 this young man from the wild prairies of the west should at 
 once step to the front and become one of its most influential 
 and honored members. He was felt at once as a man of force, 
 aiul every year's ser\ice has increased his power. He won the 
 respect and esteem of all parties, and his judgment was sought 
 on all sides. Few men in the Senate had larger influence or 
 could accomplish more in the councils of that body. So fully 
 had he satisfled all classes and so fair had he been in all his 
 actions that at the last election to his third term every vote 
 cast in both houses of the State legislature was in his favor. 
 
 '•We have not far to look for the secret of his marvelous 
 .success. The first element of his power was his clear Jiulicial 
 mind. He always comprehendeil th(> situation at a glance. 
 The moment a question was stated his mind grasped it and 
 leaped to the solution. Whether it were a question of business 
 or imblic policy or of social life, he saw the vital point with the 
 immediateness of instinct. At a, glance all mists disappeared 
 and all entanglements "were unraveled and the solution was 
 instantly seized. It is no wonder such a man should be con- 
 stantly sought for by those who were puzzled in their afl'airs 
 
56 Life aud Character of Preston B. Pliiiitb. 
 
 or who were strujrfilin;;- w itli eomiilicuted (juestioiis rliey could 
 not solve. 
 
 •'I have walclicil liiiii wlieii he was at lioiiic tor a ilay itr two 
 of rest, as lie callcil it. 1 wniilil liiid liini in tlieollice at the 
 bank witli a score or so of men waitin}; to see hiiu. Every 
 one's ease was ditleicnt. Fiist it was a man wlio liad some 
 business to tiansael wiili liiiii; then it wouhl he a man who 
 wished to coiisiih iiiiii (111 tlic iiojiiical situation; tlien it wouhl 
 be an old soldier wliose j)ension case had liecome tangled up 
 in .some way in tlie tlepaitment ; tlien it would be a tale of 
 sorrow ealliii}^ for symi)athy: then it would be a ease of want 
 calliufr foi" cliarity. So tlicy came to him one after another, 
 an<l when these were jione others were waitinj;' their- turn. 
 Ue received all with tiie same patient cordiality and listeiu'd 
 to each with the same interested attention. When the case 
 of each was stated he seemed to grasp it instantly and his 
 response always seemed exaetly to meet tlie case. As I have 
 watched him thus listeninff ])atient]y to one case after another, 
 hour after iiour. all day long, while he was at home •• resting," 
 I wondered how long a man could endure a strain like that 
 or whether his min<l was so constituted tiiat it was no strain. 
 
 "There was another iptality in Senator I'li'mh's character 
 which x^erhaps had more to do with his success than his clear 
 and rapid judgment. He always did the thing that came to 
 hini and always did it at once. In a s|ieerh lie made here 
 years ago, I heard him tell what he considered the secret of 
 Emporia's success, and it has occurred to me since that he was 
 unconsci(msly telling the secret of his own success. He said: 
 'III our early gi'owth here in Emporia we always took in what- 
 ever was offered, whether it was Just what we wanted or not. 
 Hit was a small thing that offered, we took it. hoiiing it might 
 be the first installment of sonu-thing larger. The first rail- 
 road that offered itself did not seem to amoiiiit to much. Hut 
 
0/>s('{//ru\s at /■jiipDn'a. 57 
 
 we took it in, ami then the 8:iiita Ff railway came. \Ve never 
 let a small thin.i;- .^ci, liopini^ lor a lari;-er tliin.;;'.' That, I think, 
 describes Senator I'H'MI! in the methoils dT his own service. 
 He never ne.yieett'd what lay lielorc him, in anticipatiou of 
 something larger by and by. Ue was not all the while wait- 
 ing for some great 0|>i)ortiinitv or saving himself for some 
 great occasion. \Xv never read that Senator 1'htmi! could 
 not bo seen by his coustitiieuts because he was i)rei)aring a 
 great speech on some national theme. He met each occasion 
 as it came, and it mattered not whether the occasion were 
 large or small. He did that which came to him and did it at 
 once. Anything that concerned his con.stitiieuts concerned 
 him and any man that had a case could always get a hearing. 
 He was woiking for his constituents all the while, for small and 
 great, of all classes and all localities. No old soldier with a 
 good case ever went to him anil failed to enlist his sympathy, 
 and to enlist his sympathy meant to win, for he made each 
 case his own and iiressed it to a conclusion. The disi>atches 
 say he had over (i,000 pension cases before the Dei)artmeut. I 
 venture the assertion that he knew the nature of e\ery case 
 and was personally pressing each one to an issue. 
 
 "I had a frieuil in Lawrence who went into the army. At 
 the close of the war he was broken in health. He applied for a 
 pension, but on account of missing links in the evidence it was 
 delayed for many years. A few years ago the missing evi- 
 dence was supplied and a pension was granted him. But 
 when granted it was a mere pittance. He was now totally 
 disabled. He could just walk aI)out, but Ids Iiml)s were so 
 shaken of palsy that he could not even feed himself. He was 
 the most complete physical wreck I ever saw. Some three 
 years ago he told me his tale and asked me if I could not help 
 him to get an increase of pension. He was certainly entitled 
 to a full pension if any man ever was entitled to one. His case 
 
58 Life and Cliaracler of Preston B. Pliinih. 
 
 was clear and liis testimnuy ailiiiitted. r.iit his attorneys at 
 AVashington kept making him ei>sts, hut did nut advance his 
 ease. It did not seem as if they eared in iiciii liiin. I heard 
 the poor oUl sohlier's story witli laiiigh'd pity aii<l iiidiguation. 
 I tohl liiin I tlionght I knew a way to reacli liis ease. 1 wrote 
 to Senator I'LUMH and hiid tlie ease before him. Ue wrote me 
 at once for some facts l)y which lie could identify the ease 
 among the thousands ou tile at the depart iiicni. In an incredi 
 bly short time 1 met the old soldier, and he told me lie had 
 just received an increase to his jiension making it amjile for 
 liis need. This is hut one of many eases I have myself per- 
 sonally known. I never wrote iiiin unless 1 had a good case 
 and 1 never laid a case before him hut he took it uj) at once 
 auil pressed it to a successful issue. As Ex-Senator lugalls 
 said : ' He wanted results rather than dreams, and eared less 
 for distinction and fame Iliaii fur success and power." So 
 heartily did he espouse the soldiers' cau.se and so successfully 
 did he contend for it that he well deserves to share with Jnhii 
 A. Logan the title of the -soldiers' friend. 
 
 ■■ It has been said that his marked characteristie wa> his 
 capacity for work. But many people have a capacity for work 
 and unlimited endurance who yet aeeomplisli little. Mr. 
 Pli':mb ratiiei- iiad a marvelous capacity to make his work tell, 
 lie always <lid the elfective thing. He could do more things 
 and make them all come to time than any man 1 ever knew. 
 Ue had the faculty of tindiiig the spring tiiat moveii the whole 
 att'air. He would accomplish by the turn of a hand what 
 another might worry over for a day. This was his great 
 temptation to overwork. A man who can eft'ect .so much every 
 time lie moves is desperately tcmpteil to keep moving. When 
 with so slight an etl'ort he could ilo so much he could not aft'ord 
 to stand still. .Vnd it doubtless was an inspiration to see 
 things dispatilied by a timeli so sligiit or a woril so easily 
 uttered. 
 
Obsequies at Emporia. 59 
 
 "Ofliis iifisdiial ri'lijiioiis views 1 do not think lie often spoke, 
 lint he \v:is a lirni l)elie\-er in the ('hiistinn laitii and all it 
 implied. He always spoke of relif;ious things with the utmost 
 respeet and reverenee. I never iieard of iiini siieaking lightly 
 of sacred things in any eireiiiustanees or eoni|)any. He he 
 lieved in chni-ehes and i-ejoieed in their prosperity and growth. 
 When the elders of the -lews wonld eonnnend the centuriim to 
 Jesus they gave as evidence of his worthiness that 'he liad 
 built them a synagogue.' Ivausas is (h)tted over with ehurehes 
 which Senator Pluuib has liel|)ed to liuild. He was called 
 upon from all iiarts of the State, and he never refused a call 
 from a needy church. It is said that one of the last acts of his 
 life was to answer an appeal from a church in western Kan- 
 sas. There is not a church in this city \\\\w\\ has lutt received 
 largely from his bounty. He was tin- warm friend of Christian 
 education. When it was proposed to locate here a Christian 
 ci>llege he was among the first to advocate and urge the proj- 
 ect. He was one of the earliest friends of the College of 
 Emporia and aided it largely b.\ l)oth voice and jiurse. 
 
 "I have in mind two scenes which occurred in this house. 
 (Jne was when the house itself was being dedicated. We 
 needed a certain amount of money to relieve us from embar- 
 rassment. It seemed as if we should fall short. lint an in- 
 spiring word from him electrified the audience and changed 
 the whole aspect of affairs and the thing was done. The othei- 
 scene was at our conununion season one Sunday afternoon. A 
 large number were to unite with the church, among them two 
 of his own children. He had planned to be at home that day 
 and came with them and sat with them during the service. 
 The glow of interest which lighted up his face as the vows of 
 Christian consecration were uttered is a picture that still 
 abides in mj' memory and plainly showed he was not a mere 
 spectator. 
 
60 Lift- ami Character of PrcsloH li. Plumb. 
 
 ••Only once was it iiiy ^'ooil ibrtiiiie to iiu-ct liiin \\\w\\ tlic load 
 was otV. Two or tliri-e years ago we cliaiiced to liave ap- 
 poiiitmeiits ilif same iiij;bt in one uC nur iiitcrior towns. The 
 next niorninj;, after liis work was done, lie had to wait tor a 
 train In take liini to another plare. NVe were to;;vtlier with a 
 few friends while we were waiting-. For that honr In; had all 
 the ( liarniiiifj east- of a man that had not a care in the world, 
 and, in llu' frci- \\\a\ of his unburdened nund, thoughl and in- 
 cident and Inunor made the time pass rapidly and delightfully. 
 He was many sided as well as intense and etl'eetive. He 
 could ailapt himself to occasions and suit the humor of the 
 time, lie liail a inarxfious t'und of information on all practical 
 themes and conld throw on any sul)jeet the light of anecdote 
 and rare bits of knowledge he had gatliereil here ami there as 
 he came along. 
 
 ••So it is that his laicer reads like a romance. Without 
 sehools he yet became educated; without stopi)ing to ieani. he 
 yet absorbed as he moved a'ong a mass of information u iiicli 
 made him an authority on all practical topics; witliout traiidng 
 in any line of service he ,vet becanu' one of the most ertective of 
 men in law, in finani'c, in polities, and in siatesuuinship; with- 
 out early ad\'anlages he yet became the peer of men on wliom 
 schools and cultured surroundings ami travel ha<l poured 
 their richest gifts. 
 
 ■■ This is no ordinai'y mourning. All the people mourn, for he 
 was emphatically the people's friend. lie was not oul.\' kindly 
 disposed towards the ])eo|)le, but he was ont^ of tliein. and he 
 kiH'W their burdens and their conllicts and their sorrows. He 
 could sympathize, with an intelligent symjiatiiv which l;ii(\v 
 its own meaning and understood its own grounds. It was no 
 political pretension when he numifestetl his love for the jH-ojile. 
 He believed in the people ami he knew their s]»irit and their 
 neeils. The people are the mourners to day. Tiiere is all 
 
O/iscqiiiis at Emporia. 61 
 
 about the sense of a great sorrow and also tlic sense of a 
 great loss. As was said of f lie Egyptians as they were nioiuM 
 ing for Jae.ob, ' this is a grievous mourning' for the people of 
 Kansas. T>rot in the cities and eeiiters aloue, but in the vil 
 lages and in the cabins, ■ fai- ont upon the prairie,' there is a 
 sense of bereavement and loss. 
 
 " It is very sad to think how many of our greatest men have 
 fallen in the prime of life, when the best was yet to be hoped 
 of them. What a galaxy of bright names the record of the 
 last few years contains, and all striidcen in their prime. And 
 Kansas has had her full share of this common sorrow. Even 
 after these years no true Kansan t'an think without pain of 
 Dudley- Haskell, at the age of 41, ehising a career whose promise 
 BO man could measure. And now the man whose practical 
 wisdom and untiring energy had lifted him to greatness is cut 
 down in the very ripening of his powers. He had come to 
 stand for Kansas, the ])roduct and syndxd of her histoiy. 
 '■Ad itntrn inr ((speni^ {•im\{\ l)e written of him as of her. We 
 bad come to look to him and rely upon him in a rare degree as 
 our representatives and our hope. There is a sense of orphanage 
 to-day in all the hamlets and homes of Kansas and they will 
 remember him and mourn for liim many days. 
 
 "I do not forget, however, that there are nearer circles into 
 the sacreduess of whose sorrow I dare only glance. For there 
 is not only a bereaved people, but there is also a stricken home. 
 No man loved his home more than Mr. Plume. Though he 
 ■constantly touched so large a circle of intense and living inter 
 ests, there was a center to his life where his iutensest interest 
 and warmest affections dwelt. His public duties did not allow 
 him often to be at home, but his home was his delight and his 
 children were his joy and pride. 
 
 "This great sorrow, so wide extended and so universal, has 
 its focus at the home. That home is no less stricken because 
 
62 Life and CItaraclir of Preston B. Plumb. 
 
 the State is also stricken, and its sorrow is uo less keen and 
 overwhelniin},' heeanse tlie State also shares it and bears it. 
 Idare nm lunltiply winds on a theme so personal and sosaered. 
 No human words ean a\'ail in a sorrow so deep. I can only 
 eonunend this .stricken household to -the God of all comfort, 
 \A'h() comforteth us in all our tribulations.'" 
 
 The sermon concluded. Kev. Bernard Kelly offered a fervent 
 prayer. 
 
 The closinjr hymn, '• Lead, Kindly Lifjht," was then sun-r. 
 wliich concluded the exercises at the church. 
 
 Mrs. Plumb was not at tlie churdi services, but went with 
 the family to the cemetery. 
 
 Here the services were conducted by Hon. T. McCarthy, com- 
 mander Department of Kansas, (irand Army of the Republic, 
 escorted by Posts ."».") and (til and accom])anied l)y \isiting 
 coMiradcs and old soldiers not members of the (irand Army of 
 tlic Hepublic in tlie following; order: 
 
 Marshal and staff, mounted. 
 
 Band. 
 
 Kansas National (luanl. 
 
 I)e]>artment commander and staff. 
 
 i'osts of Grand Army of tlie He])ubli(^ and old soldiers. 
 
 Sons of N'eterans. 
 
 Pallbearers in carriajj-cs. 
 
 Hearse, with Eleventh Kansas marcliiug on each side. 
 
 Horse and eciuipments of deceased. 
 
 Family, in carriages. 
 
 Knifrhts Tcmi)lar. 
 
 Senatorial and House committees. 
 
 Governor and staff, in carriajres. 
 
 Visitors and citizens, in carriages. 
 
 As chief marshal. Col. .1. M. Steele was assisted by the 
 Ibllowiiit: aids: !■:. F. S])ra,irne. I). W. Fasiman. .1. L. W. 
 
/\(S<}//t//()//s of Respect. (53 
 
 Bell. J. (I. Traylcir. \V. V. I'liillips, \V. H. Gilcliiist. Cliailcs 
 Fletelicr, E. P. ItniuiT, Joseph Ri.kahMUf^li, II. W. Hutfmaii. 
 Ill the above order the funeral proeession took up the line 
 of march to tlic (■ciiietcry, where the beautiful ritnalistie service 
 of the (Irand Aniiy of tlic Kepublie was read by the Depart- 
 iiieiir ('oniiiiaiiili-r and the I >e]iart incut Clia plain X. E. Hani ion, 
 after whieli tlic earth leceived all that was mortal of tlie late 
 Senator, and slowly the sorriiwing friends retnrued to their 
 respective homes. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS OF l.'HSPECT. 
 
 TIIK STATK NOi;-\IAL SCHOOL. 
 
 At a regular meeting of the board .if regeuts of the State 
 Normal School, December L,'!!, 18!»1, the foHowing resolutions 
 were unaniujousjy adojitcd: 
 
 "AYhereas we to-day mourn the loss of an esteemed friend 
 and a distinguished fellow-citizen, the Hon. Preston B. 
 Plttmb, whose sudden death brings gloom and sorrow to our 
 whole Oommonwealth ; aud whereas he has ever been the 
 stanch friend and liberal supporter of every institution which 
 might conduce to the advancement, the enlightenment, and 
 the hajipiness of the people: and whereas the State Normal 
 School has had many occasions to bless his bounty and to re- 
 joice in his interest aud friendship: 
 
 "i>e // n'soliH'd, That as mendiers of the board of regeuts of 
 the State Normal S<hool we desire in tliis formal way to express 
 our profound appreciation of his sterling character as a man, 
 of his noble record as a citizen, aud <if his great services as a 
 represeutative of our State. 
 
 •^Kcsolnd, That we shall ever cherish his name and career as 
 worthy the emulation of eveiy citizen of the liepublic. The 
 
64 Lite and Character of Preston />'. rin»il>. 
 
 purity of his public lit'o. the ilevotioii with which lii- served 
 the interests of the whuk- pcoitle, liis unswerviiiji- fidelity to 
 prineiple. the iiiiiversal esteem in which he was held l)> all 
 liarties, the attainment of so exalted a position in the councils 
 of the nation, mark him as a splendid example of the |)ossi- 
 bilities of this privilejicd land. 
 
 ^^Nesolvril. Tliai the tiaj: lie placed at lialf mast and iliatthe 
 biiildinfr be appropriately draped. 
 
 '■h'csolrcd, That a copj' of these resolutions be furnished the 
 bereaved family, to whom we temler our heartfelt sympathy; 
 that a coi)y be furnished each of the city |)apers, and that 
 they be s]>read in I'lill updu Tlic ininiitcs of this board." 
 
 THE SECOND PRESBYTEKl.VN < IH KCll. 
 
 On Suinlav . I)cccinl)cr 20, ISiU. at the close of the evening 
 services, the Second Presbyterian Clnucli of Eni])oria unani- 
 mou.sly passed the followinfr resolutions: 
 
 ••Rtsolrcd, Tiuit we acknowledge the hanil of the Lord, who 
 giveth us all things and who takctii away, and in His wise 
 providence that it is He who hath taken from us our dear friend, 
 the Hon. Preston E. Pi-tmr. 
 
 '•Rcnolrcil, That it seems to us that his dcatii is a great loss 
 to the country at large, to the State of Kansas, and in i)artic- 
 ular to Hmporia, but most especially to his bcloveil family. 
 
 ''/I'f'.vo/r^''/, That we extend our most sincere and heartfelt 
 sympathy to Mrs. Plumb, and her beloved children, and all 
 relatives. 
 
 ^'Resolved, That, in consideration of his always open, hel])ing 
 hand toward our church and our high esteem for our dejiarted 
 frieml. our ])ulpit be drajuMl in mourning for thirty days. 
 
 '•fi'ifioh-cd, That the pastor do now at tlie close of this serv- 
 ice read aloud the lliitli i'^aliu. ami ihai tiie congregation 
 
Ri'so/iitioiis of Rt'.spcxt. 65 
 
 join ill turniui;- unto tiio Lord ;iii(l offt'ring prayer in behalf of 
 the bereaved family, that they may have grace aud strength 
 to uphold them in tliis the hour of tlieir great trial and deep 
 sorrow. 
 
 "(Signed for the church) 
 
 "John Jones, Pastor. 
 "L. W. Lewis, Secretary.'''' 
 
 THE COLLEGE OF EMPfiRIA. 
 
 The faculty of the College of Emi)(>iia desire to unite with 
 their fellow <'iti/.eus of the Commouwealth of Kansas in ex- 
 pressing their sense of the grave loss that has befallen the 
 State in the death of our distinguished Senator, Hon. Peeston 
 B. Plumb. 
 
 We share in the general appreciation of his splendid talents, 
 his devotion to duty, his tireless zeal in meeting the resjionsi- 
 bilities of office, his ever enlargiug patriotism, and his large- 
 hearted liberality. 
 
 We gratefully iiut on record the fact that he presided at the 
 first jtublic meeting held in this city in behalf of this iustitu- 
 tion. His persuasive arguments decided others to adopt his 
 own views. His name was first on the roll of contributors 
 and his gift was the largest. He was a member of the first 
 board of trustees. His hand laid the corner stone of Stuart 
 hall. He gave generously every year to the Anderson library. 
 
 For these and other reasons we deem it timely to adopt the 
 following resolutions as expressing the sentiments of this 
 faculty : 
 
 (1) That iu the death of Senator Plumb the State is called 
 to mourn the loss of her foremost citizen. 
 
 ^-') That his name and the memory of the invaluable services 
 he rendered the State and nation deserve to be tenderly en- 
 shrined by the entire Conimdnwealth of Kansas 
 
 S. Mis. L'l-'.s .". 
 
66 Life and Character of P>-eslon />. PliiDib. 
 
 (3) That his jjeiieroiis ami i)roiui)t suinjort of the higher 
 liberal ('(lucation as eiubraeetl in tln' curriculum (if this college 
 challenges our lasting gratitude. 
 
 (-1 i Tliut tlic Hag of Stuart liall he suitably draped and the 
 college hell tolled during the funeral services. 
 
 (5^ Tiiat our lu-artfelt symjiathy be tendered tlie sorely smit- 
 ten household, each of whom we tenderly comineud to the God 
 of all grace and cipiiifort. 
 
 College of IOmimiuia, nicmtht)- 2:1, iSOl. 
 
 THE KANSAS STATf, SENATE. 
 
 TOPEKA, Kaxs., December 24. 
 
 A special train bearing the Kansas State senate left this 
 city at 10 o'clock this morning for iMnporia. 
 
 Kesolutions were adopted last night at tlie Copeland which 
 will be spread up(m the senate journal. They follow : 
 
 '■'■ ReMilred. Tiiat in common with all tiu; peoi)leofthe State 
 of Kansas we deei)ly mourn tlie loss of our senior Senator, the 
 Hon. I'Ki'.sroN IJ. Plumb, whom the all-wise Creator, in Ilis 
 infinite wisdom, lias seen fit to call from our midst. 
 
 " h'esolveil, Tiiat in his di'atli I lie State of Kansas loses a citi- 
 zen whose life since tlie organization of Kansas as a Territory 
 and during its existence as a State has been closely identified 
 witli its growth and develoinnent. and a man whom the State 
 has been pleased lo JKinnr. and wIki. in leluin. liy his eminent 
 .services in imblic and |irivate, life, has cimfeired honor npnii 
 the State. 
 
 •'ill-solved, That while tiie life of ihe suldier. staiesinaii, and 
 great commoner was sti suddenly demanded at the \ery perind 
 of his most stalwart manhoiid ami acknowledged usefulness, 
 we i;an but accept the will of the unseen power which directs 
 all tliinirs to His final honor and "lorv and which we lia\e an 
 
Rfs<>/iit/(Tiis of Respect. 67 
 
 abidiu'i- faitli will work out this great sorrow to tlie blessing 
 of the [K'uplc. 
 
 "litHolrtil, That our most protoiiiul sympathy is cxtciKhMl to 
 the grief-stnckeii wife and cliihlren of the dead Senator; Imt, 
 trusting that they may be sustained by the promise of hope, 
 which begets peace, and that, although tlie dead husband and 
 fatlKM- fell in the midst of life's most exacting activities, we 
 trust they may be comforted in the assurance that there must 
 be, there is, a tinal recompense. 
 
 ''Resolved, That these resolutions be engrossed antl a copy 
 sent to the bereaved family."' 
 
 THE EMPORIA CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS. 
 
 Council Chamber, December ;.'!, 1891. 
 
 Mr. Fox moved that a committee on resolutions be appointed 
 on the death of Senator Plumb to report during this meeting. 
 The motion was adopted. 
 
 The mayor appointed Messrs. Fox, Bootey, and Ireland as 
 such committee and they at once reported the following reso- 
 lution, which on motion of Mr. Ewing was unaiumously 
 adopted: 
 
 " Whereas we are called upon to share in the grief and deep 
 sense of loss which have come so suddenly and with such 
 terrible force into every home and heart in this city in the 
 death of Senator Preston B. Plumb: 
 
 '■•Resolved, That in the going-out of this noble life Emporia 
 loses a stanch and tirm friend, a citizen of un.spotted char- 
 acter, who in public life has by his unflinching courage and 
 unfaltering dev(ttion to right and truth commanded the respect 
 and admiration of the nation. 
 
 '-Resolved, While we unite with the State and the nation in 
 thus paying homage to the memory of our dead Senator we 
 
68 Life and Character of Preston />'. Plumb. 
 
 feel especially our owu loss as we reuieiuber biin as neighbor 
 and friend, devoteil to the best interests of Emporia, his -rreat, 
 noble heart always ready to respond to <;enninc need. 
 
 •^ liesolnil. That we extend to tlii' stricken t'ainily onr most 
 sincere condolence, as with them we bow in trust to a Provi- 
 dence we can not understand. 
 
 '■ h'c.solrcd, That tiiese resolutions be sjjn-ad upon the records 
 in the office of the city clerk and that a certified copy be for- 
 warded to Mrs. Plumb. 
 
 '•U. E. Fox, 
 
 " R. J. BOOTEY, 
 
 ''0. F. Ireland. 
 " 11. S. Alexandku, Citi/ Clerk." 
 
 THE EXECUTIVE COt'NCIL oK THE STATE OF KANSAS. 
 
 At a meetinj;- of tlie Executive Council of the State of Kan 
 sas the following resolutions were adojited : 
 
 " Death loves a shining mark," and its latest illustrious 
 \ictim was the most useful and conspicuous citizen of Kansas. 
 
 Senator Pre.ston B. Pi.rMH crowned his efforts in behalf 
 of the nation, his State, and the people with the glory of mar- 
 tjTdom. He exhausted all his vital energies to meet his owu 
 sublime conception of the duties of exalted public position. 
 He was the most devoted and lat)orious representative that any 
 ])eople ever stmt to the National Capital. 
 
 His love for his State, his pride in its birth, in its brilliant 
 youth, ill its military acliieNcinents, in its wiiiidertul urowtli, 
 in its phenomenal development, and in its marvi'lous jiroduc- 
 tion, were constantly in his mind, and finally became the law 
 of his nature and the main inducement to his own success and 
 advancement. 
 
 Any resident of Kansas could confidently appeal to and im 
 plicitly relj' on the assurance that no detail was too small, no 
 
Jxisol/i/ioiis of Respect. 69 
 
 question roo lai;;e, iii> wroiijj so stroiii;ly iiitrcuclit'u m iwwer, 
 but that tlie very best efforts oftlie Seiuitor would be exerted 
 in his beluill'. 
 
 A threat statesman, in the flower of jflorions luanliood, in the 
 eujoymeut of a growing- and widening fame that was reaehiug 
 to all parts of the nation, in the full ])ossessi()n of matured 
 powers, is suddenly stricken down, and a great State is l)ereft 
 of his wise guidance iu puhlie affairs and its eitizens of the aid 
 of his helping liands in all governmental departments. 
 
 The great heart of the Commonwealth is burdened with sor- 
 row and all the good people mourn liis death as a personal 
 loss, and extend their heartfelt sympathy ti) the grief-stricken 
 family of the man who loved the vState as he loved them. 
 
 Resolved, That the Statehouse be draped iu mourning, the 
 national flag be displayed at half mast, and that the State 
 officers wear moiuuing for thirty days. 
 
 Lyman U. Hu:mphkev, 
 
 Gorernor. 
 William Higgins, 
 
 Secntaii/ of State. 
 Chas. M. Hovey, 
 
 Auditor of State. 
 Solomon G. Stover, 
 
 Treasurer of State. 
 John N. Ives, 
 
 Attorney -General. 
 Geo. W. Winans, 
 Superintendent of Public Instruction. 
 
PROCERI)IN(;S IN THE SENATE 
 
 ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH. 
 
 In thk Senate. Frbruioi/ IS, lS'Ji>. 
 
 Mr. Peffek. Mr. President, pursuaut to notice, I ofter the 
 resolutions which I send to the desk. 
 
 Tlie Vice-Pre«ii)ENT. The resoliitions will l)e read. 
 
 The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: 
 
 ResnlrciJ, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
 of the death of Preston P.. Plxtmb, late a Senator from the 
 State of Kansas. 
 
 Resolved, That as a mark of respect ti> the memory of the 
 ileceased the business uf the Senate he now suspended to 
 enaUle his assiunates to pay proper tribute of regard to his 
 high character and distinguished jiublic services. 
 
 Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate communicate 
 these resolutions to the House of llepresentatives. 
 
 The resolutions were unanimously agreed to. 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. PEFFER, OF KANSAS. 
 Mr. Peffer. Mr. President, Preston B. Plumb was born 
 in Delaware County, Ohio, October 12, 1837. He had only a 
 common school education. At the age of 12 years he entered 
 the otUce of the Western Episcopalian, at Gainbier, Ohio, and 
 learned the printer.s' trade. In 18.")3 he established the Xenia 
 
 71 
 
72 Address of Mr. Pcffcr, of Kansas., on Ihe 
 
 News ami coniliictiil it wiili vij.'oi- ami success. At that time 
 Hev. (liaiivilic Mdixly. a (listiufjfiiisbed Methodist preacher and 
 reforiiiei-. was iucatcd at Xeiiia. Mostly IVoiii him yoiiufj Mr. 
 I'Ll'Mn iiidiihed his hatred of Iminau slavery. In 18o(J, when 
 the Kansas strujigle was at its heijiht, one day he went into 
 the Xews office and saiil, •• 1 am {,'oin}j:to Kansas.*' -'When?'' 
 was askcil. •• 'ro-mnrrnw." he answered; ami •• Ici iiKnidw " he 
 starteil. The Kansas Trii^.iie, printed at TopeUa. on the l'2d 
 day iif October of that year, records the arrival of Mi-. I'll'mb 
 witii a company of twenty-eight yonng men. The winter fol- 
 lowing he sjient in Lawrence and was luremaii in the Herald 
 of Freedom printing otlicc. 
 
 In the spring of Ksr)7 he and four others organized the Em- 
 jinria Town Conii)any. on the banks of the Xeosho River, in 
 the jiresent count \- of Lyon. There he atterwaids made his 
 permanent home. He was the active nuin of the company 
 and soon established a news])ai)er, the Emporia Xews, which 
 for a long time was among the leading i)apers of the State. 
 It was during those early years when Mr. Plumh was travel- 
 ing over the trackless prairie one day and came to a home- 
 steader's shanty. lie went in and found a man down with 
 smallpox. 'Ihe few neighbors had become i)anic stricken and 
 lett the man alone to die. Plitmk was so moved by the 
 jiitiable s])ectacle that he abandoneil his Journey and stayed 
 and nursed the jxku' man through his sickness. As a result 
 he contracted the disease himself. 
 
 He took a profound interest in all tlie jmblic affairs of the 
 Territory and lie was ti'ei|ueiitl\' iiitrusteil w ith grave rcsi)oii- 
 sibilities. lie was a member of nnjst of the conventions held 
 to discuss the situation. Among the jn-eserved relies of those 
 stirring times are several instruments of writing in which Mr. 
 Plumb was personally intercsteil. Hire are three of them. 
 
 No. 1 is a i-ommission as superintendent of enrollment, issued 
 
Lite and Chanutcr of Pnstou />'. riiinib. 73 
 
 by Gfu. .lauR's 11. Laue and (■..luitfrsi-n.'d by M. F. <"ou\vay 
 as adjiitaiit-geueral, dated duly 20, isr.7: 
 
 Headquarters Kansas Volunteers 
 For the Protection of the Ballot-box, 
 
 Lnwroice, July :.'(>, 1857. 
 
 Whereas the i)e(>ple of Kansas, in convention at Topeka, 
 July b"), 1857, did adopt the toIlowin.n- resolution : 
 
 ■• /iV.sohv7?, That Gen. .lames 11. Lane be ap|)Ointed by this 
 convention and authorized to organize the people in tlie several 
 districts to protect the ballot-boxes at the approaching elec- 
 tions in Kansas :'' 
 
 Now, therefore, in pursuance of the authority thus vested 
 in me by the people of Kansas, I do hereby coustitute and 
 appoint P. B. Plumb superintendent of enr(dlinent. Fourth 
 Brigade, Second Division. 
 
 This appointment is conferred u].on P. B. Plumb by virtue 
 of confidence entertained by me in his patriotism aud integrity, 
 well knowing that in his hands every duty appertaining to the 
 aforesaid position will be faithfully discliargcd 
 
 Given at the office of the adjutant-general this day. 
 
 .T. H. Lane, Onjanixing. 
 
 M. F. Conway, Adjuldiit-dcKmil. 
 
 No. 2 is an appointment as aide-de camp, December 17, 1857: 
 
 IIeadquarters Kansas Militia, Ikcvmhcr 17,1857. 
 Sir: You are hereby notified of your aiipointment as aide- 
 de-camp to the ntajor-general. under the act entitled "An act 
 for the organization and regulation of the militia," passed De- 
 cember 16, 1857. 
 
 J. H. Lane, M«jor-<hnerul. 
 
 No. •'? is a receipt peculiarly characteristic: 
 
 Topeka, September :?7, 1859. 
 Received from Oapt. Plumb, of the " Grizzlies," 7(5 5-inch 
 Colt's revolvers for the four companies of Kansas emigrants 
 
 under mv command. 
 
 Jas. Kedpatu. 
 
74 Address of Mr. Pcffcr, of Kansas, on the 
 
 Mi. I'LUMiJ bejiiiii his real lite work tui bloody ground. 
 Wliittier (1858) wrote: 
 
 From the Ufarths of their oabiim. 
 
 The fields of their corn, 
 I'nwariieil and unweaponed. 
 
 The victims were torn. 
 
 • • • • ■ 
 
 Wind slow from the Swan's Marsh, 
 
 O dreary death-train. 
 Witli pressed lips as bloodless 
 
 As li]is of tile slain. 
 
 • ■ • > « 
 
 On the lintels of Kansas 
 That blood shall nut dry. 
 
 Henceforth to the sunset. 
 
 Unchecked on her way. 
 Shall Liberty follow 
 
 The march of the ilay. 
 
 During these active years ^Ir. Plumh .studied law and 
 attended law lecture.s two terms iu ("U-vclaud, Ohio. In 18G1 
 he was admitted to the bar and oi)ened a law olliee iu Emporia. 
 In 1S62 he was elected to the lowei' house of the Legislature 
 and was appointed reporter of the Supreme Coiut. During 
 September of that year he raised two companies of volunteers 
 for till- lili'Miitli Kansas regiment and entered the service as 
 second lieutenant. lie was rai)iilly promoted tucaptain. major, 
 and licutc'uant colonel. 
 
 The regiment saw some hard service beiiire t he cud of the 
 first year, having been engaged in tlie hattles of Cane Hill, 
 Prairie Grove, and others in southwest .Missouri and in \v 
 kansas. After the close of the war 'Sly. I'H'MU returned to 
 Enijuiria and resumed the practice of law. He entered into 
 ]iartnerslii]i w itli .linlize K. W. Haggles nndei- tlie tiini name 
 
Life nii(/ Charactir of /'rrstnn />'. /'/nii/h. 75 
 
 of Riigsh's iS: I'lmiili. Tlu- tirm iittractiMl wide al tciitioii at 
 once and soon socurcil a lar^c |iiactice, covcriuj; the whole 
 State. Ill l.sti(> lie was elected to the lower house of the Kan 
 sas Legislature and was chosen speaker. About that time he 
 begau to hiy the foundation of his ])ri\ate fortune. The rapid 
 development of the country and the consequent rapid advance 
 in values created many oppiutuuities for i)rofltable iuvestnuuit 
 and he seemed to know when and where to invest. He rarely 
 made a mistake. At his sugii'estion sonu^ of his old Ohio 
 friends established a liank in Emporia, and Mr. Ph'JIB was 
 chosen its president and manager in ISTi.'. In 1S77 he was 
 elected a lueniljer of this body, wheic his lml)its of industry, 
 his (piickness of perception, his lireadth of view, and his per- 
 sistence in etfort soon brought him into mei'ited prominence. 
 
 Mr. Pli'MB was uuirried in 1<S(>7 to Miss Caroline Southwi<'k, 
 of xVshtabula, Oliio. Ilis home was a delightful one. He en 
 joyed comfort and cared nothing for disi)lay. While abuu 
 dautly able to build a splendid residence, he preferred rather 
 to live as his neighbors lived; and today there are nuiuy 
 dwellings in Emporia more costly and more showy than his. 
 He took great pride in the education and training of his 
 childreu. lie was with them as nuu-h as his active life per- 
 mitted. He availed himself of every opportunity to add to 
 the pleasure and enjoyment of his family. He leaves his wife 
 and live children: Mary, Amos, Euth, ('arrie, and Preston. 
 
 From his early youth he had strong religious convictions, 
 but he never connected himself with any ciiurch. He was the 
 friend of everything good and fostered all elevating influences. 
 When at home lie always worshiped at the Congregational 
 Church, where his family were nu'inbers, and he took great 
 interest in its prosiierity. He died in the city of Washington 
 on the 20th day of December, ISitl, ha\ing been a member of 
 this bodv coiitinuouslv since the 4tli da\' of March, 1.S77. 
 
7t! .-ItMiTss of Mr. I\ffci\ o/ A'lUisas, an the 
 
 Mr. I'lesiclciii. tin- pcuplc wlm lodk km while wc (•(Jiuliict 
 these iiieuioi'ial services ol'teii wonder and sometimes openly 
 ask whelhei-. afler all. there is eniiii^;h >in<« liiy and serious- 
 ness in luir proceedings to Justify the time and treasure de- 
 Noted to them. Concerniug the reasou ut' this suspicion wo 
 need nut now imiuire: certain it is that when death comes to 
 US in our iiomes. uiiliiii the rangi- of our aeiiuaintaiice, there 
 is sorrow because of our trouble. When one of tender j'ears 
 is taken from us — our firstborn it may be. the gem of the 
 liouseliolil or the pet and jiride of our later years — when the 
 wife and mother goes and the family is bidkcn. or the husband 
 and father, and the home is left desolate, neighbors aud friend.s 
 come aiul weep with u.s aud tender kindly offices: they go with 
 us to the last restiiigi)lace of wiuit we call the dead, and 
 there, at theoiien gra\e. sing with ns and pi ay and join in the 
 iioly invocation in our behalf, then reveicTitl.v de[>art, leaving 
 blessings ou us. Aud this not so nuicli because of their jier- 
 soiuil interest iu the situation as because a family has been 
 stricken, friends are in trouble, ami they are pleased in this 
 way to make known their sympathy. 
 
 These things coiui- to us because we are brethren. The tbun- 
 tains of the soul are full of kindred sympatiiies which miugle 
 and bring forth good, some thirty, some sixty, and some a 
 Imiidred lolil. If a whole iieighlioihood be thus sorrowt'ul 
 o\er the ileath of oue membeiof a single family, and that, too, 
 it may be, (nie too young to have been known or even seen by 
 many persons outside of the little circle of home, is it strange 
 that when a strong man falls, a man in possession ot' all his 
 faculties, a man in action, one who .served his country iu war 
 aud in jjcace, whose voice has been heard in the nation's coun- 
 cils and whose footjirints are traced in its statutes — when the 
 career of suih a one is suddenly i iit shoit by death, may we 
 nf)t stop and devote an hour to thinking about it ? 
 
Life ii"ii i'liaiaclii- of J'its/oii />'. I'luinli. 77 
 
 There is suiiictliini; :i1miiiI tlic '(\h-\ or cuiKlitidii wliirli we 
 term (le;itli tliat cliallrnncs diir utteiition. Vet it is iini licatli 
 that halts us anil sets new rlic>uj;hts in niotidii. It is liH- we 
 ar(> thinkinfi' about. It is life that tills ns with ciiiotioii; life 
 that wrings our hearts and heats our liiains. Life is the 
 iiiai'vcl ol' the a.i;'es, the jicrpctual pi'ohlcni of men. It is the 
 life ot' oni' friend that we reiueniher. We eare nothing aliont 
 that pai't of the transforination whieh we know as death. We 
 hasten to forget it and all its incidents; but the life is wirh us 
 forever. Its ])laee in the nuMuory is kept garnished and clean 
 eontinually as tin- years eimie ami go. We would not, if we 
 could, let go the hope that some day, when the time is ripe, 
 .souls shall meet again. How cheerless the days and mouths 
 and years would be to this family were they deprived of the 
 hope to see again and to love the man whose presence to them 
 in their happy home iu suuuy Kansas was so dear, so helpful, 
 and cheering. Ifo, no; it is not death that interests us, but 
 life; for life is leal. continuing, eternal. 
 
 The life of a man as he lives it in the presence of his fellows 
 is as proi)erly a subject for observation and study as the water 
 we drink or the air that we 1 )reathe. Ti > understand the moti^-es 
 which impel men to action is ([uite as important as it is that 
 we understand the medical jiroperties of the food we eat. ( )ur 
 lives are affected by the lives of other men. Our thoughts are 
 induenced by their thoughts. Our opinions are largely made 
 up of what was formed in other minds before it lodged in ours. 
 So surely are we moved by what is moving others that weoften 
 find ourselves unconsciously following a leadership we did not 
 choose. Our jdiysical movements, our social dei>ortment, our 
 habits of thought, our manner of speech, our gestures, all that 
 we are and all that we do before our fellows, all that goes to 
 make up what we term our lives, is as much an assimilatiim 
 of what was and is being said and done by persons aiotiud us 
 
7» Address of Mr. Ptffcr, of Kansas, on the 
 
 as our bixlit's arc iiiuile up ol" vital ossciucs tliat frrow in the 
 grass and <m tin- tit'fs. Thosi- jriaii<l chaiacteis that stand 
 (lilt anmnt: their follows like peaks in mountain lanjres, and 
 that \vc sec aliu' oil as we see elitVs and iMinnontoiies on the 
 shore line of the sea, are the men that move the world. Their 
 thoughts take lodtrment in other minds and reappear in the 
 liteiatureoftlietime; their style and their manner of speech are 
 (•oi)ied wherever laufjuage is written ;iiiil deeds are proclaimed; 
 their suggestions take form in adorunieut of homes, improve- 
 ment of cities, in architecture and invention: their ideas live 
 in machines, aiul their conclusions arc jueserved in laws. 
 
 How shall we study this inanV life and how sliall w e measure 
 him? Shall we begin by ifiiioriu^r tliose tiiiiij,'s which made 
 him what he was and substitute another life for his? Shall we 
 construct an ideal man and then describe and praise (mr own 
 creation? Vs\ shall we rather do in his own case as he w((uld 
 have done in ours: take nj) liis life Just as lir lived it and look 
 at that? Beginning a i)Oor boy, he was an editor at Hi years 
 of age, a captain of militia at 2(», member of a constitutional 
 conventiim at li2, lawyer at 24, in the State legislature, and 
 lieutenant, captain, major, and colonel of \olnnteers at 25, 
 United States Senator at 40 Surely there is a lesson in sutdi 
 a life, viewed in its own robust ])ersonalty. with no (Mnbellish- 
 ment beyond the simple truth. 
 
 Jloved by a boy's ambition to d<i and dare, looking lull in 
 the face an untried, uidiiiown. unknowable future, his lieart 
 fired bytheelof|uenceof (;arrison,<iiddings, IMiillips. Sumner, 
 and Hale, a gallant soldier in the army of Fremont, what more 
 natural than that this brave, brainy. lil)crtydoving boy should 
 turn toward tlic battle -round in Kansas.' With the troubh^s 
 there began the greatest war in history, a w:m- in whieli a 
 natiimoftlie best and bravest people on earth undertook lo 
 .settle among themselves and for themselves a matter wliich it 
 
/.//(■ and t'/ianrc/i-r of /'i,s/oii />'. Pliiiiih. 7!t 
 
 liad lifcomc evident to ;ill ecmld not hedisposed oC in any other 
 way. In tliat ^reat war Mr. l'i.f:Mi! perlornied a I'nion 
 soldier's part. I'lion its eoiielnsion lie, w itli others, bej;aii the 
 building of a State, and the uiiirvelous growth ol' Kansas 
 testifies that their work was well done. It has no jiarallel iu 
 the history of settlement. 
 
 It is lint thirty years sineethe State became a member of the 
 American Union, and in those thirty years her population in- 
 eicased more than a million and a ((uarter. She has builded 
 S,(M)(» schoolhouses; her railways measure nearly H,000 miles of 
 main traek; her farmers raised i!,")(),0()(l,O()(l bushels of corn iu 
 188!) and more than r)(),000,(l()(t bushels of wheat in 18!)1; she 
 has a post-oftiee witlnn easy reach of every home aud churches 
 enough to seat one fourth of her people. Mr. Plumb was one 
 of the busy, restless, devoted band that accimiplished tliis 
 wonderful work. They concjuered the wilderness and ex- 
 l)unged the frontier line. Among all those tireless workers 
 none did more, none was more active anil persistent, nime 
 more respected, none more loyal than he in whose nu'nmry 
 tliese words are spoken. lie possessed intuitive knowledge of 
 practical methods. Hewasnotan inventor; not a philosopher; 
 not a dreamer nor a doctrinaire; not an enthusiast; but he 
 was a worker, a workman who uses to the best advantage the 
 tools he has to work with. He wasted nothing iu ex])erinu'nts; 
 he preferred to work along lines that had led to success. 
 
 He thought the farmer's smokehouse ought to be on the 
 farm, and not in the jiacking houses at Kansas City or ( 'hicago. 
 He thought the wool and cotton grown on Kansas soil ought 
 to be manufactured in Kansas towns. He was resourcefnl 
 rather than original. An economist, husbanding his means, 
 he was in all things jiractical, doing that which he knew eonid 
 be done rather tlian wasting eflbrt on doubtful ventures. He 
 believed the workman is worthy of his hire, and he had no use 
 
80 AMnss of Mr. Pcffer, of A'ansas, on the 
 
 for a lazy num. lU- ilitl not invent sclii'incs nor (Ipvisc jilans 
 to set sreat enterprises in motion, but lie used tlie nii-ans at 
 liand ti> (li-\t'lipp what was in sijjlit. lie <-areiI not to exjiliire 
 unknown rejiions, but he got out nt'tlic present all thai was in 
 it. ilis ambition was to do, ratiier than to be. It was as 
 natural tor iiini to work as it is for rivers to tlow. Clear in 
 view, lirni in ippinioii. direct in thonjrlit, voluble in speeeh. and 
 courageous in expression, such a man could lu-ither be iriu/ 
 zled nor dwarfed. In the languafic of a friend, '• lands, iiioiu-y, 
 cattle, mines, railroads, banks, all the great agencies of busi- 
 ne.ss and politics, gave liiui tlu' delight that a child feels in its 
 toys. lie derived fruni the contemplation of these subjects 
 the pleasure that men, ditferently organized, feel in society, 
 the table, books, art, ami travel.'' 
 
 Hntering the Senate from an agrii-ultural State, in a period 
 of commercial deju'ession, when the country was going down 
 to the low level of a gold-moiu\v basis, his views logically re- 
 flected those of his ])eo|tle. He believed in enlarging the 
 volume of the circulating medium and he believed the Govern- 
 ment alone should provide the money. He was opjKJsed to 
 intrusting this high function of sovereignty to corporations. 
 He advocated the substitution of Government jiaper for bank 
 notes; he favored free coinage of silver; he urgeil tjie i-e\ ision 
 of tanlV duties in the interest of labor; lie opposed increasing 
 the Army, and insisted ui)o)i simi)lifying the costly and. as he 
 believed, unnecessarily cumbrous diplomatic system. His 
 ready grasp of situations, his (piick |)ercepti(ni of what m'cds 
 to be first done, his clear compreliensioii oi pnlilii' iin'ds. liis 
 never-failing fund of resouices, and his ceaseless energy ser\ id 
 him in this broader Held ol effort as they had done in his local 
 work at home. .\s he had done there, so he did here. He 
 kept close to the people; hestudieil their wants and he kept 
 his home iiinong them. I le maiuiaincd no cost ly establishment 
 
/.//(■ and Characlt-r of Prfstmi I>. Plumb. Ml 
 
 at tlu' ii;ili()irs caiutnl. lie liail no liveried servants to wsiit. 
 ui«)n liini liere. When a Kansas man came to VVashinst"", 
 Plumb's hand, liis head, his heait, and his |>orket were ready 
 to serve him. lie always resi)ouded wIhmi the |ieoi>le called, 
 and he did it williniily. 
 
 With the gifted In.ualls al his side — Inyalls, pi-onipt and 
 fearless on the Hoor, iead.\' and impaitial in the chair, liri,t;lit 
 and interesting everywhere — Kansas had able champions in 
 debate and sagacious friends iu counsel. 
 
 The worst that Senator Plumb's political enemies ever said 
 of him was that he excused his party and defended it even 
 when he believed it to be wrong. One who knew him well 
 says of him : 
 
 " He voted against the McKinley bill, favored free silver, de- 
 nounced national banks and the tinancial policy oi his asso- 
 ciates, but he never parted company with them in the end." 
 
 His loyalty to his party, strong as it was, was not stronger 
 than his own convictions upon measures of public policy: yet, 
 harshly as he often criticised his party in this Chamber when 
 his political friends were iu the majority, he was never known 
 to oppose his party in the forum of the pe()i)le. If that was a 
 weakness in him, how shall we excuse ourselves, those of us 
 who are no stronger than he ? "Let him that is without .sin 
 cast the first stone." Although a blind devotion to party 
 warps the judgment of men, impairs our usefulness, and to 
 some extent necessarily blunts our moial sense, liow many of 
 us are guiltless? 
 
 Hut there is another and still l)etter phase of this man's life; 
 and that, after all, when it is what it ought to be, is the best 
 part of the best men's lives, that which is lived at home, where 
 sacred relations exist, where the tenderest ties are formed; 
 there where our children are born, where new lives come to 
 us, and where we start men and women on tht' way to citizen- 
 ship, thus doing our part iu develoi)iug and perpetuating what 
 S. Mis. 2L'S (i 
 
82 Address of Mr. Peffcr, of Kansas, on (he 
 
 is jjood ill siK'iety ami jinvcniiueut. A well-ordered home is a 
 prosiierous nation iu niiuiature. In its arrangement and mau- 
 agcuient are involved all the Christian graces and the highest 
 forms of j)ul)lic control. 
 
 As to his jiersonal religions views, ho was a tirni believer in 
 the Christian fait li and all that it implies. He always spoke 
 of religions things with tlie utmost respect and reverence. He 
 was never heard to speak lightly of sacred things under any 
 circumstances or in any conii>any. He believed in churches 
 ami rejoiced in tlieir prosperity and growth. His name was 
 not enrolled in the membership of any denomination, yet he 
 was a Christian. He was dcvutcd to tliosc of his own house- 
 hold, he was kind to the needy around him. charitable always, 
 generous to his neighbors, temperate and decorous himself, 
 and respectful to all. That is a Christian life. Nothing bet- 
 ter shows the virtue of the all-pervading influence of truths 
 which have come down to us through the centuries from Him 
 who spake as never man spake than the moral and intellectual 
 upbuilding of families like this. 
 
 Though the march of (uvilization has been over bloody 
 ground, the leaven of truth has spread until the nations believe 
 in (iod. And thougii men may be careless of moral restraint, 
 though some of us may sit in costly temples ami hire our 
 W(ushiping done, thougli the poor may liave nut even a closet 
 to pray in, though many and tiagrant wrongs exist and many 
 of us are desi)erately wicked, still the spirit that angels sang 
 when the " Babe of Bethlehem" was born — peace an<l good 
 will— the doctrine tauglit i)y tlie *• Carpenter's Son," and the 
 life lived by the " lowly Nazareue" are more deeply embedded 
 in the conscience of the masses to-day than ever before. The 
 revolution now in progress will set us one step nearer thetime 
 when men shall deal justly, love mercy, and walk iiumbly, 
 the choicest fruit of Christian doctrine, the " full-grown corn 
 in the eai-."' 
 
Lijc and Character of Preston /!. I'liiinO. 83 
 
 Address of Mr. Cockrell, of Missouri. 
 
 ^^r. CoOKilHLL. Mr. President, ;i mid tin- iiuiiiy iiressiuj; aii(! 
 onerous labois and duties devolvini;' ni>(>n the Senate of the 
 United States, it is eminently right that we sliouhl pause tor 
 one day to pay tlie last sad rites to the name and memory of 
 our deceased cohiljorer, Pbeston B. Plumb, the lionored and 
 ilhistrious Senator from the great State of Kansas. 
 
 He entered this Chamber on March 4. 1877, as a Senator 
 from the State of Kansas, and for over fourteen years and nine 
 months was an active, dili.oent, hvborious, useful, influential, 
 and honored memljer of this body. 
 
 How ([uiekly, how uuexi)ectedly, th»> light of his earthly life 
 was bedarkened by the gloom of his death ! 
 
 Apparently in robust health, with clear, intellectual vigor 
 and unceasing activity, the fell disease quickly overpowered 
 the vital forces of life and his immortal spirit passed tVom the 
 scenes of time to the realities of the eternal life, impressively- 
 verifying the fact that in life we are in the midst of death. 
 
 It was my pleasure to form his personal actpiaintance when 
 he entered upon his duties in this Chamber, in March, 1877, 
 and our acquaintance ripened into a warm personal friendship, 
 which continued uninterruptedly to his death. 
 
 We served upon the same committees — on Military Afiairs, 
 Public Lands, and Appropriations. These services greatly 
 strengthened our friendship and intimate relations. 
 
 I can truthfully say — without any invidious reflections upon 
 others — that he was one of the most untiring, painstaking, 
 constantly laborious, useful, and intelligent members of this 
 great legislative body. 
 
 His whole life from boyhood to death, when faithfully por- 
 trayed in all its stages, reads like a romance, and is peculiarly 
 
84 .h/ii'/t^i^ I'/ .)//. LOi'krcll, Of .U/Mo/in, on the 
 
 interest ill},'' and iiistnicti\e. anil sliould be a .soiiire of juat 
 pride to liis bereft compaiiioii and ehildreu, and of eucourafje- 
 luent and finulation to the tlionsands of struggling and land- 
 ably ambitions yoiitlis of our uicat country. It jjortrays in 
 realistic and inspiring colors the possible achievements of life 
 in our country under our unequaled system of government. 
 
 I have neither the data nor the time to go into the details of 
 bis life. Others more competent have done and will do so. 
 
 Rrietiy stated, I'rkston B. Plumb was born in Delaware 
 County, Ohio, on October 12, 18.37; received a common school 
 education; learned the art of jiriiiting, and aided in establish 
 ing the Xenia News, removed to the then Territory of Kan.sas 
 in 1850, then being about 20 years of age; was a i)rinter in the 
 oflSce of the Herald of Freedom, and became foreman. In 1S57 
 he established the Emporia News, at Knijioria, Ivans., and 
 thereafter made that jilace his home; was a member of the 
 Leavenworth constitutional convention of IS.W. having em 
 ployed his few leisure moments in studying law; was admitted 
 to the bar in 1801; was elected a member of the lower house 
 of the Legislature in 1862; was chairman of the judiciary com- 
 mittee, and aftei \v:irds repiu'ter of the sujireine court. 
 
 Ill August, 1802, he entered tlie volunteer service of his 
 country as a second lieutenant in the I'^leventh Kansas Kegi- 
 ment, and became successively captain, major, and lieutenant- 
 colonel, and was coiiimissioued colonel of that regiment. In 
 1800 he was a member and was elected speaker of the Kiiiisas 
 house of representatives, and was also a member in the follow- 
 ing year. Keliiniuishiiig the practiire of law, he was made 
 president of the iOiiiporia National Bank in 187.5. lie was 
 elected to the I'nited States Senaic> tor the term lieginniiig on 
 the 4tli of March, 1877, and was successively elected his own 
 successor in 1883 and 188'.t, his third term expiring on March 
 3, 18».->. 
 
Life and Characlcr of Preston B. I'lumb. 85 
 
 It is lohited ol'liiui tli;it when about t wclve years of a<;c lie Icff 
 his hoiiic with a little huiulle of personal effeets and walked 10 
 miles to the piintiii;;- office in which he was to leain his trade, 
 and that only a few months before his death he referred to that 
 event and said, -That was the beginuinj;- of the journey of my 
 life." xV wonderful journey it was, trodden without pause or 
 rest, with constant and laborious application and unceasing 
 toil to (pudify and fit him to hold fast every successive step 
 taken and to rise hi<;]ier and higher in the esteem, confidence, 
 and love of the people of his State and of the whole country. 
 Most truly can it be said, -lie was the architect of his own 
 fortune." 
 
 Self-educated, without the advantages of a classical or uni- 
 versity education, without fortune, and without influential and 
 helpful friends, he became a printer, an editor, a lawyer, a 
 colonel in our volunteer army, a State legislator, a bank presi- 
 dent, and a United States Senator, elected successively for 
 three terms, ever retaining a conscious memory of the suc- 
 cessive steps he had taken and never growing haughty or 
 self-conceited, and faithfully and efticiently dischaiging the 
 dutiesof every ])o8ition to the satisfaction of the jiersons inter- 
 ested and with credit and honor to himself. 
 
 He possessed a broad, strong, active mind, an<l with judicial 
 clearness comprehended the solution ofcpxestions i)resented, 
 and with clear, rapid judgment executed his plans. 
 
 He was a true representative of the great masses of the 
 people, familiar and in warm .sympathy with their wants and 
 best interests as seen by him. 
 
 In every position in his eventful career he achieved success 
 by his indomitable energy, perseverance, close, studious appli 
 cation, and determined will power. As a friend, he was true 
 and faithful; as a husband he was tender, loving, and devoted 
 to his invalid companion; and as a father, kiiul and affec- 
 tionate. 
 
86 Address of Mr. Morrill^ of I In/ton/, on Ihc 
 
 lie was a tirni hclievt-r in the Christian faith and all it iin 
 plies. 
 
 Ill this last sail iiieiiiorial seiviee in this Chamber I tender 
 to his berel't wife and cliildien heartfelt coiidoleiicc and sym 
 pathy. and eummeud them tci our only ^reat Comforter in sueli 
 afllietions. 
 
 In beslowinj^ upon 1'ueston B. Plumh the hiyli and re- 
 sponsible position he so ably and conspicuously tilled for so 
 many years the good people of Kansas honored themselves aud 
 gave to the whole eouiitry a faithful and useful Senator, who 
 discharged his laborious duties with credit and honor to them 
 aud to himself. 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. Morrill, of Vermont. 
 
 Mr. Mori; 1 1. 1.. Mi . I'le.sident, the early incidents in the life 
 of our deceased associate have been already faithfully por 
 trayed, but they are so remarkable that they will bear repeti- 
 tion. The late Senator Plumb was a man of positive forces of 
 character, and forces which swiftly advanced his progress, 
 step after step, in various spheres of life, no matter by what 
 conditions confronti'd or surrounded, lie seemed to know 
 how to make himself u.seful and had the courage to go straight 
 altout it. With only a eoinmon school education and .some 
 knowledge in I lie art of jirinting, he went from Ohio to Kan 
 sas ill lS.l(i, at the age of 111, and of course became familiar 
 with the heroic history of that liberty loving State. It was 
 not long before be became an editor and pioi)rietor of a new.s- 
 paper, and was admitted to the bar in ISfil ; electeil to the 
 Kansas Legislature in 1S62, where he was promptly made 
 chairman of the judiciary committee, and was soon after made 
 the recorder of the supreme court of Kansas. The same year 
 
Li/f and Clniractrr of Preston II. Pliiiith. 87 
 
 lie eiitert'd tht^ voliiiitcLT service, as .sccuuJ lieutcuiiiit of tlie 
 Eleventh Kansas Infantry, and was snecessively made eaptain, 
 niajdr, lieutenanlcolonel, and i oloni'l. Again lie was el(^('lcd 
 to the Kansas lioiise of representatives in 1S(!(I and cIioschi a.^ 
 speaker, and was also a member of the house the following 
 year. In 1877, before he was K) years of age. he was elected 
 to the Senate of the United States, of which he remained a 
 prominent member niitil his decease. 
 
 It will be noticed that the deceased, while yet young, was 
 no idler, and so acquitted liimself in all the civil and military 
 duties with whicli from time to time he was charged that his 
 advance came rapidly and surely. He had not been long in 
 the Senate when he informed me. at a time when I hapjiened 
 to be a member of the committee to arrange the membership 
 of the committees of the Senate, that he was extremely desir- 
 ous to be placed where he could do more work, and therefore 
 wanted some |)lace on the Committee on Approjiriations. This 
 he obtained without objections, and it is needless to mention 
 that he handled with tidelity and vigor such bills as were 
 alloted to his charge. As chairman of the Committee on Public 
 Lands his services were laborious and important, especially 
 in rescuing unearned railroad land grants. 
 
 Upon his appearance in the Senate at the opening of the 
 present session, his robust form and contideiit bearing gave no 
 visible indication of any iutirmity or of any early termiuatiou 
 of his earthly (career. Few of his Senatorial associates here 
 apparently had a fairer outlook and promise of health and life. 
 His sudden demise found us all uniirejiared and enforces the 
 oft-repeated truth that the grim messenger, waiting to intro- 
 duce us all to the mysteries of another world, is no res2>ecter 
 of jiersoiis, but comes in "such an hour as ye think not." 
 
 Since my service l)egan in the Senate the death roll is long, 
 including live Presidents and also an e(iual numlier of Vice- 
 Presidents. 
 
88 AiMress of Mr. Morrill^ of I Irz/ioi//, on the 
 
 The SiMiatt' itsflt' is coiuiiioiily reckoned as a conservative 
 and preservatixf liody. where '• tew die and none resiyu," but 
 til at is confuted l)y the past occurrence of rigorous facts. I 
 find today l)ut two lionored Senators here wlio were members 
 of tlie Senate at the time of my entrance; and witliin twenty- 
 five years the number of those who have died while in office 
 or after the expiration of their terms of service is over ninety. 
 
 Some of these ninety Senators were counted in tlieir day as 
 among the foremost public men of the Republic, and all of 
 them had some real excellence or ability, sonu^ well-marked 
 personality, that peculiarly commended them to the favor of 
 tlieir n'S|iective States. There weic a few silent members 
 wliose judgment in committee work was reverenced as almost 
 infallible. Some had that " resistless eloquence " which 
 wielded at will their hearers. Others were ready, brilliant, 
 and cogent on the spur of the moment in parliamentary debate. 
 Those who witnessed the intellectual resources, the wisdom 
 and wit often here exhibited, felt sure the speakers would 
 ''leave sometliing to after time" which the world "would not 
 willingly h't die." 
 
 It will still be remembered, I hope, that the Senate has been 
 decollated, within the period mentioned, by the services of 
 such distiiiguislied meinhers as Sumner and Wilson. i^Iorton 
 and Hendricks, Fesseuden and Hamlin. Ben Wade, I'endleton 
 and Matthews, Garrett Davis and Heck. Anthony, Fo.ster, 
 Van Winkle, I5en. H. Hill. Iveverdy Johnson, Pomeroy. Zach. 
 Chandler, Windum, Conkliiig, Howe and .Matt ('aii)enter, 2S'ye, 
 Casserly, Dixon, Grimes, Fielinghuy.sen. i)a\id Davis, and 
 Logan, as well as by otliers yet living, though no longer mem- 
 bers of the Senate; but brevity of Senatorial service liere and 
 brevity of life after such service, with few excei)tions, would 
 seem to have been the fate of a majority of oui- jiredecessors. 
 
 Senator Plumb delivered his speeches witinuit ncpfes, in a 
 
Life and Cliaraclcr of Preston li. PliDub. 8I( 
 
 loud, clear voi< c. witli aliDimdiiij;' ;;('sticulatioii, and with \\ 
 steam tri|)liaiiiinci rapidity of iil tcianci'. ()l>\i(ni«iy, lie was 
 always mucli in carucst, liaviii;^' no t li<iiiiilil of dclral or re- 
 treat and dreading no assailant. His iin(iuestional)le aliilily, 
 his oeeasioual aggressiveness in debate, his varied intorination, 
 gathered from diligent oljservatiou, and his eonsiderabh^ fund 
 of mirtli pnivdlviug aiieedotes wlien among his familiar friends 
 will serve to iieri)etuate ids name, his individuality, and robust 
 traits of uharaeter. 
 
 The deceased Senator was a haid and pushing worker, largely 
 interested iu many tiuaueial enterprises, such as banking, 
 miuiug, and railroads, and for the latter years of his life it is 
 now evident that the miiltii)lied and onerous demands made 
 iipon his time and constitution by his Inisiuess affairs, opening 
 wider and wider liy their general success, together with otticial 
 duties here, and the annual strain of a i>olitical State cam- 
 paign, had overtasked and undermined his nervous system 
 and great natural strength, lie had not recognized that there 
 ever could be any abatement of his normal vigor, noi- contem 
 plated rest until it was too late. 
 
 Some years ago I was happy in having made not only the 
 ac(iuaintance of Senator Plvmb, but also that of his beloved 
 wife and family, some of whom were long-time invalids; and 
 no husband or father could exliil)it greater care or t<'nderer 
 devotion to whatever tended to promote their health or hap- 
 piness. However great the loss may be computed here, it will 
 be far greater at the home in Kansas, where the sad affliction 
 fixes an incurable grief. We can here only offer our brief 
 tribute to the deceased Senator and our deep sympathy with 
 his bereaved family. 
 
90 Adiirtss oj Mr. Daniel, of J 'irginia, on the 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. DANIEL, OF VIRGINIA. 
 
 Mr. Daniel. Mr. President, life — it.s (•(mdition.s, develo]) 
 nu'iits. and iniprovemeuts — i.s the constant snl)jeet of prog^re.ss- 
 ive thonght. We learn mncli of its laws. We sueeor its weak- 
 ness. Wf sharpen its faculties. We diversify its usefulness. 
 We enrich it witli learning. We adorn it with trophies. We 
 regale it with sculpture and i)icturo and song. Science repairs 
 its iiitirmitii's and may even inoloug its days. Hut wliat know 
 wc III' death .' Nil nunc I liau lie wlm lirsr stuod awe-struck and 
 mystified and dunil) l)ef(ire one dead. Philosophy tenders its 
 consolations. The universal instinct of man reaches through 
 the darkness with yearning to live forever. The dream of 
 immortality floats through ''life's fitful fever" and Christianity 
 cheers the ho|)e ol a lite beyond the graxc. ()m- dull senses 
 fail us under the burden of thoughts too vast for coniprehen 
 sion or too subtle to be put iu words. The infinite touches us, 
 the finite, with a point of hope, and then time and space en- 
 velope us with mysteries imj)enetrable. Vet whatever we 
 believe or fancy, oiu' thing we know: We know we are in our 
 Maker's hands. We kiu)w that God is on the other side of the 
 river of life to whi(di we go, even as He was on the side from 
 which we came. Where lie is it must be well. Let us be 
 comforted; we are in our Maker's keeping. 
 
 Such hours as these, spent in comnuunoration of those who 
 havi- Ii\'ed and lai)ored with us, are not to be begrudged. It has 
 been remarked that o\-er twenty days ol' the Fifty-first Con- 
 gress were consumed in rites for the dead, and some have sug- 
 gested that we should devote the Sabbath to them, that legis 
 lation may uuiiiterru|itedly proceed. 1 am sure that this view 
 can not spring from indili'erence to the memories of the dc 
 
/.//(• and Chnractrr of Preston />'. I'lnnib. !tl 
 
 pnrti'il; it s])iiiiL;s ratliiT tVoiii the sti';iiii ot |iul)lic duty iiml 
 the IiuimIcii ot' iHililic cure. Those who h;i\e Hot cxiMTit'liccd 
 what those duties :ni(l liuidens :iic have hut little eonceptioii 
 of their inultitiuh' or their iuasiiitu(h'. The U'gishitix'e atlaiis 
 of over sixty millions of people eoneentrate liere in the lian<ls 
 of little more than four hundred men; their labors begin with 
 the earliest movements of business in the niorninji'; they elose 
 only in the deep middle of the night, when sleep is upon man. 
 For the legislative public servant there is uo eight-hour law, 
 nor twelve-hour law. 
 
 The correspondenee of a Senator or Representative, his com- 
 mittee work, and his business with the De])artm<'nts would 
 each consume the full time of a hardworking man. Yet when 
 these tasks are done there remains yet undone the main work 
 of his mission here, the enactment of laws for a great nation, 
 comprehending the complex concerns of forty-four Common 
 wealths, unified as a Republic, in whose immensity is prefig 
 ured the universal nation. The many deaths amongst members 
 of Congress is i)robal)ly tlue more to the strain upon their 
 mental and physical faculties than to any other cause, and in 
 the death of the distinguished Senator whom we mourn to-day 
 there is but little doubt that this cause found its natural efiect 
 and gathered to the dust its latest victim. 
 
 Senator Plumb was all aglow with his tasks. He loved his 
 work and his work grew upon him. His restless, active, ear 
 nest, aggressive nature knew uo stop or stay. He seized upon 
 his tasks with avidity. He grapjiled with tliem as he would 
 assail a fortress; he clung to them with relentless diligence 
 and dispatched them with fervid zeal. But as he curtailed in 
 one direction they grew in another. The water ran into the 
 ship faster than the sailor could bail it out. His work con- 
 sumed him even as he consumed it; he was rolling the stone 
 of Sisy])hus. and as he rolled it up the hill it rolled back and 
 over him — and he is dead I 
 
!i2 .It/t/rtss <>/ Mr. Daniel, of I 'irgiiiia, on the 
 
 Born in Ohio in 1S.!7, \\v died siukk'nly in tlie city ol' Wash- 
 injrton on the I'Otli day of Di'L-einber last, in the very fulluess 
 of Ills rciiiaikable career. A oominoii-scliool cdncation and a 
 l)iinter's appieutice.shiii constituted his eiiuipmeut for the bat- 
 tles of life. Kre he was 1*0 years of af;e he naijrrated to Kan- 
 sas and there settled. In that fiesh younj^ .State, with its 
 lecniing opportunities, he found a fitting theater fur his indus- 
 trious, a.spiriiig nature, and his career was upwanl and onward 
 until he filled a great si)ace and became an inii)ortant factor 
 in the att'airs of iiis State and country. 
 
 Coniiugto the bar in 18(il, his diligence ere long won foi him 
 tlie i)osition of reporter of tlic supreme court. luitering the 
 army as a second lieutenant. In- passed the successive grades 
 of captain, major, and lieutenant colonel, and at the close of 
 hostilities was the commander of his regiment. Kntering 
 legislative .service as a nu'mber of the constitutional con\-ention 
 of 1850, he was elected to the lower house of the Legislature 
 in 1SC2 and bec-anie chairman of its Judiciary comnuttee. 
 Again a legislator in 1S07, he was chosen sjjeaker. Ten years 
 later he was elected I 'iiited States Senator :in<l twice he was 
 lei'lected to succeed himself. lie was the uatural ottspring of 
 the boundless opiwrtunities of a free laud and a true type of 
 the progressive Western man of this rushing age. With a 
 constitution of iron, he |)lungcd into the seething currents of 
 political and business life. Vigor iiiarkcd all his ctforts, suc- 
 cess crowned bis undertakings, and, as lawyer, statesman, sol- 
 dier, and business man, he reaped rewards and honors. The 
 continued support and confidence bestowed n|ioii liim by his 
 people better bespoke his capacities and ilic esteem in which 
 he was held than any eulogy of words. 
 
 His tiaiiung as a parliamentarian and lawyer and legislator 
 prepaicil jiini well lor his duties here, and for many years he 
 took a eonsj)icuous pail in framing and discussing measures 
 
Life and Cliaracter of Preston /.'. Plumb. M3 
 
 before this hotly. As ;i (lel>;itcr lie ranked liiuii. (,>uick in i)er- 
 ception, leady anil eaufi- tor actinn. positive, direct, and ag- 
 gressive in Ins methods, he lost no lime in striking at the 
 main point and against it lie liiiih'ii his stores of facts and 
 figures with decisive aim. The lighter adjuncts of debate, the 
 play of humor and the tlight of laney, he seldom ealleil into 
 requisition. Plain iu manner, unaffeeted in style, strong iu 
 l)nrpose. caring little for ornament and all for matter, ever 
 earnest and forcible and often imi)assioned, he discussed no 
 subject that he did not illumine with contributions of thought 
 and knowledge. 
 
 Senator Plumb was a man of affairs. The character of his 
 mind was eminently practical. His executive capacities were 
 great. At the head of any great enterprise he would have 
 made his mark. From the beginning he looked toward the 
 end, subordinating theory to acconiplishment, and result was 
 the goal on which his eyes were fastened and to which his steps 
 ever hastened. Well informed on public matters and keeping 
 pace with advanced thought on leading questions, he moved 
 with the pioneers of his party to their solution. As a rule he 
 never separated from his political ]iarty by going too far 
 ahead or lagging behind, and he was an intense, earnest 
 Eepublicau. But he was independent and self-ieliant. He 
 kept in touch with his constituents. His sympathies were 
 with popular interests, and time and again he voted his con- 
 victions for lighter taxation and for liberal financial legislation 
 regardless of the majority of his political associates agaiust 
 liim. 
 
 The eagerness of his disposition made vSenator Plumb a par- 
 tisan, and the struggles iu his State, where couteuding ideas 
 came in fierce collision, doubtless fired his enthusiasm and in- 
 tensified his convictions. But as the years of peace rolled by 
 their ameliorating influences were exemplified iu his conduct. 
 
fM Address of Mr. Daitii/, of I 'irs^iiiia, on the 
 
 I recall this day with plfasmc that in ail the disiussioiis hcrel 
 never oiue ln-ard iiiin utter \v<ird.s of bitterness towards my 
 section or its people. In I lie restoration of the South he took 
 deep interest. He was loath to interfere with the },'ood iiillii- 
 ences which were at work to harmonize its elements aud to re- 
 store its prosperity, and the partisan felt the impulses of the 
 patriot in dealing with (jnestions that touched the structure of 
 society aud the welfare of the p«'ople. 
 
 When I came to the Seuate in 1887 Senator Plumh had long 
 beeu oue of its leading members. My ac([uainran('e w ith him 
 then began. In hisniaikcd (•diirfesy and kiiiiliicss to nie, \\ liich 
 he went out of his way to manifest, he impressed me with a 
 sense of his amiable and sociable disposition and excited grate- 
 ful regards, which I shall long cherish. Two instances, small 
 in them.selves, gave mc an iiisiuht into his character. Once in 
 debate he used words which grated very harshly upon me and 
 I thought them unprovoked. Stifling the impulse to respond 
 resentfully, 1 went, as soon as lie took his seat, to his side and 
 called his attention to them. With a beaming smile on his 
 face he.stretched outhishaud to me, aud what he said instantly 
 removed all uniilcasantness. and his act and words were so 
 frank and gracious tiiat I felt strongly drawn to him. 
 
 Again, I went one day to speak to him at liis desk: papers 
 and books were piled up before Iiim and lie seemed absorbed 
 in the maze of statistical fa<-tsand lignres, but tiie book before 
 him was not of the kind I expected to see. "Ifyouwishto 
 read something lovely," he said, •' read this,'' and he handed 
 me Arnold's Light of Asia, with a marked jiasgage of ex- 
 (piisite beauty; and he added, as 1 expressed surjirise at see- 
 ing him with such a book at such a time, such words as these, 
 " Oh, I am r(!ading this to rest myself from these weary tasks." 
 
 I know full well, fiom soiirees that I need not nan\e, of acts 
 of kindness done by Senator I'li'MH which could only come 
 
Life and Cliaractcr of Pfcslou />'. I'lituih. 95 
 
 fVoiii a lu'urt toui-licd wiMi the -ciilli' cliaiities nl' liuiiiaiiity. 
 Uiidcriu'ath his stroiij;- and suiiii'l iiiics i()u,i;li exterior tliere 
 were recesses of tender tliou.ylit and leelinu whieli soiiylit ex- 
 pression in good deeds. 
 
 (!one from us to rotuni in> more; fallen in liis prime; taken 
 in the twinkling of an eye to liis long lioine, may his good deeds 
 embalm his memory and bear solace to those to whom he was 
 nearest and dearest; and may we not ho])e that he rests well 
 now from his weary tasks and that it is true, as the Asian 
 prophet says? 
 
 With death the sunrise roiiics; 
 
 The dewdi'oji slips into the sliiiiing sea. 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. DOLPH, OF OREGON. 
 
 I\lr. DoLiMi. Mr. President, we have laid aside for an hour 
 the basiuess of the Senate, matters of state which demand at- 
 tention, questions of politics which array us against one another 
 and lead to acrimonious discussion and mutual deiuxnciation, 
 to unite, with saddened hearts and subdued utterances, in 
 paying our last tribute of res])ect to the memory of our de- 
 ])arted brother. 
 
 I should feel condemned if I failed to add my liumlile tribute 
 to the eulogies already ])ronounced and to be ]ironouiieed to 
 the memory of our colleague. He was one of the tirst of the 
 members of this l)ody when I entered the Senate to welcome 
 me; and with his aid 1 was i)hiced upon the Committee on 
 Pixblic Lands, of which he was chairman, and our interccmrse 
 was thenceforth most pleasant and friendly. I was greatly 
 shocked by his death and felt that I had lost a personal friend. 
 
 We are again renunded of our UKn-tality and that great use- 
 fulness, jniblic h(Uiors, and exalted jiosition furnish no exemii- 
 tion from the shafts of the insatiate archer. "])eatli nu-ets 
 
9t! Address of Mr. Dolph, of Oregon, on the 
 
 lis everywhere and is pmciued by every instrument." It is 
 the law of our being, the unalterabh^ decree of Heaven. In an 
 unexpected hcmr he eonies, and ihf lauicl is clianued into 
 «-yi»ress, tlie e(iui])a{jre of earthly i)(>\ver into the pall and the 
 hearse. I\Ian gathers riches. Ue spends his days for the 
 things which ]»erish with their using. He secures wealth and 
 power and ])ositioii and is snatched away and others enter into 
 his labors and enjoy the things which cost liiui his life. In tlie 
 pride of the strength of nianliood. in the full possession of his 
 natural i)ow(>rs, in the zenitli of his usefulness, in the court- 
 <lence and estci-iii of liis culleagues in this Clianiber and of his 
 countrymen, with anil)itions for greater iutlueuce and bright 
 ho]ics for the future, unexpectedly and almost without notice 
 the messenger came to him we mourn. In th(> morning the 
 summons came and before the moining's sun had leached its 
 meridian Ids sjiirit had left its earthly tenemeni and \\inged 
 its Higlit to gi\e an account to the Author of its existence. 
 
 When we last saw him and lieard him upon tliis tloor lie was 
 the apparent embodiment of health and strength and seemed 
 to have the promise of many years of usefulness and activity 
 before him. None would liave made tlie iir(i|)liccv that the 
 lirst seat to be vacated in tiie Senate would be that of the 
 senior Senator from Kansas. 
 
 I sliall not atteni|ii td lecnnni ilie ineideiits of the life and 
 the public .services of Senator 1'limh. Tliat duty lias already 
 l)een well performed by those better (pialirted foi- the task. 
 During my service ujion the Committee on Public Lands many 
 important ni:itters were biciught Ijefore the comnuttee for 
 cou.sideiatiou, and I had ample o])j)ortuuity to judge of the 
 caiiacity of our deceased l)roliier. Hi' was always quick to 
 ])erceive a i)oint and had an amazing aliility to ])rcsent his 
 views forcibly an<l tersely, lie was a growing man. His 
 mental powers were kept in eonstant tcMisjon. His wonderful 
 
Life and Cliaractcr of Preston B. Pl/niib. 97 
 
 ability to gra.sp a qiu'sti<m, to gather and retain itiibrnuition 
 eoueerning it, and present hi.s views upon it, inereased with 
 every year. The clearness and Wgor of his intellect have been 
 too often shown in this Chamber to be questioned. We were 
 all often surprised at the masterly manner with which he 
 absorbed information and presented measures pending in the 
 Senate. 
 
 T think I do no man an injustice when I saj' that, for untir- 
 ing industry, exliaustless energy, tor ability to comprehend 
 a subject and present a proposition, and power to produce 
 results in legislation, no man in the Senate or who has been 
 a member since I entered it surpassed Senator Plumb. He 
 possessed in an unusual degree the rude elenuHits so well suited 
 to successful conflicts in pioneer life. It is true that he lacked 
 the polish which is given by a college education, that he did 
 not possess the graces of oratoiy; but he had been schooled in 
 the experiences of frontier life, in the great struggle between 
 freedom and slavery in Kansas, in the camp, on the march, 
 and in the shock of battle in defense of the Union, upon the 
 stuni]) in the great political contests since the war. by partici- 
 pation in the promotion and prosecution of great business 
 enterprises for the develo]>nient of his State and the country at 
 large, in the sharp encounters of the debates of this CMianiljcr, 
 and in the multifarious public duties of his long and successful 
 career. 
 
 What he lacked in polish and discipline imparted by schools 
 he moie than made up liy his native ability, his knowledge of 
 men and of practical aftnirs, his directness and mental force, 
 the abundance, simplicity, and clearness of his style. If the 
 masterly use of ])lain, terse, vigorous, and logical English, 
 which carries cimviction and secures the sympathies of one's 
 auditors, is eloquence, he was eloquent. 
 
 He detested shams, hypocrisy, and display, and aflei-ted to 
 
 despise titles and distinctions of worldly lionor. He was too 
 S. Mis. 22S 7 
 
98 Address of Mr. Dolp/i, of Oregon, on the 
 
 busy for the duties of social life and ai)i)areiitly indifferent to 
 the laws of so-called society. He neither feared danj,'er nor 
 shrank from responsibility. He thought for himself and formed 
 his own couelusions, and by his utterances and his votes in 
 this body sometimes antagonized his party; but in an emer- 
 gency, when his vote was needed to carry a ])arty measure, 
 never failed it. 
 
 His conception of the mission of man upon this earth ap- 
 peared to be similar to that of Chapin when he wrote, '• Man 
 was sent into the world to be a growing and exhaustless force. 
 The world was si)rcad out around him to be seized and con- 
 quered. Kca I II IS (if in 111 lite truth liiust iipcii aliove him. inviting 
 him to tread those shining courts along which Newton dropped 
 his plummet and Herschel sailed, a Columbus of the skies." 
 
 The history of the State he served so I'aitlifully can not be 
 fairly written but his name will be found inscribed on almost 
 every page, and his labors will be chronicled in the account of 
 the years of her early struggles aud of her later pros])erity, 
 and in the history of Congress, since he occupied a seat in this 
 Hall, his work will form a conspicuous part. 
 
 Thousands of hearts have been nuide glad and thousands of 
 honu'S made brighter, not only in Kansas, but in other States 
 of the Cniou. by his aid, and thousands felt a sense of personal 
 loss wlieu he died. I was a member of the committee whicli 
 accompanied the remains of our lamented brother to his West- 
 ern home and assisted in the last sad rites over them. No 
 tribute we can bring to the menuiryof our deceased frieiul can 
 equal that of the people of his own State and of his fellow 
 townsmen, « lio, on our iiioiunl'ul journey througli the State 
 and at his funeral, vied with one another to show their sorrow 
 and respect. We fouiul the State literally in mourning. The 
 peopli' who congregated at the ca])ital of the State and at the 
 citv of his residence were not drawn together lor a holiday or 
 
Li/f and C/iarac/cr of Preston B. J'/initd. !i!l 
 
 fi'om idle ciuio.sity. Eveiywlicie were seen tlic liadfi'es of 
 TiKiniiiinj;. rpoii every (•ouiitenancc uiirei},nH'(l sorrow was 
 depietetl. On every side were the expressions of both jmhlic 
 loss aud private sorrow. The general manifestations of sorrow 
 were not so much for the loss of a pulilic servant as for a i)er- 
 sonal friend. Few men in public life have managed to so 
 identify themselves with the people and to secure their love and 
 confidence. 
 
 After we entered the State of Kansas, at nearly every station 
 were tlie scarred veterans of the late war, with the flags of the 
 Grand Army posts draped in niourninj;-. The universal mourn- 
 ing, the sense of sorrow and loss which pervaded tiie scene and 
 seemed to hang like a leaden pall over the entire State and to 
 dim the bright sunshine of the splendid December days, found 
 its center and culminating point in the liome and family of the 
 deceased. Impressive indeed were the simple services in that 
 tar Western home, in the presence of the stricken wife and 
 children, the mourning relatives and intimate friends of the de- 
 ceased. The solemnity and sacredness of the occasion made 
 me almost feel as if my presence was an intrusion. In God's 
 acre, near the city he helped to found and whose prosperity 
 he ever labored to promote, in the State of his adoption, in the 
 glorious sunlight of a December day, under the auspices of 
 the Grand Army of the Republic, and with the touching and 
 beautiful ceremonial of their order, the mortal remains of our 
 lamented lir(jther were committed to Mother Earth to await the 
 resurrection day. 
 
 His work is done. His restless activity, his tireless energy, 
 no longer have part or lot in the affairs of earth. The seasons 
 will come and go, spring flowers will grow about his grave, 
 winter storms will beat upon it, but liis senseless ear will not 
 be reached with tlie voice of approbation or of censure. 
 
 As death invades our ranks and removes a colleague from 
 
100 .liMrcss of Mr. Dolph, of Oregon, on tlw 
 
 our miinlx'i- :iiiil causes a pause in tin- busy scenes of the 
 Senate, luiw are we reminded of the shortness and uncer- 
 tainty of liunian life! Staudinj;- by llie new math- jriaves of 
 Hearst, tif Wilson, and of Plumb, and mentally asking our 
 selves who of our luimber will next be singled out by the grim 
 archer, can we fail to be impressed with the vanity of earthly 
 things.' How iiisignilicani all t hose things for which wc luil 
 are when we reflect that the end of earthly things will surely 
 come to us as it came to them I Position, i)ower, intluence, 
 how little can tln'y minist(>r for consolation at such a time! In 
 s\i(li an iioui liiimaii sympathy is una\ailiiig. 'I'licrc is but 
 one cciiisnlatioii. Ilial wliicli comes to stricken hearts from the 
 iiope that death is not the end of man, a belief that answers 
 in the atlirmative the ([uestion •• If a man die, shall he live 
 again?" and eiial)les its ])ossessor to look forward to a n-uniou 
 with the lo\c(l ami lust ticyund the gra\-e. where sickness and 
 sorrow and deatli can not enter. 
 
 ^Vhen the minister who conducted liie leligioiis services at 
 his funeral suggested that although his eventful and acti\e 
 life was closed here our dei)arted colleague nught be entering, 
 in another worlrl. njion the activities of a nobler life which 
 would be itumorlal. the remark seemed to bring to me the 
 thought ot a I'utiire life with new meaning, t hat of act ivity, 
 usefulness, and (le\-elopnielit. I.cl us be consoled with the 
 hope that the energies of our dei)arted brother have tbuinl on 
 wider lields and in more delightful employment op]iortunities 
 for renewed activity. 
 
 Socrates, when about to (liiiik the lieiiilo<k. consoled his 
 friends by saying: "If the soul be immortal ami peipetual re 
 wards lie laid uji for wise souls, theti 1 lose nothing by my 
 death; liut. if it be not, then 1 lose nothing by my o])inion; 
 f(u- it supports my spirit in its passage and tlie evil of being 
 deceived can m)t overtake nie when I have no being." 
 
Life and Lharaclcr of rrcUoii />'. I'luinh. inl 
 
 The Christ iiui <1(kvs not, like Socnites, f;T(>lie in darkness and 
 luieertaiuty to lind the evideuee of iinniDitality, but his hdjie, 
 built upon the iinmiiscs cdnlaiued in (iod's rcNcalcd will !<► 
 man, looks forward to a brij^htcr litr ol' clfrnal Idesscduc.s.s and 
 
 .j"y- 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr, ALLISON, OF lOWA. 
 
 Mr. Allison. -Air. President, as has been said, it is titting 
 that we should from tinu' to time oeeupy a brief [leriod in pay- 
 iui; tribute to our departed brethren in this body. My knowl- 
 edge of Senator Plumi! and my relations to him during nearly 
 the entire time of his service here make it titting that 1 should 
 say something on this oeeasion. His death was sudden and 
 wholly unexpected to his associates in thisOhamber. He h:id 
 just emerged from active participation in the reorganization of 
 the committees of this body, always a dilhcidt task at the be- 
 ginning of a Congress. I reniendu'r that only a day or two 
 before his death he said to me that that reorganization had 
 taken much time and given him considerable anxiety, because 
 of the large uumber of new Senators entering the body, and 
 he was glad it had been so well and so satisfactorily arranged 
 and disjjosed of, little thinking for the moment that the next 
 business of the committee of which he was an active member 
 would be to arrange to fill the places which he himself occu- 
 pied. 
 
 1 shall not enter into the details of the life and services of 
 Senator Phimb prior to his entrance into this body. That has 
 already been done grai)hically l)y his colleague [Mr. Peffer] 
 and by others who ha\e preceded me. It is a most interest- 
 ing and instructive story to those who may study his life and 
 public service. It discloses his aggressive spirit and his com 
 
102 .-liM/tis 11/ Mr. .lliiiou^ oj Jdwa^ on the 
 
 bative nature, stt Wfll desnibeil by the Senator from Virjiinia 
 [Mr. Danikls]. These were not only natural to liim, liut in a 
 larj^e ileg:rec were the result of his early education, training, 
 and assoi-iation. When he souglit a new home lif migrated to 
 the new Territory of Kansas, and doubtless the situation there 
 induced hiui to leave his native State to participate in the 
 struggles tliere. Nr> one knew better than he at that time the 
 natuic of the contest waging there. He has described to me 
 many times the portion of that journey wiiicli lay through my 
 own State. He and his little baud of companions landed on 
 the west bank of the Mississipjii, at Davenport, in Iowa, and 
 and with wagons containing small arms and a I'poundcr field 
 piece, in addition to their ordinary luggage, they traversed the 
 State of Iowa from the r\Iississii)i)i to the Mis.souri. 
 
 It was no holiday journey to them. They were to take pai't 
 in thai great ineliniinary coutlict in the Slate of ivansas which 
 sliook this nation afterward and reverberated around the 
 world. Mr. Pi>i>in took active part in that conllict from ISoO 
 to isiil, and then in the larger conflict that followed, and, when 
 tliat had ended, he returned to Kansas and took an active i)art 
 in tile develo])meiii and growth of the State. That growth 
 was remarkable not only as to the character of its Ijeginning, 
 but in all stages of its de^■elopulellt later on. Uis personality 
 was .so consi)icnous, his ability was so well recognized among 
 liis a.ssoeiates and .so commanding, as to make it fitting that 
 the Legislature of the State should designate him as one of its 
 Senators at the early age of 4(t. Hut few men, in the strug- 
 gles and activities that lead to this Chamber, reach it at this 
 ea'ly age. I ilouhi if tliere are more than three or four of 
 tnose now in this body who reached it at the age of 40. 
 
 When I heard tin- di.stinguished Senator from Illinois [Mr. 
 Palmer], in his able s])eech this morning on his i>roposed 
 amendment, recounting the dreams of the fathers of the Cou- 
 
Life and Chanicter of J'rrs/oit />. Plumb. 103 
 
 sritutidii as t(i wiiat tlir Senate was likely to he, fliat is, that it 
 would be eoinpo.seil (if the most eniiiieiit men <if' the sexcial 
 States, my mind roeiirred at once to Senator I'l.iMU as a (lis 
 tinguislied illustration of the realization of that dreani, not 
 only as respt'cts liis being one of the stronsiest men in his 
 State, but also as an illusti-ation of the fact that duiini;- all his 
 period of service here he largely and trnly represeiiteil the 
 sentiment of his State and its people upon the jnihlic (pies- 
 tions that from time to time have appeared here foi' i)nblic de- 
 bate and legislative action. 
 
 I first became personally acqnaiiited with Senator Plttmb 
 on his entrance here as a member of this body. lu ^lareh, 
 1881, by the accidents and chances of this Chamber, it so hap- 
 j)ened that three Senators from the Democratic side left the 
 Senate who were members of the Committee on Apjirojiria- 
 tious, leaving npon the committee as Democrats Senator Davis 
 of West Virginia and Senator Beck, the Democrats having a 
 majority of the committee during the Forty-sixth Congress. 
 It so happened also that at that time the term of one Kejnib- 
 licau Senator, also a member of the committee, ceased, and 
 two other Republicans, Senator Blaine and Senator Windom, 
 both members of the committee, were invited into the Cabinet 
 of President Garfield. So but three members of the conunittee 
 in the Forty-sixth Congress were left when the Forty-seventh 
 began. The Republican party was in the majority tben, and 
 Senat(us Logan, Dawes, Hale, and Pli'mis were added to the 
 Committee cm Appropriations from the Republican side and 
 Senators Ransom and Cockrell from the Democratic side. 
 
 Thus a majority of the members of the committee were new 
 in its service, although Senators Logan, Dawes, and Hale had 
 Lad large experience on the committee in the House of Repre- 
 sentatives. Thus newly organized the committee entered upon 
 its important work. 
 
104 .-iddress of Mr. .l/Zison, of /owa, on Ihe 
 
 St'uatur PuMB filtered upuu the work with zeal and hroufrht 
 to theconsideraiinii of tlie subjects considered his great ability, 
 untirin;; industry, and active watchfulness, and snoii iHM'auie 
 laniiliar with the work, and continued until the time of his 
 death as one of its most ellicieut, faithful, and devoted mem- 
 bers. No task assigiH'd liiin was left undone or partially done. 
 
 lie jiatiently investigated every detail, not only as to the 
 bills in his special charge, but in committee gave full atten- 
 tion to all the great appropriation liills annually reporteil to 
 carry on the Government, and always participated in tlie 
 debates that followed upon contested points in the Senate, 
 thus contributing largely and actively in the solution of ques- 
 tions coming from that commltt*'e. So in conference with the 
 otiiir Hiiuse, tenacious of the \iews of the Senate, he was 
 always willing to reach a conclusion by fair ami just compro- 
 mise of contlicting opinions developed between the two Ilouses. 
 So that he was a most able, valuable, and useful member of the 
 committee lor liu yeais. 
 
 During this time death has laid a heavy hand upon the mem- 
 bers of the committee. First Gen. Logan, then Senator Beck, 
 and last, but not least in any sense. Senator Pltmb. 
 
 Although nni early trained in the aits of tlie schools, I need 
 not say to older members of this (Jhamber that he was one of 
 its ablest and most aceom|ilished debaters, not in the orna- 
 mentations that eliciiaeterizeil liis speeeli, but in the persuasive- 
 ness and |M)wer of his aiguiiients. Whilst he always had a 
 purpose, and a will to execute that purpose, he was patient in 
 its accomplishment. I could give many illustrations of this. 
 1 need give but one. For many years he desired, as did the 
 jieople of the Southwest, not only the far Southwest, in Texas, 
 but ill the adjacent States of Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas, 
 that the Indian Territory, which was held there as in a sack, 
 should be ojieiied up to settlement by the citizens of the United 
 
Life and CItayacler of Prcsloii />'. Plumb. 105 
 
 States, ill (iidcr tliat that rcninn iiiij;lit lie more raiiidly devel- 
 oped. Indian treaties and <il)llyaliiins to tlic live tribes were 
 ill tlie way. Tiieie were tiiose w iui s(mij;1i1 to open tliis Terri- 
 tory without repud to our treaty ohliuations witli the Indians. 
 
 If the statutes rciatiiii;- to tiiis sniijcM't and the debates lead- 
 ing to their pas^sag•e are examined, it will lie seen Iliat Senator 
 Plujib was the pioneer in this ('hamlier, ;is 1 believe his siie- 
 cessor, ;\Ir. Perkins, Mas in the other, of a series of statiit(rs 
 that have resulted in the establishment of the Territory of 
 Oklahoma, and whieh will result in the future in absorbing 
 into a single civilized State of the Union all there is now left 
 of what was known for mauy years as the ludiau Territory. 
 Senator Plumb, with his energy, his watchfalness of opportune 
 times, with his power of persuasion and his patienee, accom- 
 plished as much if not more in this Chaniber and in Congress 
 for the region that he more immediately represented than any 
 other Senator upon this floor, and I do not wish to disparage 
 other Senators or their efforts. 
 
 When he went to the Territory of Kansas it was sparsely in- 
 liabited, and only on the margin of its great river, and was 
 practically an Indian reservation. Its prairies were as wild as 
 the flowers that grew upon tliem, and the streams of Kansas 
 had only recently reflected the face of the white nuui, if we 
 except the travelers that crossed it to the Paeiflc Ocean. 
 When the State of Kansas was admitted in 18(il it had only a 
 fraction over one hundred thousand people. So even when 
 Senator Plumb came into this Chamber many of the questions 
 arising out of Indian reservations and homestead settlements 
 and the oeeupati(Ui of the pidiHc lands were unsettled and 
 re(iuired legislation to make sure the titles to the lands of 
 those who had taken homesteads or made purchases for homes* 
 all of these difflcult (juestious received his assiduous care. 
 
 He was representing a new State, so truly characterized by 
 
106 Address of Mr. Allison, of fozra, on the 
 
 tht' Sriiatdi- iKiiii Kansas, his collcafruf [Mr. PcHcrj. as a State 
 abnoriual iu its growth, which is witliout a parallel in the his 
 tory of any State in the Union. That jrrowth carried inlu the 
 State of Kansas. (lnrin<r his service of fourteen years in this 
 Chainliei-, a i»o]>ulation equal to one-half ot' the present popu 
 lation. So Senator Pi.umb had not only the.se great interests 
 ill tills Chamber to support and sub.serve, but lir liail also the 
 jirivatc wishes an<l wants and needs of a new and raiiidly 
 growing constituency in the various Executive Departments. 
 
 I have often thought that Senators in this Chamber repre- 
 senting more easteiix States have InU little knowledge of the 
 immense detail of business that a rcjiresentative in this Cham- 
 ber of a Western State has as respects the public lands, as 
 respects (piestions growing out of the Indian situation, and 
 above all as respects questions growing out of the pension 
 legislation and the needs of applicants for pensions. A reeur- 
 ren<-e to the statistics of pensioners will disclose the fact that 
 in i)roiiortion to the population the State of Kansas has a 
 larger number of pensioners than any other State in tliis I'liion. 
 The tendency of the men who served in the war and who are 
 drawing ])ensions from our Government was for many years to 
 migrate westward from the older States of the Tnion. There- 
 fiiic it was that Senator Pi^UMR hail upon liis shoulders during 
 the fourteen years of his i)ublic service not only the great ijues- 
 tions which always arise aft'ecting the whole country which he 
 liarticipated in here so fully and so ably in debate and other- 
 wise, but he also had i it her great questions of a si)ecial and 
 local character requiring legislation and careful attentinii in 
 the Departments. All these retpiired constant and continuous 
 etiort. So he was, as stated by tlii' Senator from Missniiii 
 [Mr. ('0ckrell|. a worker in season and nut of season. 
 
 I!ul with all tills he had an ambition alxive and beyond, so 
 well stated bv his colleague, and that was an ambition t > sue 
 
Life aiui Character of Prcsloii Ji. Pliiinb. 107 
 
 (■ei'Cl in a l)usinfss way. Whilst lie was <'ii<ja-c.l Ii.mv in liis 
 public work and Icavin.i;- notiiini;' nndonc tiiat rcquircil iiis at- 
 tention, he iMi-ajicd in enterprises and activities not only in 
 his own State, hut in many other States. He had eaus-ht that 
 spirit of speculation and tlirift and enerj^y incident to the new 
 State of Kansas, which inclined him to make ventures in other 
 fields of investment, where safe and ])rolital>]e. 
 
 He often (littered with his party friends in this Chamber as 
 respects public measures, and did not hesitate to express his 
 views with courage. But he also believed that in a free gov- 
 ernment like <Mirs we would in the future as heretofore have 
 government by paity as respects i)ublic policies and public 
 measures; so he always acted with the Kei)ublicaii party, aud 
 was one of its leaders, because he believed that it more nearly 
 reflected his views upcm great public (piestions than any other. 
 
 So, Mr. President, I pay this brief tribute to our departed 
 friend, knowing how imperfect it is. 
 
 His career is one of the most remarkable aud unique in our 
 history. Without early opportunity, such as is the fortune of 
 most of those who enter this Chamber, by his ability, his 
 energy, his force of c-haracter, he forged his way to the highest 
 place of power and influence in this body and in the country. 
 His as.sociates here, the people of his own State, and the 
 couutrv at large mourn his loss and revere his memory. 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. TURPIE, OF INDIANA. 
 Mr. TuBiMi-,. :Mr. President, Preston B. Plumb, the late 
 Senator from Kansas, was an excellent tjTe of the class of 
 statesmen belonging to tlie era which tbllowed the civil war. 
 His public or ofti.MnI life commenced during the period of that 
 great conflict, ami in its course was nearly equally divided be- 
 
1">< .liic/rtss of Mr. Tiirpii . of Indiana, on the 
 
 twi'i'ii sfivice to his State aiul tlie iiittion. Liviiij;' in a tk'bat- 
 abli- and border laud, where smothered war was the condition 
 hin{^ belure hostilities bi-canu' thi}>ranl. scliiinlt d liy the roii^^h 
 disrijibne incident thereto, he had been a soldier even bel'ore 
 he joined the army of the Union. His bearinj:; was always 
 that of the soldier; not the trained regular, bnt the volnnteer 
 will) had taken np arms for a ceilain cause wiiii^a certain lair- 
 liose. . 
 
 ("hosen to a seat ill the Senate of the United States at the 
 ajie of 40. without ppevious Congressional exjierience, he from 
 the lirst took and alw avs afterwards retained a conspicuous ]iart 
 in the debates and proceedings of this branch of the National 
 Legislature. Such a jjosition, under these circumstances, could 
 only have been assumed by one of (juick apprehension, of sn- 
 l)erior address, strong convictions, and jiowers of rapid gen- 
 eralizatiiiii, tiaits in iiis character well iiiaikcd and recognized. 
 His frequent participation in debate did not lessen his work 
 in private conference ur in the cumniittee room. 
 
 'flu- cast of his mind was in all things practical. He was 
 thoroiigiily ilcviited lo the realities of life. To be of use — cif 
 present use — to those whom he immediately rejireseiitcil and 
 the larger constituency of the whole country, this was the 
 aim id' his ambition. In tlie pursuit of it he exhibited a hos- 
 pitality of spiiit, an expansive sympalhy, ami an enthusiasm 
 ever fresh; welcomed clieerfidly all labor, all dilliculties. all 
 detractions which might attend it. Though ordinarily a zeal- 
 ous and steadfast partisan, he sometimes left the <'anip of hi.s 
 political associates to stand upmi \\\\:\\ lie cleeiiied to lie the 
 side of the jieople. 
 
 Chargecl in conversation upon a recent occasion of this sort, 
 half jocosely, with desertion, he answered, "1 am no deserter: 
 1 have joined — I have only just now Joined — ihe force touhich 
 1 belong in this light." 
 
Life and Characirr of Preston />'. riiinih. 10!) 
 
 Tlioii-li he IVcqiifiitly Mildifssod tlic Sciiatf he aid not coii- 
 liiic hiiiisolf to a siii.i;lf tli.Miic. lit' spoke, and sitokc \v<dl, 
 iij)on a widf ranjii' of sulijcits. 
 
 The Mtylf was like tlic man, robust, (aiiirst. animated. 
 The salient iioints of a ipiestion he seleeted witli nneiiin.u 
 discernment. Ontln'se lie dwelt— seldom made or snilered a 
 diversion. His manner of reasoniiij' was incisive, direct. He 
 often tiaveled across lots to a coiielusion stated with clearness, 
 force, and brevity. He dealt not much with the old past or its 
 hist(ny. not even with that of his own eoiintry. The past for 
 him was the iieriodjnst before the war. It was not often that 
 he alluded to a date more ancient. Indeed, in a life crowded 
 with action he had not much op])ortuuity, perhaps little taste, 
 for contemplative .study or research. 
 
 To the (piestious of the day he gave the answers of the day, 
 of the hour, as they were sujigested by a mind self taught, 
 well furnished, and of singular vigor and originality. 
 
 From the multiplicity of his lalxns and maiafold variety of 
 the public affairs in which lie was employed and coucerued, it 
 is not probable that he usinilly made mor<' than one examina- 
 tion of the subject in argument. He looked but ouce, but in 
 that one look he saw more than most of us. lie was too much 
 hurried to liave derived his strength from pndonged deliber- 
 ation; it came rather from his swiftness of vision and his ca- 
 pacity instantly to summon his intellectual facuHies at their 
 best to his support. Leisure he did not desire; he had not 
 reached that period of life when one of his mental character- 
 istics uught have enjoyed it. 
 
 After a service of nearly fifteen years in this body, he died 
 at the age of oi. He had scarcely passed the midsummer of 
 his days. Autumn may liave slightly tinged his views of men 
 aud things iu the world as he had at first seen them, but he 
 had taken no measured retrospect even of his owu career; the 
 
110 Address of Mr. Tiirpic, of Indiana, on the 
 
 winter of ajLji.' he had imi iclt. ('<iulil In- liave laiiicil \\:th us 
 louf^er, remainiiijj as he would a nieiuhiT nl' tins Ixidy. \\ hat nl' 
 profit lui-rht we not have expected aud received t'roni the ^^-aWx- 
 ered wisdom, the reasoned experience from the lar<;e <;rowth 
 in statesuianshii» which most certainly awaited his maturer 
 years ? 
 
 W lial can any account lie of such a life, closing so prema- 
 turely, but a sketch .' Tin- life itself was merely an outline, a 
 desifrn unfinished. 
 
 I recollect very well an elocpient digression of this Senator, 
 which we heard with delight during the session of the last Con- 
 gress. The inunediate subject of discussion was irrigation. 
 Some measure relating to this then iiending. as he tlumght, 
 involved the exclusion from actual settlement of large areas of 
 the public lands containing sources and stores of water, and 
 with this also much larger tracts adjacent, dependent upon 
 these sources for supply. He made a cursory review of the 
 general land jxilicy of the Government, showing what a rich 
 inheritance had been once in possession of the people; how 
 the prec'inption and the homestead laws had made the poorest 
 man an heir thereof. 
 
 He dc])lored the methods in which this magniticent i)atri- 
 inouy had been wasted, the way in which homes had been 
 hindered, harmed, and destroyed liy jirofuse and extravagant 
 grants and subventions to schemes of corporate speculation. 
 He said that in the home of the husbandman upon his small 
 subdivision of SO or 100 acres, dotting the long lines of double 
 fnnitiei- apjiroarhiiig eaeli oilier from eitlier seaboard — that in 
 these lay the strength, the defense, and fortress of American 
 liberty, and that the residue of this estate, as far as his action 
 might avail, should in the future be faithfully administf'red to 
 the end that thes(> homes, the eitadels of freedom, miglit be 
 multiplied and re])lenished. The close of his remarks was suf 
 
Lifi: and Characlcr of Pns/oii IS. I'liimb. Ill 
 
 luse.l with ;i patlids laioly IhmkI in tliis pivscnc.'. Many Soua- 
 tors left thoir seats to tciMJcr him their (•i.iijiiatulat ions upon a 
 declaration so frank, so nianitestly .sinf«'i-<'. "liieii attra.ted as 
 niueli attention elsewhere as in tliis house. 
 
 Though not thought of at th<' time, this [.roved to be liis 
 final expression of oi>inioii upon this sul.Jeet, a, subject to 
 which he had devoted many years of uureniitting toil and 
 solicitude. One could hardly have wished for a nobler ending. 
 As our departed brother lived in haste, so he died. Though 
 well versed in and faithfully observant of the rules and usages 
 of the Senate, it seems that upon this occasion he neither asked 
 nor obtained leave of absence. He is absent without leave- 
 without our leave, not withou*^ the leave and or.ler of the All- 
 wise Master of Assemblies presiding in the councils of the Just. 
 He left us with little notice or warning, without ceremony, 
 without much ado. We may fancy his revisiting shade enter- 
 ing to-day this Chamber, liushed in (piiet, would ask. as his 
 manner was, brusquely, but kindly, "Why shouM there have 
 been any ceremony? Sununoned by such a messenger, 1 must 
 needs gc and go at once." Or, indeed, why should there be 
 anything of <-eremonial following the death of the heir pre- 
 sumptive of an ancient and mighty kingdom which should not 
 also attend the (h'uiise of this prince, not presumptive or ap- 
 parent, but reigning, crowuedand throned in the hearts of the 
 people, sovereigns of a wide domain, who gave to him his title, 
 who claimed and receiveil his homage and his most loyal 
 
 service ? 
 
 The district and state of death form only a vast democracy 
 iu which all are equals; yet when one who has been ennobled 
 by the people dies the eveutmay be well noted, that those who 
 live, are yet to live, may learn the worth, the way of this 
 advancement, wherein may be read the story of a lite, m any 
 earthly sense too short, broken and interrupted, quite worthy 
 of remembrance. 
 
llii Address of Mr. l[aU\^ of Maim', on the 
 
 A child horii far t'lom the |iur]>lc. icareil in poverty and oh- 
 scurity. wlio in liis yoiitli wallccd Imnyantly eiiou-ili alou^ Ilic 
 coniniiiM ])atli awliilc, by his unaiih'd i-lVuit and rapacity strode 
 fi'Oin hci-jht III liciL;hl, until lie had neit her f'ainllx nor diiMl\- 
 iiiscrilit'd his name anionj; the hiw j;ivcrs and luh-rs of a j;rcat 
 uatiiin. And tlii'iv the curtain falls: a famous actor, busied 
 with the scene, deeply engaged in his part, suddenly quits the 
 stage, never ti» be called back. 
 
 Not the thundering plaudits of encore from the listening 
 multitudes who but last summer hung upon the accents of his 
 stirring eh)quence, not the tenderest appeals of those nearer 
 voices, whose lightest whisper he had been wont to regard, 
 none of these now reach or touch him. 
 
 The curtain, fallen for a brief space, is raised again. One 
 of the most notable idiaracters therein has unconsciously made 
 his last appearance. The drama proceeds. 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr, H.ME, OF MAINE. 
 
 Mr. Hali;. Mr. President, alter all that has been sf) well 
 saiil I can oidy speak of the late Senator Iroin Kansas as we 
 saw him here. \\'licn lie died this body lost one of its ablest 
 mendx'rs. Wherever .Mr. I'n MU was he made himself felt, 
 and this floor atl'orded a fitting arena for the disjilay of his great 
 abilities. Few iiii]iortant nicasnio in iln- pa>i litteen years 
 lia\c liccoinc laws without the help of liis forming hand. Few 
 schemes of doubtful wisdom have gone to their grave without 
 being assisted thereto b^\- him. His activity and energy were 
 immense, and his investigation and reflection covered the widest 
 range of subjects, liis service uimhi ini|iortaiiI <(iiii mil tees \\ as 
 so faithful that whenever a nieeling was called it found him 
 jtresent. prepared and ready for work, lie made this his bnsi 
 ness, and if In- had doubts to raise and objections t(i urge these 
 
Life and Character of Preston B. I'litmh. 11:''. 
 
 Wfic lirst hroii-iil loiward in lli.- .ciiiniiitlcr nxiiii. lie was in 
 Ihis respect an example wlioni we will do w.'ll lo lollow . 
 
 On this floor he never ehaiupioued a nieasiiie without lirst 
 studying- it from all sides, and no man here eould maintain his 
 cause better than Mr. PLUMB. He was l)y nature aggressive, 
 and I think all of us felt that we were undertaking a dangerous 
 business when weopposed him, and that we needed to be armed 
 and eciuipped most completely, else our dis.'omtiture w(.ul(l be 
 certain, inevitable. He scrutinized closely all imi)ortant bills, 
 and whenever, as tlie result of su.'h scrutiny, he l)ecame the 
 assailant, the Senator who had (duuge,of the bill so assailed 
 needed to hav.- all his wits about him if he would save his 
 
 measure. 
 
 Not a few of us have felt keenly wounds received in en- 
 couuter \vith Mr. Plumb; but however sharply we may have 
 differed with him I think we have all felt that the warfare 
 was honorable, and that in the thrust and parry of debate the 
 deceased Senator was a fair and oftentimes generous antago- 
 nist. He .•ould not help being positive; his whole life from 
 boyhood had been active, earnest, and. whenever the need 
 arose, belligerent. 
 
 His colleague, in a eulogy winch 1 lia ve never seen surpassed 
 here and which seemed to me to be a model for such an occa- 
 sion as this, has told us the most interesting story of that life, 
 built up as it was by uever-eeasing activity and effort. Xone of 
 his successes were accidental; his great triumphs were hardl>- 
 earne<l. The people of a great State loved and honored him 
 and placed uufiualitied trust in hinu Tlie people of a greater 
 nation were coming to know him and to properly estimate him. 
 and he was at his best when death knocked at his door and 
 would have entrance. Longer service here would have made 
 his public life of still greater value, for he was growing every 
 ilay ; but this was not to be. 
 S. ]Mis. 228 8 
 
114 ^h/drtss of Mr. UaU\ oj .]faint\ on rite 
 
 Uis social side was of the kiiiil tliat makes it pleasant to 
 recall it. His attachments were stronjj and he loved to be 
 witli his friends, and in every company where he was fonnd lie 
 adilcd to the sum of enjoyment. EIc was a liberal giver, and 
 in the many drafts which I have known made upon his gener- 
 osity I do not recall one which he did not honor, and those 
 who knew liim best will loiii; rcmcmhci- the nnproclaimed 
 charities which betlowered his pathway all through life. 
 
 Our deceased colleague, Mr. President, wore himself out 
 before his time. He hardly knew the meaning of the word 
 rest. No man here jmt as many working hours into each day 
 as he, and his work was always done at highest pressuie. He 
 had no idle moments. lie was constantly investigating, read- 
 ing, and thinking, and so it came about that at an age w hen 
 the best part of his life ought to have been before him all 
 the machinery of his being suddenly stopped; it could run no 
 longer. Ills work was done, although much is left to do in 
 which he, a.s we look at it, ought to have a part. 
 
 This great body has never too much of the earnestness, the 
 assiduity, the experience which Mr. ri.iMi! furnished to its 
 service. 
 
 The Senate, tluiugh it is beyond the cousiant tlucluations 
 wliieh are a feature of the other branch of the National Legis- 
 lature, is yet a greatly shifting assembly. .Mr. Plu^ib, at the 
 time of his death, had been a Senator for almost fifteen years. 
 There are here but seven who have seen longer continuous 
 service. They are Senators Morrill, Sherman. Ransom, Alli- 
 son, Jones of Nevada, Dawes, and Cockrell. Six others took 
 seats in this Chamber at the .same time « ith Mi-. I'limu. All 
 the rest of us, seventy five in all. are. coiuiiar^itiv cly speaking, 
 new Senators. 
 
 Mr. President, the nld landmarks here are disappearing. 
 Death, withdrawal, tlie mutation ^si ])oliti(s. eat them away. 
 
'S 
 
 Life and Character of Preston B. Phtnih. 115 
 
 >'uxv an ..ak m th.' fovost has fallcM,. Which oC ns. as we look 
 at rhat seat whi.h h.- hchl s., Urn-, .h-cs not, throutih memory's 
 vista, behold that nissv'l fn.nt. that a.ufi'ressive ,)resence, that 
 intrepid, ruthless .•ombatai.t? And which of us, seeing tbat he 
 is not there, does not feel that in his eelipse there has passed 
 iVom si.uht a most conspicuous tigure of the United States 
 Senate? 
 
 :Mr. Peffer. 3Ir. President, the senior Senator from Ne^v 
 Jersey [Mr. McPherson) desired to take part in these memorial 
 exercises, and he expected to do so until yesterday, when he 
 was suddenly called away from the city; so that, very much 
 to his regret and to our disappointment, it is not possible f<.r 
 him to be with us to-day. 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. Chandler, of New Hampshire. 
 
 Mr. CUANDLEU. :Mr. President, the notable incidents in the 
 life and career of the lament.-d Preston B. Plumb, as citizen, 
 sohlier of the Union, and Senator of the United States, have 
 been recited by the senior Senator from Kansas and other Sen- 
 ators with minuteness, accuracy, and justice. Mr. Plumb's 
 words and deeds have impressed themselves upon the minds 
 „f his people, and their intlueiice for good has been felt far 
 beyond the contines of his own Commonwealth. His public 
 record will continue to stand a proud memory to Kansas, to 
 the great West, and to the nation, each of which he served 
 with^'untiring industry and with unsurpassable zeal and tidel- 
 ity, inspired by a, spirit of the broadest and truest patriotism. 
 It is permitted to me to give voice to my impressions of the 
 characteristics of Senator Plumb, derived from an acquaint- 
 ance ..f years, disturbed by no controversies or discords. 
 Physically he was a typical American, strong, erect, athletic. 
 
116 Address of Mr. Chandler, of Xew Hampshire, on the 
 
 and alert. Wlifii'Vci' lie went liis hcaiiiij; clialleii^ed altfii 
 tioii, siigf,'estO(l i)0\vfr. and iimimandcd admiration. It .■<t'fin.s 
 that III' had some i)ri'Mioiiitiiins of pliy.siual weakness, but this 
 was unknown to nie. 1 discovered none and he mentioned 
 uoiie in two Vnv^ conversations wliicb 1 held with him at tiie 
 liejiinniny' of the present session of Congress. He was the 
 hist jierson in llie Seiiair whuiii 1 woiilii li;i\e expected to see 
 smldeiily and fatally struck down, and to me till tiitlasthe 
 was a splendid specimen of American manhood. 
 
 Senator Pn mb"s intellectual traits were not obscure even 
 to a limited observer. Aciiteiiess of ixTciiitiim. diicetness in 
 his mental jjrocesses, candor and fairness in rea.soning, fullness 
 of information, and a vivid imagination, all manifested tlirough 
 unusual tiuency of s]ieech, made him foiniichdile in extempo 
 raucous debate. His was a rare ami gifted mind: not a rough 
 diamond, althougli iu)t i)olisbed by literary culture in tlie halls 
 of learning; a minil ex]>andi'd, matured, and made symmetrical 
 and l)rilliaiit l)y long years of contact ami !ionorat)le contlict 
 will] intellects developed by experiences like his own. 
 
 His attainmeuts were liy im means provim-ial. .Vftercoming 
 into pidjlic life his restless mind wandered through many tields 
 of iiKluiry, ami his general knowledge was ample. Our friend 
 was wont to sjjeak slightingly, half in Jest ami hall in earnest, 
 ot' tile needs III' (iiir (liploMiat ic serxii'c abiiud. \ Ci lie would 
 liave made a most creditable foreign minister, would liave easily 
 adapted himself to the surroundings of a diplomatic life, and 
 would have been a favorite with all wliom he met. Like .some 
 other reitreseutatives whom we have sent abroad, notal)ly the 
 4listingnishcd (len. Robert ('. Sehenck. by his ])lain. straiglit- 
 I'orward American ways he would liave commanded res|)eel and 
 woidd iiave done honor to the great Kei)nl>lic. 
 
 The use whieli Senatoi I'l.i mh made of his great pliysical 
 and mental jiitts was wholly cijmmendaMc. lie labored tor 
 
Life and Character of Prcsloii />'. riiniih. 117 
 
 liiiiisflf ami liis r.niiily ami aciiuircd a iiaiidsoiiu' luitiinc. 
 "Sccst thou a man (liliiiciil in liis business; ho shall stand bc- 
 tbrt' kin.n's; he siiall not stand lietbrc mean men." I'.ut in- nc,;;- 
 Iccted no pulilic duly. He was uniciniti iui;' in liis attention to 
 Senatorial ([uestions. Few Senators maintained so large a. 
 (•orvospondenei^ as he did with his constituents. The settle- 
 ment of vexed (|uestions coueernin.;;- Ilie i)nl)lic hinds, of the 
 committee on which he was the head, received his best tlumgiit 
 and his most earu'\st worlc. The affairs of tlie District of 
 Colutnbia lie knew by heart; and as chairman of tlie subcom 
 mittee of the Committee on Appropriations, in charse of the 
 District appropriation bill, he was a constant ami faithful 
 guardian of the piosperity of the Nation's ('ai)ital. 
 
 He studied economic (inestions with avidity and discussed 
 them with intelligence and acuteness. On no mooted subject 
 of legislati(ui did he intend to be without information and an 
 opinion; and no predicti(ms could .safely be unule as to the 
 result of any important debate without taking into acc(mnt 
 the effect of liis participation. lie spared himself no labiu- of 
 investigation, was punctual in his attendance, shrunk from no 
 responsil)ility, was fearless in his speeches and his votes, and 
 his career will ijnqni'stionably be recorded in the history of hit 
 own State as that of an indomitable, capable, thoroughly in- 
 formed, eloquent, and patriotic American Senator. 
 
 Vet to this man, apjiarently in robust and perfect health 
 and destined to many years of life and labor, a sudden end 
 came through overwork. It is a common remark that the in- 
 valids live th(^ longest. They are careful ami i>rudent, while 
 the stalwart men tax tlieir energies to the utmost and often go 
 dowu prematurely like tlu^ friend we mourn. In the prime of 
 life, at the age of tifty-four, suddenly, and with little warning, 
 absent from his wife and his children, this great, powerful man 
 passed away from life, and we shall hear his voit^' and see his 
 face no more. 
 
 s 
 
118 Address of Mr. Chandler^ of New Hampshire, on the 
 
 Of tlic iiiiiny lessons to he taken to lieait by tlic associates 
 of the ih'ail Senator, taujrht by his startling (icparture and by 
 the recent deaths of other conspicuons i)ersonay;es, 1 will sug- 
 gest but two, the one most evident being the trite warning of 
 the duty of constant readiness to surrendei- the possessions of 
 this life and to meet the mysteries of the next. "Among all 
 things that are done under the sun," the Psalmist says there is 
 one event which cometh alike to all, "for man also knoweth not 
 his time." Yet strangely does it ai»i)ear, says a philosophical 
 writer, that the very lapse of time which brings death nearci- 
 to us makes us less mindful of its approach. Apparently, 
 the longer wc live the surer we ai'e that death will imt cumc. 
 The habit of living excludes the idea of dying, ^^'c think it 
 natural that others should go, but ignore our own danger. 
 This is unwisdom. With uo trejjidation or slavish fear, but 
 con.staiitly mindful that the end is not far oft, we should jier 
 form dill' ihiilv (liilicN mill revrrciitly \\":ilk the path which is 
 nightly bringing us (»ne day's march ueai'er the eternal home. 
 
 Hut while keeping ourselves always reasonably mindful of 
 the certainty of death, we should also cultivate the most fer 
 vent faith in the soul's immortality. We can not know, but 
 we can feel and believe, that death opens to us .the portals of a 
 new and higher life. Indeed, we all resolutely refuse to l)elieve 
 that annihilation is possible The thoughtful writer of the 
 Enigmas of Life calls attention to what he says is a uni 
 versal exi)erience, that when we enter the ai)artuu'nt of the 
 dead and look upon the lace of the friend for whom wc mourn 
 wc never have the feeling that the departed one is there. 
 IJevcrently and tenderly we treat the remains. But the mind 
 wi' knew wc do not conceive is present with us. We feci thai 
 the soul, if it exists, has gone elsewhere. Why should it not 
 exist? It is true we have no proof It is a part of the Divine 
 order that we shall not have proof, but that by faith alone 
 
fj/c ami Cliaynctcr of I'rcslon />'. riunih. Hi* 
 
 while liiTc we sli:ill lake IkpIiI (if cIciiiilN . Ilul willi unr iirii 
 vers-il accoid niaiildinl utters tlie eoii<-liisi(iii (if tlie ureat pdft, 
 "It must he so;'" iKit alou(^ hiH'aiise (if I lie jileasiuf; liope. the 
 fond desire, tlie lonuiiiu after iniiuoitality, hut heeause iire 
 sistihle intuition eonviiu'es us that the souls of men whose 
 existence we have felt and known, that our own souls, of whose 
 present heini,' we are eoiiseious and sure, do not j;d fmward to 
 annihilation. How and where the soul I'xists here in eoniiee 
 tiini with our mortal hudies, whether wakinij or sleeping, we 
 do not have the faintest eonception. But we know it does 
 exist, and hoth sentiment and instinct tell us that it will exist 
 forever. 
 
 Whether we consider the hriyhtaud innocent child with his 
 rapidly developing hrain, or the strong man in his pride of 
 manhood, or the aged sage with apparently failing jxiwers, we 
 are impressed with the convietion that while what we see is 
 mortal and destructible the souls which we do not see are 
 imperishable and eternal. " Though our outward man perish, 
 yet the inward man is renewed day by day." 
 
 The revelations of astronomy are most marvelous; myriads 
 of suns and planets roll through illimitable space millions njMui 
 millions of miles distant from the ghibe which we inhabit, in the 
 contemplation and comprehension of which we bow our heads, 
 oppressed by the sense of our own in.siguiticaTice. Yet is it 
 not even more wonderful that the mind of man can define the 
 orbits of these heavenly bodies and measure the paths through 
 which they are destined to keep their never-ending course? 
 Shall the mind of him who without the .sight of the planet 
 Neptune discovered his existence by calculations from the per- 
 turbations of Uranus and directed all telescopes to the point 
 in the skies where he api)eared at the time predicted; shall 
 the mind of him who can fix the dimensions and descrihe the 
 qualities of the most brilliant and blazing Sirius, a million and 
 
120 Address oj M). Walthall, of Mississippi, on the 
 
 :i half tinu's fartlier I'nmi tliis oaitli than cmr sun, l>e fxtiii- 
 jruislicd liccaiisf the mortal tVanio has jierisliLHl? No such 
 ho]u'h'ss nnbcliff lines astronnniy jicrniit. 
 
 rill- lR:irt at mill- it humbles ami exalts, 
 I.:i\s 11 in (lust :iii<i calls it to the skies. 
 
 Thus inspired. Iiiiiiiaii nature revolts at the idea ofaunihila- 
 ticin and imbues niankiml with the universal faith that life here 
 is l)ut a passing exiierience, who-se end is the be<rinning' of a 
 nobler existence in another sphere. 
 
 Our little life 
 Is interwoven witli the universe 
 Of Ood's I'tcriKil rounspls. We are part 
 Of the whole family in heaveu and e.irth — 
 The many are in heaven, the few on earth — 
 Part of the mighty host whose foremost ranks 
 Long since have crossed the river and have pitched 
 Their tents iipcm the everla.^tiug hills. 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. WALTHALL, OF MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Mr. W.vi.TiiAi.i.. Mr. ['resident, wlien I entered liie Senate, 
 a stranger to most ot its members and \\itiiout exjierienee in 
 the business of legislation, 1 was attracted to the late Senator 
 Plumb by his cordial greeting and his generous otters <tf assist- 
 ance in the new duties which were before uie. 1 was assigned 
 to the Committee on Public Lauds, and served there, with him 
 as ciiairman, until his death. There and here and elsewhere 
 1 liad siicji proofs of his sincerity and good will and witnessed 
 such exhibitionsnf his iinrdinnion jiowers tliat 1 desire to avail 
 myself of the privilege which this occasion aflords to say a 
 word in recognition of his \irtues as a man and a friend and 
 to exjfre.ss my apjireciation of his value as a pul)lic servant. 
 
[.ifc and Characlif <>/ Preston A". Plumb. Vll 
 
 Tluiso wlio knew liiiii loii-cr ;ir<- alilf In lucsciit liis distinct ivo 
 clianictiTistics niitl liis lilc woik wilii iiKir.' coinijlftciicss tliaii 
 I can. I'lit i)r<>l)ably diiriiii; tiic last six years of liis life none 
 here were iiiorc observant of his earnest and forceful course in 
 this body (tr more impressed by the effectiveness of his vigor- 
 ous efforts and intense aii|ilicatiou. 
 
 His intellectual |io\vi-r. his rare capacity for work, his sell- 
 reliance and tireh'ss assiduity, were recojiiiized alike by those 
 who confronted him and those who cooperated with him. His 
 viuor of mind and body, bis will power, and his courage made 
 Liiu a -leaf factor here and a prominent figure in iiublic atten- 
 tion. 
 
 In the various branches of his legislative duty his labors were 
 iucessaut and productive, and through them he touched the 
 jiublic at more different points than most of his associates here, 
 and left his impress ui>on a greater variety of interests and 
 subjects. 
 
 His useful and distinguished services to his constituents and 
 his <.mntry are a part of the history of the times in w liich he 
 flo-ured. His jjublic record is before his eouutrymeu as he made 
 it for himself, aud that presents him as the big-brained, busy 
 man of work and power and intinence that he was. But, sir, 
 that record does not and can not tell of some phases of his char- 
 acter and disposition which were well known to us, and I may 
 be pardoned if I su])pl<'ment it by a brief reference to these, 
 which, if portrayed, would make a fit complement to the history 
 of liis public work. 
 
 Senator PLrMB's native force had never suffered impairment 
 from any unsubstantial and merely formal, conventional re- 
 straints. The element of practicality in him was inborn, es.sen- 
 tial, and doiiuiiant. ami he sought for and dealt with the sub- 
 staniM' and not the form of things. In the pursuit of a pui-pose 
 he was earnest and sanguine and sometimes impulsively re- 
 
122 Address of Mr. Walthall, of Mississippi, on the 
 
 seutful i>f opptisitioii. l>iu In- l)<»re ii<i nialict' :m(l liaiboicd im 
 spirit of retaliation; and. although his prejuditfs, like all else 
 in him. wen- strong, thoy were never beyond the reaeh of rea 
 son. Of mere empty observ anct-s he was but littk' regardful. 
 Uiiineauiug Ibrinalities he neither practiced nor resjjected. and 
 had no ta.ste nor toleration for the mere tiusehvttrk and eni- 
 bellishnients of ceremonious display. The pretenses of hypoc 
 risy and all alViciaiioii and impostures he readily detected aud 
 cordially despised. ( )f mere lijt service and tlattery he was im- 
 patient even to abruptness. In his intercourse with men he 
 disdained all counterfeit graces, insincerity, and mannerism. 
 
 But, sir, tliougli lirusi|ue and sturdy and in all things essen- 
 tially ])ractical. our departeil associate was a genuinely gracious 
 nnui, full of that real, unpretentious politeness whnh can only 
 come fnnn a Just, innate conception of the considerati(Ui due 
 the rights and sensibilities of others. His heart was warm 
 and generous ami res])(iiisi\e. It made liini faithful and fear- 
 le.S.s, hopeful and strong. It made him iiiiiidfiil of the wrongs 
 anil attiictions of others and put him in .sym])athy with the 
 toiling masses and the neglected classes of his fellow men. It 
 madi' him true to his country and his frieud.s, and supported 
 him in his earnest and successful career in life. 
 
 If he had been a man of colder blood and had steered his 
 course by iiolicy alone, if his manner hail been gentlei, il' the 
 angularities of his character had been reduied and his tvndeney 
 at times toward aggression had been .subdued, if he had been 
 more considerate of himself and less so of his duties and of his 
 fellow men, his ])ath had |)robably been smoother ami his life, 
 it may be. inmli piojonueil. I'.ut. sir. lie would mil have been 
 what lie was and eoidil not have accomplished what he did, and 
 one of till- most noticealde figures of iiis time would have been 
 lost to the age we live in. In this imi)erlcct tribute his in 
 <li\ idualilv has been but faintly marked, but 1 have sought in 
 
Life and Cliaractcr of Piis/on B. J'iidiib. 1123 
 
 some measmc to jncseiit it and prescr\t^ it. \t is woi'thy to 
 be remiMnberod as it was, without oiiiaiueiit or coiiccaliiient. 
 It bel()ii);'c(l Ik :i 111 ;;;;■(' (I, rrstlcss, eanu'st, ami coiiiaj'eons luaii 
 ofwortli ami woik and power, who fought iiis owu way to sue- 
 cess and liiyli distiuction. Tiie lesson of his life is instrui-tive 
 to us all and fall of encoaragemeut to the aspiring- youth of 
 the land who may be beset by sueli ditiiiculties as he encoun 
 tered but to overcouie. I would not distigure it or impair it 
 by auy empty words of indiscriminate praise. 
 
 Address of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas. 
 
 Mr. Perkins. Mr. President, again the Senate has paused 
 ill its laliors and suspended its important service to the people 
 of the couutry, that we may pay (mr tribute of respect to a late 
 distinguished Senator aud lay upon his grave our rhetorical 
 orterings of appreciation and love. 
 
 On tlie 12th day of October, 1837, in the county of Delaware 
 and State of Ohio, Preston B. Plumb was born, Imt befoie 
 he reached the years of his majority he left the I)eautifnl iiills 
 of his native State aud became an active, earnest, aud en- 
 tlmsiastic autislavery man upmi the plains of the then Terri- 
 tory of Kansas. In June, 185G, he located ui)oii a claim near 
 where the city of Salina uow is, l)ut sul)seqnently found em- 
 ployment in a printing oUice at Topeka, and during the winter 
 of 18r)6-'57 was foreman of the Herald of Freedom otiftce at 
 Lawrence, Ivans. He liad learned the ])riutiug business in 
 Ohio, serving an apprenticeship in the ottice of the Western 
 Episcopalian at (randjier aud establishing when but IG years 
 of age the News at Xeuia, Ohio, in connection with one J. W. 
 Dum1)le. 
 
 I am in receipt of a letter from a gentleman living in Chicago, 
 
124 Addrfss oj Mr. J'li/ciiis, oj Kansas^ on the 
 
 by the iiaiiu' <»f Str<)iijji:,who say.s that he was iMuphiyed in 1S55 
 as a cdiupositor by Jlr. PlI'MB to assist in tlie publitatioii of 
 the News, and he says that Mr. Plumk was a good iniiiter 
 anil as last a typesetter as any man lie e\er worked with. 
 But the i)ublieatiou of a country newspaper in Ohio did not 
 in full measure satisfy the vijjorous and)ition and restless eii- 
 er}j;y of this stronjr, athletic younj; man, anil, disjiosinj,' of his 
 paper, he removed to Kansas. \\ htic lir i-ontiniicd to reside 
 until he ilii'd in this city ou the LiOtli day of December last. 
 
 Mr. President, tiiisis not an nnmeanint;' ceremonial. A j;'reat 
 statesman, a wise and useful lejiislator. a devoted friend, au 
 eminent and patriotic citizen, is dead and now sleeps in i)eace 
 and iionor in the Imsoni of tlie State he lo\ eil so well and serveil 
 witii such faithful and laborious devotion. .Strong, rugged, 
 active, and indumitabie, Senator Plumb seemed the incarna- 
 tion of physical force aud of intellectual activity, and his serv- 
 ice in I his ('lianil)er was so long and his participation in its 
 proceedings so active and untiring that it does not seem pos- 
 sible that its portals have been closed to him forever. In 1S.>'» 
 and l.S.5(! Kansas was a wonderfully attractive Territory to a 
 young man of the convictions, aliiiily. sircngtli. ami courage 
 of our late distinguished colleague, and from the day he re- 
 moved thereto until the hour of his untimely death in this 
 city he was one of its conspicuous figures and i'ertaiid}- one 
 of its most potential rliaiacters. 
 
 Kansas had begun to be settled in l.S.ji, directly after the 
 jiassage of the Nebraska bill, and had inevitably become an 
 arena of strife and violence. Colonies were sent thither from 
 the flee States exjiressly to mold lie|- to the uses of free labor 
 and to clcdii-ati' iiei lnMutil'iil |irairies to the cause of freedom, 
 while weaker colonics were sent thither from the South to bind 
 her to the car of slavery. These colonies Irom the South were 
 supjilemented and strengthened by incursions of Missourians, 
 
Life (Did Chanuier of Prcstoii 11. riu)iih. l-Jf) 
 
 tliiiroiiulily mined ami icady lor any worlv tlial uuiild aid 1 he ad 
 iiiiiiistiatioM and assist in lastcnini; n|iini \\\v plains of tiic lU'W 
 Territdiy X\\v linniilial inj; ('(indil ions ol' sla\f lal)iii. 'I'lic cj)!! 
 teiitious of that jiciiod are iustoncal and are ouly adverted to 
 to sn,i;'i;est tliat in tiiat early .sti'Ugiile the .syuii)athie«, iictivi 
 ties, and labors of Mr. I'htmij were with the free-State men. 
 lie was a member of a eomi)any of live persons who laid .mt 
 the city of Emporia, in February, 18,17, and it is the home of 
 his family at tliis time. His love for newspapcir work had not 
 jibated, and early in 1S57 lie, with others, established the Em- 
 ])oria News, ami he uave to the ent<'r](rise his personal and 
 laborious attention. 
 
 Almost at ouee the paper took rank as among the most ably 
 edited in the Territory, and it became a jxttent fixetor for good 
 in the growth of the young city and in the settlement of the 
 new Territory. The i>aper is still published uuder the old 
 name, although Mr. Plumb had no e.onuection with it for 
 many years. Mr. Plumb was a delegate to a number of Ter- 
 ritorial free-State conventions, always advcjcatmg the most 
 radical measures of the antislavery jiarty. lu 1858 he was 
 elected a delegate to the Leavenworth constitutional conven- 
 tion, and altliongh among its most youthful members he exer- 
 cised great influence and became one of its most active and 
 conspicuous reiiresentatives. In 18,')!» he returne(l to Ohio for 
 the j)urpose of attending the law school at Cleveland. Here 
 he pursued his studies for two terms, when he returned to 
 Kansas and was admitted to the bar in 18(il and opened a law 
 office at Emporia. He at ouce took high rank as a lawyer and 
 secured a profitable practice. 
 
 In I8O1; he was elected a member of the Kansas house of 
 representatives and served as chairman of the judiciary com- 
 mittee. Shortly after this he was appointed reporter for the 
 supreme court of the State, but soon resigued that he might 
 
120 Address of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas, on the 
 
 serve in tlic tit'lil witli a cniiiiiaiiy of iiicii la- liad ri'L-niilcd tor 
 tlif Kk-vi'iitli Kansas ^'^luntt'('^s. He was ninstereil intcp the 
 service as second licuiriKnil mI <'iiin|iany C of siicli rci;inicnt, 
 anil scived successively as second liciilcnant. captain, major, 
 and lieiiienant-<M)lonel, and dnrnj; inneli nf tlie sei\ ici- of the 
 lejrinienT he was its coinniandiny otliccr. As a sohlier he was 
 prompt, untiring, and impetuous. At times it was dillicult for 
 him to contoi m to military regulations and to observe theeoii- 
 \('ntionalities of military life, but he shared with his men the 
 hardships of the campai};n and i)()ssessed their eoididenee and 
 jjood will, ami lie never commanded them to go where lie wa.s 
 not williiij;' to lead. 
 
 Subsecjuently ii) jirivate and public life he esteemed it a per- 
 sonal favor to be able to serve a mendx-r of Ids old regiment, 
 and when the intelligence was tlashed along the electric wires 
 that Senator I'l.i mh was dead every comrade of the Eleventh 
 Kansas found his eyes tilling with tears and his heart a<'hing 
 with sorrow at tlie sad intelligence as he recognized that the 
 loss was not only a gicat one to the State and nation, but to 
 him it was a ])ers(iiial l)erca\ cment. At the close ot' the war 
 Mr. Plumh resumed his law practice, and was again elected 
 to'the Kansas house of representatives in ISiiG and again in 
 1807. During his service in the legislature in \i^W> he was 
 elected speaker and made a vigorous an<l caiialde presiding 
 officer. In consequence of illness and business interests Mi-. 
 Plumi! gave uj) the ])iactice of the law in 1872, and until his 
 election to this body in 1877 he gave his rinu! and energies to 
 his Jirivate interests, the most of the time serving as president 
 of the Ijiqioria Xatimial Kaiik. 
 
 On the 3l8t day of .January, 1877, he was elected to succeed 
 Senator James .M. Harvey as a member of this body, and his 
 brilliant and distinguished services in this great legislative 
 Chamber are a jiart of the imperishable history of our great K'e 
 
Li/c and i'haiactcr of /'its/(i)i />'. I'liinib. \'ll 
 
 IMililif. To you wild soi'xt'il witli liiiii;inil le;irncd IVoiii jicrsoual 
 conract his woiidcit'iil ihiwcis it is not necessary to sufrp'st lii.s 
 licciiliarities or to iccall liis rciiiaikalilc aciiicvt'iiieiits. He 
 entered this ("liaiiiber a coiiiparative stranger to all and witli- 
 out experience orunuii familiarity with national concerns, yet 
 in a bi'ief period he became the friend of all, o\erc:ime the ein- 
 barrassmeuts resulting from inexperience, familiarized himself 
 with the rules and methods of doing business, and became one 
 of the most forceful Senators upon the tloor. Duriug the last 
 eight or ten years of his service as a Senator from Kansas his 
 work was marvelous, and 1 do not think that any Senator who 
 sit* upon this tloor will take exception to my statement wheu 
 I suggest that in my judgment Preston B. Plumb did more 
 good work than any man in the Congress of the United States. 
 
 Possessing a magnirtcent physical oiganization, with strong 
 mental endowments, he seeuu'd exempt from the infirmities 
 common to our humanity and capable of constant, exhaustive, 
 and endless work. Rest did not seem necessary with him, 
 and recreation and relief from the cares and responsibilities of 
 Senatorial service were only suggested to be put aside as 
 having no place or ]iart in the public life and daily service of 
 this representative and servant of the people. His ambition 
 was to work, to accomplish results, and to leave to his loved 
 ones as a heritage a record of kindly deeds and of almost 
 nnitchless achievements. To his State he was fondly devoted, 
 to her peoi)le he was ever loyal, and to her interests, growth, 
 and development he had consecrated his energies as a religious 
 duty, and wbatevei' in his judgment would contribute to her 
 glory and to the happiness and contentment of her firesides, 
 that would lie champion and defend, wliethei' it was orthodox 
 in politics for him to do so or otherwise. 
 
 I do not suggest that he was always right; such a strong, 
 impetuous, ami jiersonal nature as his is likely to evoke mis- 
 
lis .hMrtss ojMi. Perkins, oj Kansas, on the 
 
 takes; but that he was true to his tiiiivictions. hiyal to his e(Ui- 
 stituent.s, aud earliest in his desire to serve thei'eoph- that had 
 bonoretl him and tlie eouutry <'f whieli he was sn pioiul as an 
 Ainerieaii eitizeii, eau not be tiuestioiied by any. 
 
 I first beeaine ae(iuainted with .Air. ri.iMii in ihi' winter of 
 lSli9-70. 1 had loeated at Oswe;;... in the M.iitheast corner 
 of the State, the spriug before, and in tlie practice ntniii pro- 
 fession we were thrown ti>j;ether in some iniiiortant lili-ation 
 at the time sugtrested. and from then until the day ul' Ids 
 death I knew him well, and we were friends. 
 
 When I was first nominated for Congress from the Stale at 
 large tlie delegatiun fKnn his county gave me its earnest and 
 loyal support, and during my Congressional ser\-ice he aided 
 me greatly with his suggestions, experience, and support. My 
 friends were generally his friends and we found our otlicial re- 
 lations most cordial and pleasant. NVe. ol tin- llunse. deiieiided 
 ni"iii liiniaininsi ent i rely to look after our mea.sures iu this body. 
 Senator Ingails was much of the time engaged with his duties 
 as presiding ofUcer, and hence to Senator ri.rMH we carried 
 our labors as well as rmr personal embarassments and dilVniil 
 ties. II I )w well he reipiited our confidence and responded to 
 our demands upon him is shown by the record that in almost 
 every ia.stauce and in full measure our interests were consulted, 
 our demands responded to. and our local measures looked at'ti-r 
 11 ud eared for. 
 
 The career of Preston R. Plxtmb was a romance in real life. 
 Witliout school, he became educated; without training in any 
 spei-ial line of business or public service, he became one of the 
 most ett'ecti\'e men in law. in liiiance, in politics, aiul in states- 
 manship; without early a<lvantages. he became the peer of 
 men on wliom schools, wealth, travel, jind cultured surnmnd- 
 ings had poured their richest gifts: without susiiending his 
 busy activities that he might sit down jnd learn, lie acipiiied 
 
/,//(■ and Chanulcy of Pns/on B. Plioub. 12!l 
 
 by observation and absorption, as lie pusliiMl alon;;, a fund of 
 information whioli made liini an authority on all |)i actical sub- 
 jects. He was a lapiil ;iii(i ((instant leadci-, and would gatiicr 
 the contents of tlie daily press and store them away in his 
 vi.i;(>rous intellect in less time than any man I ever knew. He 
 was a lover of books, as well as of art, and at his home at 
 Emporia is fouud one of the finest private libraries west of the 
 Mississippi Eiver, all personally selected and arranged with 
 care, with reference to the subject or matter of which they 
 
 treat. 
 
 In May last we were together in New York City, and we 
 visited a bookstore and he spent an hour or more in looking 
 over their new publications, and left his order for over a hun- 
 dred volumes. Knowing his busy life, I asked him when he 
 found time to read liooks, and he answered that he read them 
 when traveling and nights when not otherwise engaged, for 
 recreation. And thus every moment of this great man's life 
 was utilized, and all his wakeful moments were busily em- 
 ployed. He was an early riser, no matter what the demands 
 uipon him the previous night, and the early hours of the day 
 were given to his correspondence, which was wonderfully 
 voluminous. After dictating letters to his stenographer for 
 two hours or more he would go to breakfast, if he had time: 
 but, if friends were in waiting and his errand and Department 
 work were pressing, he would defer his breakfast until later in 
 the day and give his time and energies to the demands of a 
 constituency that had no conception of the work it imposed 
 upon him. 
 
 In this way his hours for eating became very irregular, and 
 1 have kuown many instances when late in the afternoon he 
 took his first morsel of food for the day. But this did not 
 seem to impair his capacity for work, and in his rapid, vigor- 
 ous, and irresistible way he pushed along, defying the inex- 
 
 8. :Mis. 228 9 
 
130 AiMicss of Mr. Perkins, of A'(fiisas, on the 
 
 oiabk' laws of nature, until the end raim- in that sudden, start- 
 lint; uiiiiiniT on the 20th day of Dei-ember last. Many who 
 knew him well had ;intieiiiated that when the final summons 
 came it would inmc willmui warning <u' notice, as a Hash of 
 lightninjf in a cloudless sky, but all had hoped that the j;rim 
 messenjrer, which comes but once to mau, would defer his 
 summons until this strong, sympathetic, robust, capable, and 
 useful man could give to his i)eoi)le and to his country many 
 more years of his spleudid service. 
 
 Mr. Presideut. I have known many business and public men, 
 but in my entire circle of acquaintances I have never known 
 one who could look aft ci- as many intcicsts. assunu' so many 
 responsibilities, and giv(! his attention to as many cares at the 
 .xame time, without neglecting any, as Preston B. Plvmb. 
 
 Like an oak in the forest, he has fallen; a strong man has 
 been called hence; but there is naught left for us to mourn, but 
 his unfoi-tiiii;iir departure. His lil'c luid I leeu a useful and a 
 noble oni'. liis fame, fairly earned, is secure and his name will 
 be honored b\' those wlio foUow us. 
 
 He died witli iiis mental foculties unimi)aired, his genial 
 nature unchilled, and his love of friends and country as stal- 
 wart as in the hapiiy days of boyhood. 
 
 The love that his people bore him was illustrated by the 
 .scenes that were witnessed by those who accompained his 
 remains to their linal resting place. When the confines of the 
 State were reached, that he had loved so fondly and served .so 
 faithfully, the nnmly .sons and appreciative daughters gath 
 ered in crowds at every station to pay with uncovered heads 
 and .symitathetic hearts their silent nibute of respect to the 
 dead statesman aiul friend. All the peo])le monriu'd, for he 
 was emphatically tiie people's friend. lie was not only kiiuUy 
 di.spo.sed toward them, but he was one of them, and he knew 
 their burdens, their sorrows, and their conlliets. He could 
 
/.//(■ a)ui Characlrr of Pnito)i li. I'lii))ih. \.\\ 
 
 syiiii);itliizc Willi ;m iiitcllinciir syiiipMtli.v, ;is liis curly . veins 
 ImiiI I)c"mi years of saeriliee ami privatidii, while all liis life liail 
 been tilled with lahois and respdnsiliilit ies. 
 
 There was no sham oi- mock [n'etense in his manifestations 
 of sympathy and love for tho people. He believed in the j)e()- 
 l)le and had conlidence. iu their pati'iotism and intcUigem'e. 
 He said they might l)e estraiige<l and in eonse(|nenee of un- 
 fortunate conditions led iiLto error foi- a little time, but tliat 
 eventually the sober sec(md Judgment of the i)eople was almost 
 certain to be honest, patriotic, and right. At his death the 
 country lost a wise and untiring legislator and statesmaTi, but 
 m Kansas we lost a. benefactor and friend. To us his loss is 
 irreparable and the mournipg of our people is grievous and 
 universal. Not iu the towns and villages alone, not in the 
 centers of trade and commerce only, but upon the farm, in the 
 cabins, and far out upon the prairie with the pioneer, the grief 
 was intense, and all suffered as fr<mi a personal sorrow. 
 
 Mr. President, for his future I do not fear. Fie was not a sec- 
 tarian in religion, though he believed in the Christian faith. 
 He was not attached to any creed, but believed that the truest, 
 broadest, and most-to-be-commended faith was that which 
 teaches us to give our best endeavors toward aiding, elevating, 
 and benefiting our fellow men. His was the religi(m of human- 
 ity, and iu all his private and public life he was consistent 
 with his convictions. 
 
 I have spoken of the business and public life of our late dis 
 tinguished Senator, but I do not forget that there was an innei- 
 and nearer circle, into the sacredness of whose sorrow we can 
 only glance. 
 
 On the lioth day of March, 1867, at Ashtabula, Ohio, Pres- 
 ton B. Plumb was married to Miss Carrie Southwick, of that 
 place, who survives him and who in broken health presides at 
 
132 Address of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas. 
 
 the stricken home, and who in weeds of moiirniujj and di-sola- 
 tion has the respect and sympathy of all. 
 
 No one loved his home more than Mr. I'l.rMH. and while his 
 pnhlic dvities were such that he cnuld l)e at Iidmic Iml lillle, 
 and while the liealtli of Mrs. rininl) was sneh that shi' eonld 
 share 1)11 1 little i:i liis jmblic life, yet they were fondly and 
 devotedly attarhed to eachotlier, and in the later years of their 
 doniestie life it was a i)athetic scene to see tills great, strong, 
 active, busy man ministering to and looking after the necessi- 
 ties and comfort of tliis invalid wife. 
 
 Five children as well as this stricken wife survive liiin. and 
 his lioiiie was his delijiht. and the Joys and liapiiiiiess of tlie 
 children and the household were his comfort and consolation. 
 
 No better father, no kinder, tenilerer husband, no more loyal 
 friend, no more generous and symi)athi/ing man attractedlove 
 and affection, anil we can rest in the lielii'f that after a life so 
 well spent, with its every duty aud obligation faithfully ob- 
 served, the soul of the great Senator is at rest and peace in 
 the presence of the eternal God. 
 
 Mr. President, I offer the resolution which 1 ^v\\<.\ to the desk. 
 
 The VlCE-PilE.siDENT. The resolution will be read. 
 
 The Secretary read as follows; 
 
 '• lie.solrcil, That, as an additional iiiaik of respect to the 
 memory of the deceased, the Senate do now adjourn." 
 
 The ViCE-Pi{ESlDENT. The questiou is on agreeing to the 
 resolution ottered l)y the Senator from Kansas. 
 
 The resolution was agreed to: and (at 4 o'clock aud 40 miu- 
 utes i». 111.) the Senate adjourued. 
 
PROCEEDINCxS IN THE HOUSE OP REPRESENTATIVES. 
 
 ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH. 
 
 In the Hottse, March 7.9, 1893. 
 
 The Speakek. Tlic lumr lias now arrived tor tlie special 
 order, wliieh tlieClerk will icport. 
 
 The Clerk ri'ad as tollows: 
 
 '■iiVso/m/, That Saturday, Mareli lit, 18'.t2, begiiiiiiiif;- im- 
 mediately after the readinj; of the .roiirnal, he set apart for 
 tributes to the meinory of Hon. Preston H. I'lumu, late a 
 Senator from Kansas." 
 
 Mr. FuNSToN. 1 ask for the reading of the Senate resolutions. 
 
 The Clerk read as follows: 
 
 " Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow 
 of the death of Preston B. PLinin, late a Senator from the 
 State of Kansas. 
 
 -'Resolved, That, as a nuirk of respect to the memory of the 
 deceased, the business of the Senate be now suspended to 
 enable his associates to pay jnoper tribute of regard to his 
 high character and distinguished public services. 
 
 " Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate comnnmicato 
 these resolutions to the House of Representatives. 
 
 --Resolved, That, as a further mark of respect to the deceased, 
 the Senate do now adjourn." 
 
 Mr. FUNSTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask the Clerk to read the 
 resolution which I send to the desk. 
 
 The Clerk read as follows: 
 
 -Resolved, That the House of Representatives has heard 
 
 with profound sorrow of the death of PRESTON B. Plumb, 
 
 late a Seiiator from the State of Kansas. 
 
 133 
 
134 .IMnss of Mr. Fimston, of A'aiisas, on (he 
 
 •• Resoh'cd. That tlic Imsim'ss of this rimise be suspended, 
 tliat :ip])n)i)i-iat(' honors may l»e ])aid to the ntcinory of the 
 deceased. 
 
 ^'Resolrtd, That the Cleik of the House of lieineseiitatives 
 1)1' directed to tiaiismit to tlif I'aiiiily of the deceased a copy of 
 this resohitioii. 
 
 '• Rcsolvrd, Tliat, as an adtlitional mark of respect to the 
 memory of the deceased, at the conchision of these eeremouies 
 the House do adjourn." 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. FUNSTON, OF KANSAS. 
 
 Mr. FUN.STON. Mr. Speaker, it is littin- tliai tht- IIou.sc of 
 Eepresentatives .shoidd pause in the midst of its daily duties 
 and witli beconunj;- remarks pay a tribute of respect to the 
 memory of one of the most ilhistrious of the other branch of 
 this l)o(iy. 
 
 PiJESToN B. Plumb, a Senator of tlie United States from 
 the State of Kansas, died at his residence in this city on the 
 morninudf the 2(ltli of l)eceml)er, ISIM. Ilis illness was of 
 but a few liouis' (luiation, when it was hiiiiieiily announced 
 in all parts of the city and dispatched to all i)artsof the coun- 
 try that lie was dead. In no instance has it been more com 
 pletely exemplilied that in life we are in the midst of death, 
 uor have ever been more seriously impres.sed on om minds the 
 uncertainty of life and tlie cerlainly ol' death. 
 
 Senator Plu.mb was to all api)earancc a stronj;' man phys- 
 ically. Nature had blessed him with a body which seemed 
 capaljle of almost any endurance. His stej) was ipiick and 
 elastic, and every mot ion indicated a physical ])ower and activ 
 ity far beyond the gifts of men. The tone of his voice, the 
 rapidity of his speech, and every gesture indicated, as it were, 
 a hnman engine, which could neither tire nor wear out. It was 
 so the i)eo])le of his State, aud iu fact all wlmniei him. regarded 
 
Life a)id C/ia racier of Prcslon B. I'hiDih. I."!-") 
 
 Iiim. Tlicy coulil not do otlicrwisc, lor wluitcNcr lie iiiijjiit he 
 doing or wliert'vei' he was going lie seemed to be liunting for 
 more work to add to the great burden wliieli lie was already 
 bearing. That the burden became too heavy for any mortal 
 man to bear there can be no (|uestion. Lie sank beneath it. 
 The great ceuter which constitutes the proiielling power of lite 
 was crushed, and this line speeimeu of health and strength 
 lay dying. 
 
 Xever did a people feel more keenly the loss of one of their 
 own than did the people of Kansas feel the loss of Senator 
 Plumb. They loved him with all the afifections of their hearts. 
 He was to them a brother, a father, a benefactor. They had 
 found in him a wise counselor, a true friend, and a heart over- 
 fiowiug with generosity. 
 
 The iioorest and the weakest could always catch his atten- 
 tion and i)our into his ear a recital of their sorrows and mis- 
 fortunes with a certainty of relief, were it possible for him to 
 give it, though in thousands of cases it required the sacrifice 
 of his own personal means. 
 
 In him the l)usiness man found a model. Wlien a farmer he 
 was familiar with all its duties, ready and willing if necessary 
 to take hold (d' the most disagreeable and arduous duties, 
 allowing no one to i\i^ iiiDrc than he, and, as his brother, who 
 was at one time his partner upon the farm, remarked to me, 
 he was always found doing that which was the hardest to do. 
 Behind the ct)unter of his bank he was exact, but fair, despis- 
 ing to take advantage of any man's misfortune; loan.ng in 
 many instances to men whose only security was their good 
 names, and, as I have been told, seldom losing on such loans. 
 He was a success as an editor, as a lawyer, and as a nuner. 
 Railroads were built under the inspiring touch of his genius. 
 And, m fact, there was Init little within his reach to be done 
 of a business character that he did not in some way assist. 
 
lo6 Address of Mr. Fmts/oit, of A'aiisiis, on Ihc 
 
 (liiectly or iiidin'ctly. llis niiiul was imt ol'the oin-idfa kind, 
 it was not as a one-stringed instrument, bnt it was like a 
 jrrand pianot'orte with every ebord in liariiiony witli tiie tial- 
 ance, and at its best only wlieii resi)onding to tlie inost delieate 
 touch. 
 
 Of his success as a legislator but little need he -aid lu-re. 
 In the <'haiiil)ei of tlie Senatebehas made lor hiniseli' a name 
 that needs no eulogy to perpetuate. 
 
 Tlie statutes bear witness to the many laws placed there 
 through his eflbrts in the interest of the public or worthy in- 
 di\ iduals. 
 
 Many are the claims he has secured for those who were too 
 poor to prosecute them in the courts. ^Maiiy are the old sol- 
 diers who have been made hai)i)y through his instrumental'ty. 
 
 As a debater in- made but little pretension (o oratory, 
 though he was always ehxpient with fiicts and sound reasoning, 
 dealt in such a way that they came with the corners on and 
 played havoc witli his opponents. Open the Kecord at almost 
 any date during his long Congressional service in the Senate 
 and you will there find an expression of his sentiments couched 
 in strong and vigorous English. lie called a spade a s])ade, 
 and theie was no mistaking wliat he nu-ant. After all. that is 
 oratory of the lii;;hest order, for it persuades and convinces 
 and charms us with results. 
 
 His addresses in political cam])aigiis were models in political 
 economy. None understood better than he the great principles 
 upon which the governmeut of a tree jieople must rest, auilbe 
 was quick to detect an erroneous idea of what tliose principles 
 were and to show the damaging I'esults of such ideas. 
 
 None were better able to draw the line between the states- 
 man and the demagogue, whether in his own ]iarty or some 
 other. 
 
 He believed that everv man. in a measure at least, is the 
 
Life and Charaitfy of rycsloii />. PlitDib. V',1 
 
 aicliiU'ct of liis (iwii forfuiii', and llKrctiirc tlial \\v slidiild 
 attempt to licw it out. Never liaviiin' tasted tlie bread of idle- 
 ness liiiiisell', iir had no |iati<'iic«' with anyone who had not the 
 courage and disiiosition to move on. ^\'ork, work! was his 
 motto. He seemed to have absorbed the siiiritot the motto of 
 his State: Ad astra jto' ((xpcrd. 
 
 To him there was noway ui)but to work n]>. liorn on a farm, 
 without fortune, reared under the tutehige of parents who 
 believed that manual labor is honorable and that an honest 
 man is the noblest work of God, he started at the foot of the 
 hill, never shirking a responsd)ility, nor breaking an engage- 
 ment, nor forsaking a friend; gathering strength and courage 
 and friends as he advanced, he reached the summit, and in a 
 halo of glory, amid the plaudits of admirers and loving friends, 
 he passed to the stars. 
 
 What a glorious model for the youths of America! Where 
 is the boy, however poor he may be, who would not receive 
 inspiration from this eharacterl 
 
 Where is the father who would sit down under the statue of 
 Senator Pn mk and repine because his sons are poor? 
 
 Where is the man who would in the light of his life attempt 
 to array class against class in this country ? 
 
 For here was a man of all classes and yet of none. He passed 
 through all and belonged to none. He knew- but little and 
 <^ared but little for the boundary lines of class. He broke 
 through all without knowing himself, and when standing by 
 the side of the President of the United States he felt as per- 
 fectly at ease as if in the presence of the poorest man in Kan- 
 sas, and when in the presence of the i)oorest nnin in Kansas 
 he was as respectful and kindly as if in the jn'eseuce of the 
 President of the United States. 
 
 Mr. S-peaker. I will not trespass upon the time of this House 
 to attemiit a biography of Senator Plumb. 1 will leave that 
 
138 Address of Air. Fiiuston^ of Kansas, on the 
 
 branch of tlic subject to my colleagues, wlio arc so iimcli hct 
 ter ([ualilieil tliaii I to deal witli it. 
 
 I will otil.\ say that I liave known liini iniinialcly foraijuar 
 t<?r of a century, anil that lie was in Kansas many years before 
 I knew liini. lie came there when a boy. anil cast his fortunes 
 on her bleak prairies with scarcely enouj^h to shelter him from 
 the blasts of winter. 
 
 Ilr not only ui-cw up with the State, Iml he niadr the State 
 {irow. lie infused his energy into all licr public cnteriiriscs. 
 He not only helped inmselt, but he helped others. He built 
 colleges, and churches, and railroads, and opened farms and 
 made laws and t'ouulil battles for Kansas and the Union. 
 
 His whole, life has been insepaiably woven into the life of liis 
 State, and no man can think of her green j)astures, her spleu 
 did schools, her hajjpy and prosperous people without thinking 
 
 of I'UMIi. 
 
 We, in the i)reseuce of thousands of uncovered heads and 
 under the auspices of the Grand Army of the Republic, laid 
 him to rest among the i)eople he loved so well. 
 
 \Ve can not and ought not to say he is dead, except in body. 
 There is no <leath for such men. The frail tenements which 
 they iidiabit may return to earth, but their s])irits, like the 
 buttertly. are only disenthralled and seek the space of eter- 
 nity, as the butterlJN does the morning air. Or, in the b(>au 
 tiful idea of the minister at the dead Senator's home, "The 
 curtains are oidy drawn aside." 
 
 Our State will miss him. Tlic nation will miss him. Hut 
 his spirit, like the spirits of Socrates and Cicero, will ever be 
 l)reseiit. in influence at least, with an intelligent and justice- 
 loving; people. 
 
Life and Character of I'rcston B. Plumb. 13!) 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. BRODERICK, OF KANSAS. 
 Mr. Bboderick. Mr. S))eaker — 
 
 Dcnlli mn.krs mi ronqncst. of tliis cdiKiucror; 
 J'or iinw lir lives in faiiii', tlinimli nut in life. 
 
 This fan be truly said of Preston li. Plumb. A stroug 
 man has fallen. We pause here to recall his virtues aud pay 
 tribute to his memory. The life was an earnest, active one, 
 full of patriotism and replete witli yood works. 
 
 1 am not fully informed of his opportunities aud environ 
 ments in early life. I can only follow him from the time he left 
 his Ohio home for the new West, through an honorable aud 
 eventtul career. 
 
 In 1850 many stroug youug men from all over the country 
 emigrated to the Territory of Kansas. Prior to this date the 
 couutry from the ^lissouri Eiver to the liocky Mouutaius was 
 looked upou as a desert with only a possibility of reclamation. 
 The savages and the buffalo had undisputed dominion. Two 
 or three military posts, garrisoned by a few soldiers; two or 
 three ludian mi.ssions, iu charge of a few missiouaries, aud 
 here aud there an adventurer were all there were on this great 
 Westeru plain to proclaim the probable advance aud concjuest 
 of our civilization. These few missionaries and frontiersmen, 
 whether there of their own volition or by directiou of the Di- 
 vine Intelligence, witnes.sed events aud changes more startling 
 and momentous than had occurred in this couutry during the 
 present century. 
 
 In June, 1855, the Congress had given to Kansas and Ne- 
 braska a Territorial form of government, aud that vast region, 
 now so populous and prosperous, was opeued to settlement. 
 Emigration followed, and settlements sprang up all along the 
 
140 Address of Mr. Brodcrick, of Kansas, on the 
 
 fasU'in bonier. Uiil cveiy uew country iiiust i);iss thnmjrli its 
 crisis. Tin- allab.sorbing' iiucstion of tlic time was whether 
 shivery shoiikl be iihuiteil and fostered in the Territories, and 
 njion this ([nesiion the pcoiik' were ili\iih<l. The dift'erenee.s 
 at ouee became sharply defined and lar;iely sectional. Aj;ita- 
 tion was kept alive; threatciiin.L;- demonstrations were made; 
 bitterness was engendered, uliiili fast ripened into open and 
 <h'adl\- hostility. Fierce strife ensued ami mhhi the Teiiitory 
 was in the throes of a nughty contest, which had assumed 
 from the beginning; a national character, and the whole nation 
 turned from the ordinary channels of thought to view and 
 study the siluatinn. 
 
 A year later the turbulent elements yielded to peaceful meth- 
 oils, interest in the struggle dinunished. and the few actual 
 settlers were greatly augmented in number. 
 
 Mr. Pm'mh was born and spent lii> liciylmcicl days in Dela- 
 ware County, in tlic State of Ohio. In October, 1S56, after 
 oidy a few day.s" re1h'ctk)n, he determined to go to Kansas, and 
 at once joined the great westward moving throng that was 
 hastening forward to link their fortunes with those who bad 
 gone V)efore. They starteil to hud an abiding place and take 
 up homes on the wide prairies of that region and to dedicate 
 it to God and libert.\ . 
 
 Not long after becoming a resident of the Territory Mr. 
 I'Li'Mii secured eniploymeni in a printing office at Lawrence, 
 and for a time worked at the case. iSoon thereafter he began 
 thestiulyoflaw, and in 185!» was a member of the Leaven w(nth 
 constitutional convention. 
 
 I'rom the time he eomm<'nced reading lau he energetically 
 l>rosecuIed his studies, and in ISiil was adndttcd to the bar. 
 Early in IStiJ he was eleeteil a member of tlie Statt' legisla- 
 ture and substMiuently was appointed icporler of the supreme 
 court. 
 
Life and Character o/ Preston />'. J'i/nii/i. 1 II 
 
 lu ^Viigust of tliat yiMT 1 iitcrcd tlu' voluuti'fr military 
 
 stTvice as second lii'iitciiaiit in tiic I'IIcn ciitli Kansas Regiment, 
 and was advanced, step hy step, until the clos(M)f the war, 
 when he was commissioned colonel, and, in a few days there- 
 after, with his rejiimeiit, was mustered out of the servi<;e. 
 Tlie implements of war beiiii;- laid aside he returned to his 
 home at Emporia and resumed the practice of his jirofession, 
 <'ontinuiiig' to take a <leeii interest in every movement inaugu- 
 rated to develop and build up the Commonwealth. Unwaver- 
 ing faith in the resources and possibilities of the State, untiring 
 eiiorts tor what lie believed to be for her advancement, ready 
 perception, widen enabled him to decide what should be done, 
 soon gave him leadership and determined his future. 
 
 In the fall of 1860 he was elected a member of the Kansas 
 house of representatives, and when that body assembled was 
 chosen as its presiding officer. As speaker he won the con- 
 tidence and good will of the assembly and presided over it with 
 distinguished ability. He was returned as a member of the 
 house the following year. In 1877 the people further evidenced 
 their appreciation of his services and worth by an election to 
 the United States vSeiiate. He was twice reelected and death 
 found him at his jiost of duty December I'O, 1891. 
 
 This brief biography tells its own story. Such a record can 
 not be tbuiid in any otlier country. It is wholly due to the in- 
 tluence of American ideas and American institutions. With a 
 limited scholastic education, a jHior boy advances from one 
 position of trust to another, until he is seated as a member 
 of this highest legislative body in the world, and all this is 
 accomplished at the age of -10. The record is not closed here. 
 The young Senator was a close observer and a student, 
 although his methods of study were saiil by his nearest 
 friends to have been peculiar. His open, genial manner, his 
 constant industry and force of character, soon gained for him 
 
142 Address of Mr. B rode rick, of Kansas, on the 
 
 ifcnjLriiitidii in thf SciKilf and cndi-art'il him nutrc firmly to the 
 peoiik- of liis Statf. After a tVw scssinns he was fdiind ]iar- 
 ticipatinj: in thi- discussion of {jn-at <|uestioiis, and always 
 a<i|ilitti'(l liinisclf with i-ifdil. 
 
 Dnrin;; the last years lie was one i>f the best inlnrme<l men 
 on public (luestions in the eountry. Many times he amazed 
 the Senat<' by his readiness and force in debate upon questions 
 suddenly siniinj;- in iliat body. Senator Hah-. Imij; associated 
 with liiiii. in his eul(i>;y in the Senate, said: 
 
 "On this lioor he never chamjiioned a measure without tirst 
 studying it from all sides, and no man here could maintain hi.s 
 cause better than Mr. ri.rJiB," 
 
 His work in the Senate for his State and the nation can not 
 receive more than mere mention at this hour. The part he 
 bore in the deliberations is part of the history of that body 
 and rellects great honor ui)on his memory. His fame was not 
 limited to his State, but extended to the remotest parts of the 
 Union. Everywhere his namt- was regarded as a tower of 
 strength, and his advocacy of a measure was evidence that it 
 would receive respectful consideration. 
 
 In daily life he was unassuming and earnest, but always 
 considerate of the oiiinions and sensibilities of others. Strong 
 personal attachnients drew to and about him hosts of ardent 
 admirers. He was devoted to his l'amil.\. Uind and obliging 
 to his friends, and generous to all. Much of his own ju'osperity 
 was emiiloyed in kindly niiiiistiations and for the substantial 
 prosjierity of others. 
 
 The willingness to assist those who looked to him w as one of 
 his strong characteristics, and In- hud innumerable calls for a 
 word or line of comiuendation. Tlieic are few men who ever 
 helped carry the hojjes and ambitions of more pcoiile. K'aiik 
 or .station was not considered. He was ot' ilic jieoplc and with 
 the people. One of the last acts of his life was to assist in se- 
 
Life a)id Cliaracti'r o/ Prcstoii />. ]'lii»ib. Id 
 
 furiuy the ap|iointuii'iit <il' a jmor (irplKiii Itoy as incss('iii;cr in 
 one of tilt' Depart incuts of tlic ( Jovci iiincnt. lie liad wonderful 
 eiieii;y, strong will power, and a determination to do things 
 that lie belii'ved should lie done. All was done witlioul osten- 
 tation, show, or ineteiise. 
 
 These are in brief some of the traits of character that brought 
 him into public notice and secured to him the conlidcnce and 
 respect of his fellow men. 
 
 The years of experience in public life had titled liiui for still 
 greater usefulness to his country. He appeared in the very 
 zenith of liis iiitell(>ctual powers, and his friends had abuii- 
 <lant reason to believe that he yet luwl a long and useful career 
 before him. There was no Kansaii whom the people of the 
 State delighted more to honor. They were proud of the record 
 he had made, a record that adoiiis the brightest jiages of our 
 history. Xo wonder, when, on that vSabbath in December, the 
 sorrowful news was flashed over the wires that Senator Plumb 
 was dead, there was deep and sincere mourning. Ko wonder, 
 when the funeral car moved out. and all along the line, from 
 the capital city to his Kansas home, the people stood with un- 
 <'Overed heads. No wonder the multitudes in his beloved State 
 gathered to look for the last time upon the face of the dead 
 statesman. 
 
 Becoming a resident of tbe Territory when there were a few 
 isolated settlements, he had seen that earnest, struggling com- 
 munity grow into a great, prosperous Commonwealth, contain- 
 ing nearly a million and a half souls. During these years he 
 had witnessed the establishing and building uji of institutions 
 that would do credit to a much older State. He had the con- 
 sciousness of having contributed in no small way to this won- 
 derful transformation. He was proud of his State, had un- 
 bounded faith in her future, ami expressed the hope to see the 
 unfohling and develo])ment of all her resources. 
 
1 44 Address of Mr. lirodcrick, of Kansas, on the 
 
 How straiijrt' it seciiis. A few shnrt weeks ati" this }rreat 
 man was one of tlie reeognized leaders in the I'nited States 
 Senate. ■• A living foree among living nun. lidping to mold 
 public oi>ini<(n and sliape national jiolicy." I have a \iviil 
 recollection of my last conversation with him. It wasoidy two 
 or thiee days before his death. While he si)oke ol'the neccs 
 sity of taking a few days' rest, he seemed hopeful and of good 
 cheei'. I hail no thonglii that he was .standing on the river's 
 bank, and within hailing distance of the l>oaiinan; bni the 
 hours of his a])pointed time were numbered. 
 
 The loss of this life is felt here at the national capital: it is 
 felt in every iiandet in his Stale: Imt tliegr<'at l)erea\ emcnt 
 has fallen most heavily upon the home, upon the faithful, loving 
 wife and the trustful children. Thousands of sorrowing heaits 
 iurn with sineerest symi)athy toward that sti-icken household. 
 
 hi the weakiu'ss of humanity, but with bicdniing reverence, 
 we are prone to inquire why the earth]\ career of such a life 
 closed so soon: why the light was so early extinguislwd. 
 
 O Death, what art Ilimi ' a Law.'ivor that iievi'i allciutli. 
 
 Fixiiif;tlicocmsuiiiiiiatiiiK«eal win reby thiMlerdsol'lifc Ijccoincostablisheu; 
 
 O Death, what art thoiif a stem aud silent usher, 
 
 Leadinj^ to the ju<lj^iiieiit for Eternity, after the trial scene of Time; 
 
 O Death, wb.at art thou? an hnsbandmau that reapeth always. 
 
 Out of season, as in season, with the sickle in his hand. 
 
 But on such an occasion as this we can not iiliilosophize. 
 The mystery of death call not be solved. W ian i he mes.seuger 
 comes with the dread summons the hand can not be stayed. 
 
 .Ml that was mortal of PRESTON B. Plumh lia> jias.sed away 
 forever, but the rec<n'd of work well done is imiierishable. In 
 S(trrow we must submit to the decree of Heaven: the hope is 
 in immortality. The life that was so active and useful here 
 has not gonenut, i)ut has been transferred tuthe home l)eyonil 
 the stars. 
 
Life a>id CharacU-y of Preston />. riitmb. \\h 
 
 Address of Mr. Joseph D, Taylor, of Ohio. 
 
 Mr. Joseph 1). Taylor. Mr. Speaker, fifteen years ago. on 
 the -ith (lay of the present month, Preston B. Ph'MB stood 
 up in the Hall of the United States Senate and took the oath 
 of office. Coming- fi-oni a State upon whose soil had been fought 
 the first great battle between freedom and slavery, his opinions 
 upon most of the questions wliieli weie then agitating the 
 country were well undcistoDd, but beyond this very little was 
 known here in Wasliiiigton of the new Senator. Tall in stat- 
 ure, strong in ](hysique, commanding in api)earance, <'ourteous 
 in manner, outspoken in opinion, quick in thought, deliberate 
 in judgment, he was not long in gaining the confidence of both 
 sides of the Chamber. It was soon seen that he had a way of 
 his own, and, if this way crossed the path of Senatorial dignity 
 or trampled under foot the time-honored customs of the Sen- 
 ate, it made uo difference to liim; he went on undisturbed, re- 
 garding results more than methods. 
 
 His suri)rising familiarity with questioiis which came before 
 the Senate soon attracted attention, and the older members of 
 the Senate often gave marked attention to what he said. In 
 all that he did he was eminently practical. He never wasted 
 time or words in reaching the turning point of a discussion. 
 His strong individuality cropped out at every point, and his 
 heaviest blows were always aimed at the weakest pciint of the 
 opposition. Having been accustomed from boyhood to depend 
 u])on himself, lie mapped out his own pathway, solved his own 
 proldems, fought his own battles, and won Ids own victories. 
 
 Senator Plumb was a natural leader, and yet he had the 
 sagacity to lead without seeming to do so. In consultations he 
 was a patient listener, always willing to consider every side of 
 
 S. Mis. L'28 10 
 
146 Address of Joseph D. Taylor, of O/i/'o, on the 
 
 a (luestioii: Imt when ho canii' to a conclusion and expressed 
 an oiiinion he supported it witli such strun-:. terse arjjuiiients 
 that it was apt to be. the judgment of all. 
 
 His speeches were always arfjunientativc and what he said 
 was always aimed rij^ht at the point. I51unt in rcjily. quick in 
 repartee, i)atient in explanation, vifjorous in denunciation, lojj;- 
 ical and forcible in his reasoning, he always maintained liis 
 giiiund in |)iihlic di.scussions to the sati.sfactinn of his friends 
 and often to the discomfort of his enemies. 
 
 The amount of work he did was a marvel; the way in which 
 he did it was a greater marvel. Ilis indomitable will, bis 
 active l)rain, his sleepless vigilance, his natural ambition to 
 do every thing well, knew no limit and was circumvented by 
 no ob.stacle. Although born in 1S37 and although he sjient 
 his early life on the frontier, amid the hardships and sacritices 
 of pioneer life, an<l went out in resjKmse to his country's call 
 when the storm clouds of war hung thickly over the southern 
 horizon, he seemed as young and vigorous as most men do at 
 40 years of age. 
 
 In view of the fact that Senator Plumb was born in Ohio. I 
 have been asked to say something on this occasion, and 
 although I was sjuiken to only a few days since 1 am glad to 
 have an oi)portunity of expressing my admiration tor a man 
 who has honored alike his native and adopted States. He was 
 born in 1 >claware County, Ohio, only a short distance mu-th 
 of the capital of the State, in a county which is known througli 
 out the country as the location of the Ohio Wesleyau Univcr 
 sity, one of the largest universities in the country. He learned 
 his tiade as printer at Gambler, Ohio, and established his lirst 
 business enterprise at Xenia, Ohio, as editor, part owner, and 
 manager of a newspaper. 
 
 This was his lirst business cnterpri.se and the field of his 
 first ambition; but the thrilling news from the plains of Kan- 
 
Life a:id Charaitcr nf Preston J>. Pliinih. 147 
 
 sas tuiiclied his heart and stirred his brain, and he was soon 
 on his way to that then ta roll' Territory. Tlie events of those 
 historic years seem unreal now. when those dreary |ihnns have 
 been transformed into a hmd of promise, when the Territory 
 is now a great and prosjieioiis State; bnt there was a time 
 when life or ileath meant Httle and wlien freedom or shivery 
 meant everything in Kansas, and this was the time wlicn 
 Preston B. Plumb, as a boy, stepiied ui)on the threshold of 
 the struggle and took jiart in all the conflicts which weie 
 waged from that hour until the freedom of the State from 
 slavery was secured and secured forever. 
 
 We are ]ii'ond of our young men in Ohio, and while we a])pre- 
 ciate how much Ohio lost by the transfer of Senator Plumb 
 to Kansas we are no less proud of his great career because it 
 was achieved in a sister State, and we join hands and hearts 
 with Kansas in doing honor to an Okio boy who has not only 
 honored two great States, but has honored a great country 
 and left us all a legacy of whiidi we can be justly proud. Tw 
 his wiihiw and chihlren, who sit in sorrow beneath tliis great 
 shadow, we send our sympathies and our tears and ask for 
 Ohio the privilege of sharing in the sorrows as well as the 
 lutnors that crowd ui)on us m an hour like this. 
 
 On the lirst day of the jiresent session of this Congress 1 
 came with Senator Pli'MB to this city. He was m one sleeping 
 car, I was in another, on the same train. He invited me to go 
 111 his car and I did so, and later on he came into mine and we 
 talked a great while and on many subjects. He handed me a 
 card on which he wrote the name of an individual whom he 
 recommended as a suitable person to be consulted in a matter 
 of business in which some of my friends are interested. Only 
 once did he refer to his health, which he said was not very 
 good, and he attiiliuted it in i)art to too much hard work and 
 in part to sickness in his family, which he said had caused him 
 a great deal of aiixietv. 
 
148 Address of Joseph D. Taylor, of Ohio, on the 
 
 \\\' talked i)(iliti<-s as well as business and discussed the 
 juiispt'cts and ]in>liablf candidates of the coming cami)aifru. 
 In all that was said, with this single excejilion, there was only 
 the sparkle and clicci nt' luall h and happiness. His life seemed 
 radiant with liopc and sunshine and his heart was full of kind- 
 ness for all. We separated at the dejiot and did not meet 
 again. When the news of his death eanu' it seemed as if some 
 friendhadfallenhy my side. It seemed impossilde! I lookout 
 of my pocket the diary in which was the card he had handed 
 me. There was his handwriting, and around that card gath- 
 ered the words he had spoken, and between the lines there 
 seemed to be written, ■•Re ye therefore ready also; for the 
 Son (if Man conieth al an hour when ye think not." 
 
 There was a link of friendship between Senator PLUMB and. 
 myself which was always mentioned when we met; that was 
 his friendship for Col. T. H. Anderson, wlio is now the minister 
 plenipotentiary to Pxilivia. South Aincricn. who stmlied law in 
 my otiice and was for many years my law partner. 1 haveoften 
 beard Col. Anderson express his admiration for Senator Pn.MU, 
 and 1 have a letter in my possession now in which Senator 
 I'LiMi! refers very kindly to ('dl. .Vndeison. 
 
 There are many things that can be said of a man's i)rivate 
 character, his relati(ms to family and home, to wife and chil- 
 4lren. frieiuls and neighbors, more beautiful than those which 
 relate to public life w honored careers; but they will be si)okeu 
 b.\- those who were better acquainted with the deceased than 
 I was and who can s|»eak of these sacred relations umre apjiro- 
 ]u-iately than 1 can. 
 
 r.ui I know enough of Senator Plumb's private life to honor 
 him tor his love of home and family, for his interest in his 
 friends and neighlxu's, for the love he had for his native State, 
 to which he always turned witli a kindly heart: for the inrer- 
 est he took in the town of Em[ioria. that lieaulifiil ami attrac- 
 
Life and Character of Preston />'. Pluiiih. 149 
 
 tlve city of till' \\tst, of wliicli he was one of 1 lit' founders. 
 "When I walked uloii<j tlie streets of Kiiiiioria, lined with shade 
 trees on every side, and looked at the blocks of htiil(lini;s, so 
 ■well and so |ierinanently bnilt. I could not reali/.i' that I'^nipo- 
 ria had grown to what it is within the lifetime of any man ; aTuI 
 yet it liiis crown since 8enator PiA'MB planted the tirst fonn- 
 dation stone, and Kansas in the meantime has gjrown to he a 
 great State, and is destined in the years to come to be one of 
 the greatest States in this Union. 
 
 When I said that Senator I'niMU was a Icailer 1 did not 
 mean that he had not been inflnenced by others. When he 
 went to Xenia, Ohio, to become a young editor he met there 
 tliat grand old Methodist preacher, (iranville bloody, who was 
 fnll of patriotism and abolitionism and always ready to preach 
 or fight for the freedom r)f the slave or the overthrow of intem- 
 perance. I have understood that Senator Pn'JTB was a great 
 admirer of Granville ^Nloody, and I do not know wlio could help 
 admiring that noble man who has ever heard him speak, or 
 pleach, or talk, as I have often ilone, and I do not doubt that 
 Senator Plujib carried into Kansas the same tire and enthu- 
 siasm which (iranville Moody enkindled wherever he went. 
 No man is entirely original. The thoughts which crash through 
 the brain, the words which burn yind blister on the lip. the 
 gentle sunshine which tills the heart, come rolling down through 
 the centuries and are as immortal as the mind itself. 
 
 We think the thoughts of others; we speak the words of 
 others; we do the acts of others; we go through life stepping 
 in the footprints of those whom we admire and honor, whether 
 we know it or not; but there is a difference after all between 
 men in their individuality. Two men may be equally great in 
 certain eharaeteristics which the worhl admires and yet one 
 may be a hero and the other a coward; one may insist on as- 
 serting his manhood and conscience at all times and under all 
 
loO Address of Joseph D. Taylor, of Ohio, on the 
 
 fircuiustiiuces, while tin- ntlier cowers in the preseiict- of public 
 .sciitiiueiit and docs not daif to be himself. Senator Plvmb, 
 however, always dared to be himself, and. w liether he stood 
 aloue or was supported by others, he had the ciiuraye of liis 
 cousciencc and tlic di^nily nf his nianliood as Ids rock of de 
 fense. 
 
 There is no State, Mr. Si)eaker. in the Union so nuich like 
 Ohio in its legislation and laws as Kan.sas. Having sonic in- 
 terests in that State, I have had occasion to be there very often, 
 and have always noticed this remarkable uniforndty. The 
 nianafienicnt of public affairs in Kansas ditVers very little if 
 any. from the mana^icmcnt of public affairs in Oliio. I have 
 often wondered at this resemblance and ha\f lieard it spidcen 
 <if by others, and 1 thiidv I can now account i'or it largely by 
 noting tile connecting link between these two States, which is 
 f(mnd in the life of Senator I'i.tmi?. lie was born in Ohio, 
 learned the printers" trade in Ohio, edited ami publisiied Ins 
 lir.st newspaper in Oliio. studied law in Ohio, attended two 
 courses of law lectures in Cleveland, Ohio, was admitted to the 
 bar in Ohio, and was subseiiuently married in Ohio. 
 
 Going to Kansas, as he did, as printer, editor, lawyer, soldier, 
 piditician. wlien the Territory of Kansas was a trackless prairie, 
 and jiarticipating, as he did. in framing the constitution and 
 in making the laws of Kansas when the Territory became a 
 State, it was natural encmgh that he should, as far as po.ssible, 
 iojiy into the constitution and la\v> uf Kansas the coustitutioii 
 and laws of Ohio, and I am persuaded that no other one indi- 
 vidual had so inucli tixloin making Kansas so much like Ohio 
 as our lamciitcii anil Inmorcd Senator. 
 
 Ml. Speaker, the diic thing that has astonished me re than 
 
 all else besides, since I have been in Congress, is the freipiency 
 with which death crosses the thresh(dd of this Hall. Seat 
 after seat has been vacated, funeral after funeral has taken 
 
Life and Chanutiy o/ I'liiloii /!. /'/iini/i. 151 
 
 place, and scarcely a siiiulc inoutli passes tioin the oiieiiiii,n' to 
 the close of a session of Coiij-ress wit liout the startling api)ear- 
 auce of this great shadow. 
 
 "Ill the midst of life we are in death" is trne everywhere, 
 but it seems to have a double meaning t(; the meiiil)ers of 
 this House, and its warning voice needs to lie wiitten upon 
 the walls of this Chamber and lu'i)t fresh in the memories of 
 those who sit beneath the Dome of tliis ('ai)itol. 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. Otis of Kansas. 
 
 Mr. Otis. Mr. vSpeaker, Senator Pli'mb was a man of deeds, 
 and not of long speeches. Action, bold, energetic, and persist- 
 ent, was characteristic of the man. He had the courage to 
 dare, and also the ability to do. Educated in the school of 
 adversity in early youth, he was equal to prosperity in mature 
 manhood. Political honors did not elate him. He was always 
 iu touch with the common people. He was great in his sim- 
 lilicity. Elected Senator from a State born in the throes of 
 political revolution, l)aptizcd in the blood of freedom, aud 
 whose early history is written in the crimson letters of an irre- 
 pressilile contlict, called u])on to represent a constituency pre- 
 eminently industrious and enterprising, intelligent and pro- 
 gressive, his task in the legislative councils of the nation was 
 one fraught with Herculean labor and great responsibility. 
 
 And now beside the freshly sodded grave all partisan feeling 
 vanishes aud the mantle of charity is kindly thrown over all 
 human frailties. But Preston B. Plumb was by nature a 
 l)atriot, and not a partisan, in any offensive sense, as the term 
 is usually applied. ^Ir. Speaker. I have no desire to engage 
 in fulsome eulogy; but could that inanimate canvas hanging 
 from the wall upon your right by s(jRie magic process become 
 imbued witli life, and George Washington speak to the as- 
 
152 .ItMi-fss of Mr. Olisy of A'aiisus., on the 
 
 semblcil Ki'in-cscntativi's in this Ihill. nr^iins iipmi thorn to 
 " lifwaiT ot'tlic spirit ofjiaity" and to phicc •• ratriotisiii be- 
 fori' partisanisHi," he would Imi Miicc the honest convictions 
 of him whose niemoiy we seek to honor here to-day. 
 
 Could tlic };alhiut Lafayt'ttc, there upon the left, he heard in 
 accents hold and tree, he could not as a libcrtylovinj; French- 
 man utter woids in behalf of siifierinj; hnniauily and free insti- 
 tutions more potent than nniny of the words and deeds of our 
 I\ansas Senator. He risked his own life to save the life of a 
 disabled wayfarinj: traveler. A native of Ohio, he early emi- 
 grated to Kansas and became thoroughly identified with her 
 early history and iicr mateiial interests. If 1 am i)ermitted 
 to notice any sectional distinction, he was preeminently wliat 
 might be called •■ a western man; " but "western" in the sense 
 of being brave and liroad. even world-wide. ICvery instinct 
 of his nature drew him toward tlie toiling masses and away 
 from the spoliating classes. Whilst national in the truest 
 sense, he could not sit idly by and see one section dominate 
 over another. I'Vom our stantl]>oint no higher tribute could 
 be jiaid to the deceased than to (|Uote from his remarks of 
 August 1 and .lune (J. ISiiO, in the Senate of the United States. 
 The Idghest eulogy of the dead should l)e measured by their 
 deeds and words while living. 
 
 On August I. 18'.((», in speaking upon the laiilf i|uestion. he 
 used this truthful language: 
 
 •■ Let us seek for some means for raising the revenue for the 
 Government besides imjjosing these great and enormous duties 
 upon the articles in common use by the people. Let us invoke 
 some of Ilie init'lligeuce and ability wliieli are [tossesscd by 
 American statesmen to discover means and articles u)Min \\ hieii 
 taxes can be imposed witliout distressing the poor." 
 
 On June 0, 1890, speaking upon the money (juestion. lie said : 
 
 "Any legislation which I consent to must permanently widen 
 
Liji and Cliaractcr of Preston />'. l'Iit»il). 153 
 
 the base, must cilliei- recognize bolli iiic(:ils as iiioiicy or imist, 
 (liscanl Ixitli Miiil put in llirir place pajuT inmicy, llic \<>luiiii^ 
 
 (if whicli can 1 xpaiidcd so as to meet llie increasing- needs 
 
 of iiicreasin;L;- liiisiness. Areliiiiiedes said that if he liud a place 
 to put his tulciuiii he could lift the woild. (!i\e the American 
 people the base on which to plant tjieii- feet, with increasiii}^ 
 breadth to meet incieasin.n needs: ni\c them tiic linancial 
 instrumentalities which tiiey need for the develo])nient of their 
 resources, inom for the exercise of their iutelligeuce, their en- 
 terprise, their courage, they will not only move the world, but 
 they will lead it." 
 
 Alter all that his distinguivShed colleagues iu the Senate 
 have spoken in hi.s praise it is useless for me to tiu-ther extend 
 remarks in this direction. His services are missed. But whilst 
 bis death is looked upon as a, public h>ss, alas! what shall we 
 say of the loss to wife and children ? Here sjteech becomes 
 powerless and words lose their siguiiicauce! Upon such an 
 occasion he speaks most feelingly who uses fewest words. 
 Sometimes sympathy is most ki'cnly expressed in profound 
 silence. In closing I will simply (juote the language used by 
 himself upon a similar occasion in honor of Senator Beck of 
 Kentucky : 
 
 "Thus once more mc pay farewell hon(ns to one who was a 
 leader among its, whose talents challenged our admiration, and 
 whose candor and amiability of nature and tenacious fidelity 
 to duty will continue an example worthy of imitation through 
 all coming time." 
 
154 Address of Ml . fozciiscnd, of Colorado, ou the 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. TOWNSEND, OF COLORADO. 
 
 Mr. TowNSK.NU. Mr. Speaker, tlic dcatli of Senator Plumb 
 ■was a slioek to his friends anrl to tlio conntry. To those who 
 kiirw liiin personally lie was the einliodinient of ])hysieal eiidnr- 
 auce, courage, and manhood. No one, unless it were Lis most 
 intiniat(> frieiuls, was aware that he was troubled with any ail- 
 ment, much less that he was so snddeidy to be stricken fatally. 
 
 No event con Id more Inicihly teach the lesson tliat in 1 1 midst 
 
 of life we are iu death." It is therefore most |iro]>er that we 
 should sto]) for a brief liour and consider tliis remarkable man. 
 M hose career has been so illustrious. Nothiiii;' that words can 
 convey will relieve the deej) grief and sadness and sorrow that 
 enshrouds ilic lioinc and f:imiiy of this departed husband and 
 father, wiiose domestic \irtues were unexcelled liy his fame 
 and worth and abilits- as a statesman. I5ut wc may be able 
 to say something of tliis man's life that shall prove of value to 
 others wiio are animated liy an honorable aiiiliition. For — 
 
 Livfs of great men all remiml us 
 
 \Vu can maki- our lives suliliuif. 
 And, (Icpaitiuj;, leave behind ns 
 
 Footjirint.s on the sands ot' time. 
 
 Foot|)rinls \vhi<'Ii perliajis anmlier 
 
 Sailin;; o'er life's dreary main. 
 A foiloru and shipwreilied lirother, 
 
 •Si-eing. may talie heart a]Ltain. 
 
 Prestox B. Plumb has furidsiied another illustrious ex- 
 ample of what honorable; ambition, sterling maidiood, and dili 
 geid industry may accom]>lisli under the beneficent intlneiu'es 
 of our free instituli(in>. I'rce republican government canolVcr 
 no higher testimonial to the liunuin race than that, under its 
 liberal o])])ortunities. its eidargcd freedom, its wise ri'gard for 
 the rights and jirivileges of the individual citizen, it has been 
 
Life a>id Cliaractcr ofPrcs/on B. riniiil). V^^i 
 
 so prolific ill its (Icvclniniiciit of incii wlio in tiic arts and 
 sfii'Mces, ill reliuioii and ixilitics. in war and in statesniaiisliip, 
 liavf added to limnaii urcatnes.s, as well as to tlic lionor, s'lory, 
 and fame of tln'ir country. Tiic iccord and iiislory of tlic life 
 
 of Senator I'Ll'^II! will lie i e eiricieiill\- stated iiy others 
 
 who are more familiar with the details tliaii I am. Yet a 
 glance at his life is necessary to fully coinprelieiid his iichieve- 
 meiits and the more |irominent features of his character. 
 
 Boru in IS.'JT, he was elected to the Ignited State Senate in 
 1S77, at the age of 40 years, and at the time of his death, 
 after three elections and over fourteen years' service in that 
 lionoralile body, it would lie unjust to say that liis intluence 
 and usefulness were not e(inal to that of any other memher. 
 Learning the juiiiters' trade at 12 years of age, establishing 
 a newspaper when only l(! at Xenia, Ohio, he removed to 
 Kansas in 185(! at the age of '11> years and began the career 
 that made him conspicuous in his State and throughout the 
 nation. 
 
 The political conditions existing in Kansas in LS.JtJ are 
 matters of public history, but at this time no (uie will contro- 
 vert the statenient that the establishment on the plains of 
 Kansas of a Territory and a State devoted to free soil and free 
 men precipitateil the war of the rebellion. The environment 
 of his earl>' manhood made him love liberty and hate slavery; 
 taught him that freedom was one of the inalienable rights of 
 man and respect for those lights the duty of every good citizen. 
 At iT) he was a member of the legislature of his State and 
 re|)orter for the supreme court. In IStii,' he enlisted in the 
 Union Army and rose rapidly to the rank of iieiiteiiant-colonel 
 of his regiment. In 180(! we find him again in the legislature 
 of his State and s|)eaker of the house of re])reseutatives, and 
 in ISTl' he was made jiresident and manager of a bank at Em- 
 poria, Kaiis., where lie resided. 
 
156 Address of Mr. Toicnscnd, of Colorado^ on t/ie 
 
 I'crhaps tin- most i-nnsiPU'uous cliiuactcM-istic of this activo 
 man was his suprcmi'tk'vntiKii to his duties. Ho lu-ver spari'il 
 himseir. His capacity of labor was the wonder of his friends. 
 He j;ave to his oflieial duties the energy, zeal, and painstak- 
 ing investigation tliat made him master of every sub)e(;t upon 
 wliieh lie was called to act. In deljate he was tluent of speech 
 and frequently elotpient, always dear and logical, and with 
 the utmost candor and absolute fearlessness, lie had an 
 acute and analytical mind, tjuick percei)tion, and sound Judg- 
 ment. His immense industiy.comliim-d with a wide ac(|uaint- 
 ance and knowledge of business affairs, enabled him to engage 
 witli great success and prolit in larg<' Ijusiness undertakings. 
 His jiresence was like a breeze from the i)lains and his energy 
 gave life to his occupations. He was an insi)iration to others. 
 His vigorous and ruggecl manhood. cond)ined with a genial 
 temper. ma<lc liim a |ileasant comiianioii and associate. He 
 had hosts of personal Iricnds. and his iMipiilarity was great 
 wherever he was personally known. This was esjiecially true 
 in the NN'est. where he was widely known. His sympathies 
 were keen and wei'e readily touched. 
 
 He was a man of llic jpeoiple. and caie I'or thcii- interest was 
 the law of his olBcial life. He stood among his fellow men 
 like one of the loftier ])eaks in a mountain range. The eyes 
 of thousands were turnecl in his direction. It is believed by 
 many that, had his lilc been spared, higher and greater honors 
 awaited him. His death seems untimely; it was so sudden, so 
 unexpected; but sad and ])aiiifid as it may be it is the law of 
 our being and is inex<U'able. WC should l>e pre])ared to meet 
 it at any time and approacli tlic gra\i' like one who — 
 wraps tlir ilra]iriv of his cumli 
 About him :iuil lies iliiwu to pleasant ilreams. 
 
Life and Character of Preston JJ. Plumb. 157 
 
 Address of Mr. Davis, of Kansas. 
 
 Mr. Davis. Mr. Speaker, we are here to pay the hist tribut* 
 of respect of the liviiij;- to the dead. Nothing- that we can say 
 or do can change the condition of iiini whose memory we liere 
 commemorate. Bnt. on the other liand, we may both comfort 
 and benefit the living. We may hold np examples to be either 
 imitated or shnnned. The snbject of our remarks to-day is au 
 example of what may be accomplished by an American yonth 
 of energy and indnstry under favorable conditions. He came 
 to Kansas when that State was full of rich natural and polit- 
 ical opportunities. He knew how to grasp them and u.se them 
 and his life was a financial ami political success. 
 
 I'RESTON B. Plumb, of Emporia, Kans.. was born in Dela- 
 ware County, Ohio, October 12, 1837; he received a common- 
 school education and learned the art of printing; he removed 
 to Kansas in lS5ti ; was a member of the Leavenworth consti- 
 tutional convention in 1S5!»; was admitted to the bar in 1861; 
 served in the lower house of the legislature in 1802, and was 
 chairman of the Judiciary committee, and subsequently re- 
 porter of the supreme court. In August of the same year he 
 entered the Army as second lieutenant in the Eleventh Kan- 
 sas Infantry, and served successively as captain, major, and 
 lieutenant-colonel of that regiment; and was commissioned as 
 colonel of the same regiment in August, 1862. He was a mem- 
 ber and sjieaker of the Kansas liou.se of rejn-esentatives in 
 1866, and also a member in the following year; he was elected 
 to the Ignited States Senate to succeed -lames M. Harvey, and 
 took his seat March 4, 1877, and was reidected in 188;:! and 1888. 
 
 Col. Plujeb did good service in his country's cau.se, and wa.-> 
 duly ht)nored by his countrymen, in recognition of his ability 
 and patriotism. In politics Senator Plumb was a Eepublicau; 
 
158 .-Iddnss of Mr. Dazis, o/' A'ansas, on the 
 
 yet on the (juestidiis of finaiiee and taritl' lie ol'tcu testilietl and 
 bravely contended on the side of the jteoph-. Many of his 
 ablest speeches are models of lojcic, tnilli. and patriotism. I 
 onee wrote him a letter of thanks for noble words spoken in 
 the United States Senate. He rejilied fnlly and frankly: 
 
 "What yon coininend me for is what I have been doing; ever 
 since I have been in Cong:ress. That is to say. I have ojipo.sed 
 the cfintraetion of the currency. I have advocated the enlarge- 
 ment of the volume of the cnrrency, and I ])ro|iosed the amend- 
 ment, which you so highly eoniniend. to w liill jx'iiding: in the 
 Senate four years ago. It was not adopted, but 1 did all I 
 could to have it adopted. Generally speaking, 1 have no doubt 
 you and 1 would agree about matters conceriung the currency. 
 At all events I can say that the views that I had when I came 
 to the Senate, and which I have often expressed, have under- 
 gone no change, unless it he that they are more fixed than 
 ever. I do not l)elieve in a currency to be provide<l by the 
 banks, because, 1 can not conceive that the volume of such a 
 currency would be inevitably a«lapted to the needs of the 
 country." 
 
 My acquaintance with Preston B. Ph'mh commenced in 
 IST.'J, when, on his invitation, 1 was called to address the iieo- 
 ple of his ('ounty at the Lyon County fair. I thus became a 
 guest in his fanii!\ . I'roni that time to the day of his death 
 our acrpiaintance and frieudshij) continued. Although we 
 sometimes crossed i)olitical swords in the newsiiapers, and 
 met each other in public and, joint debate, yet these incidents 
 worked no i)ersonal alienation. Thrungh all these years the 
 (rhain of friendship and personal regard and appreciation re- 
 mained unbroken. His was a jjractical mind of large com 
 l)rehension. His was a power wliich molded men. His third 
 election to the I'mted States Senate was unanimous by the 
 legislature, in a Sfati- diarged to the explosive jjoint with 
 
Life and ChiuacUr oj Pnslon />'. riumb. 159 
 
 liviiij;- tlioii.ylir ;iiui |iiilitic;il icvoliitioii. I li- was ciniiu'iitly ;i 
 mail (if deeds. lie spoke freely and lioldl y, but he was most 
 noted for action. 1 1 was a common exjn-ession in Kansas on 
 snddeneniergt'iieies: '-What will In-alls say?" And. "VVliat 
 ^viII Plumh do?" 
 
 But I am not here for detailed history lun- alone for eulot;'y. 
 The liviiijj must be ))eiielited or our words here are for naui;lit. 
 
 The sudden deatii of Senator PuMi! should remind ns that 
 at all times we are subjoet to call by the Great Leveler of 
 FTumanity. There is no moment of life when "the tall, the 
 wise, the reverend In^ad" may not be called to lie as low as 
 the iiumblest. There is no time- when our loved ones may not 
 be called to taste the same anguish and to sutler the same 
 lieartl)n'ak which afflict tlie stricken family in Emiioria. All 
 that breathe must share the same fate. Tlie joyous may laugh 
 till the summons c(mies. The sad may plod on in their melan- 
 choly, the ambitious may chase their jihantoms, and the work- 
 ers may not cease tlieii- labors. Yet mirth and melancholy, 
 work and ambition, must have an end. All of man that is 
 mortal will find its bed in dust '-as the long train of the ages 
 glides away." Youth and manhood, the matron and the maid, 
 and soft breathing' infancy will And the same' level in their 
 last narrow bed of rest. Yet there is an immortal soul which 
 sleeps not in lifeless clay. A spark of life from the eternal 
 altar which never ceases to .glow, destined to endless life and 
 growth. With this, liojie. Oh man ! 
 
 •So live, that when thy siuiiuiuns (.-(imfs to join 
 Tho imiuiiiPralile caravan whicli moves 
 To that iiiysterioas n-alm where, each shall tak<! 
 His chamber in tlio silent halls of death, 
 Thon go not. like the iinarry-slave at night, 
 Sconrged to his dungeon, but snstained and soothed 
 By an nnlaltcring trust, approach thy grave 
 Liki' one that wraps the drapery of his couch 
 About him and lies down to pleasant dreams. 
 
 — Uri/ant. 
 
160 Address of Mr. />arfi)u\ of Xcz-ada., on the 
 
 On occasiciiis like tins the tlicni;ilitf'til mind looks with cosmic 
 view ami inlinite humility t'lum this shoit life into the eterni- 
 ties of the i>:ist anil ilic I'niurf, ami the sjiirit of the favorite 
 verses of the grt-ai Lim'oln s|»intanconsly arises to aid in 
 '•celebratiug our grief:" 
 
 oh, why shouhl the spirit of uiortal In- |iiouiH 
 Like a fost-llittiiifr meteor, a fast-flyiiifr ehmil, 
 A Hash of the llKhtiiiii;;. a break of the wave. 
 He passeth from life to his rest in the grave. 
 
 The leaves of the oak and the willow shall fade, 
 Be scattered around, and toi^ether lie laid: 
 And the youn^ and the ohi. and the low and the high 
 Sliall iiioUlir to dusi and together shall die. 
 
 >So the multitude jioes. like the tlower or the weed. 
 That withers away to let others succeed; 
 So till' multitude comes, even those we l>ehold. 
 To npoat every tale that has often lieeii fidd. 
 
 'Tis the wink of an eye, 'tis the draft of a hreath. 
 From the Idossom <d" health to the paleness of death, 
 From the gilded saloon to the bier and the shroud; 
 Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud? 
 
 Address of Mr. Bartine, of Nevada. 
 
 Mr. Bartine. Mr. Speaker. I wasne\ei- mide iiaiiifully im- 
 pressed with the niK-ertainty of human lilc than when, on the 
 I'Oth day of Deeeinber last, I learned that the senior Senator 
 from Kansas was ilead. When I came here as a new member 
 of the Fifty-first Congress, one of the earlie.st friendshijis 1 
 formed at the other end of the <'ai)itol was with PRESTON B. 
 PuMB. There was Ironi the first a bond of sympathy between 
 us in tlie eiriMimstance that one of his brothers is a friend and 
 eoustitnent of mine in the State of Nevada. 
 
 I already knew the Senator, in a general way. by his imlilie 
 
Life and Chamrh-r of /')rs/oii Jl. I'liimb. Hil 
 
 career and national ii-pntation, and npon nicctinii liini 1 was at 
 once attracted by his strong personality and .uenial nature. 
 During the first few weeks of the present session I was sutler- 
 ing from illness and was nol able to be in my seat. When par- 
 tially recovered, but still very weak, I came to the Capitol one 
 day and entered the Senate Chandjer. Ahuost the tirst Sena- 
 tor to greet me was Mr. Plumis. Well do [ remembi'r the cor- 
 diality of his welcome and the kindly solicitude with which he 
 spoke of my illness. In less than a week he was gone. Little 
 would anyone who saw us then have supposed that the stal 
 wart Senator, with his robust, almost giant physique, would 
 so soon lie beneath the sod and I be spared to take part in the 
 memorial service of this day. 
 
 Truly has it been said that " in the midst of life we are in 
 
 death." 
 
 The -tlistinguished Senator from Kansas was stricken down 
 in the full prime of vigorous manhood. Judging from api>ear- 
 ances, we W(mld have said that he had a quarter of a century 
 of strong and useful lif(* before him. We can not do otherwise 
 than lament the death of such a man at such an ag.-. In the 
 great ocean of time the utmost span of a human life is but as 
 the "twinkling of an eye." It begins, it is gone, and the eter- 
 nity of the future is as measureless as before. 
 
 To the individual possessor of that mysterious thing which we 
 call life it makes but little difference whether it close at 2.5 years 
 or be extended to a century. Whether his spirit wing its flight 
 to the Christian's " Home of the soul" or sink into Nirvana's 
 dreandess calm, the length of his earthly existence is to him a 
 matter of trivial .'onceru. But it is freighted with inq)ortance 
 
 to others. 
 
 Man comes and man goes, but men, like the brook, "go on 
 forever." Generation follows generation as the seasons follow 
 each other, and every generation aims at a higher ideal than 
 the one which went before. 
 S. Mis. L>2S 11 
 
162 .IMn-ss of Mr. Bar tine, of Nevada, on the 
 
 Theii'lore, in t lie great progressive march of mankind it does 
 make a ditTeience whether the life of such a man lie length- 
 ened lint or lie lironght t<i a iireinatnrc cud. When we con- 
 sider his intcllcttiial strcn;;tli, his capacily fur lalic.r. the 
 breailth and generosity of his nature, and his warm love for 
 his fellow man, who can measure the amount of good that 
 might have come from twenty years UKirc of such a life? One 
 little thought germinating in the secret chambers of a single 
 brain may impress itself upnii tlie minds (if niitdld millions, 
 change the fortunes (if mighty nations, anil shape the des- 
 tinies of a world. 
 
 Senator Plumb was a tireless worker. His mind was ever 
 active and full ol' jilaiis tor the iiniirovemeiil nf .society. His 
 ideas were broad, national, and tiinronghly American. He 
 mad*' no claim to perfection; his friends make no such claim 
 for him. Had he been perfect he Wdukl not have been human, 
 lie would have been at oner aliove our appreciation ami be- 
 yond our comprehension. He was simply a iuanlymau,in whom 
 the ((ualities wliicl.i insjiire love ami admiration largely pre- 
 dominated. 
 
 His life was a lesson that sliouid never be lost upon the 
 youth of our land. I'.orn with the love of liberty in his heart, 
 that sentiment grew and blossomed and ripened upon the 
 plains of Kansas. In the midst of stormy ami turbulent .scenes, 
 frequently ending in strife and liloodslied. as a mere boy he 
 helped lay the foundationsof one of the greatest and grandest 
 States of the .Vmerican rnion. That sanu' love of liberty, i-om- 
 bined with patriotism, made him a .soldier of the Union, and 
 upon the battle field he displayed the same resolution and de- 
 termined eoui-age that distingnislii'd liini in civil life. 
 
 His career in the Senate was in the highest degree honorable 
 both to him.self and the people whom he represented. He was 
 not what could fairly be called an orator. He thought more of 
 
Life and Cliaracliy of Preston />'. Piiiiii/t. I(i;5 
 
 the idea than of tlie laiiiiua^'c iti wliidi it was clothed. There 
 was a lack of those <;r;icefiil inoveiiieiits, the ek^uaiit roiiiidinjr 
 of ])ei'iods, the heautiful imagery and word paiiitiiit; that luark 
 the polished orator. 
 
 But he was uevertlieless a strikiiit;ly coiispicnous figuie iu 
 that body. A close student, a thorough investigator, familiar 
 with nearly every detail of governuieutal administration, a 
 clear, incisive, and ready debater, he shrank from no encounter. 
 His lance was ever couched, and it seldom failed to reach the 
 object at which it was aimed. But he always struck in a spii'it 
 of kindness and never intentionally gave pain. Associated with 
 some of tlie sf rongest intellects of the age, he grew and strength- 
 ened by the association. His tremendous physical energy and 
 mental activity enabled him to transact an amount of work 
 that is almost incredible; and the impress of bis sturdy and 
 practical mind has been left upon many a page of the statute- 
 books of the country. 
 
 .Mr. PlidiB was a Republican and deeply imbued with the 
 fundamental principles of that party. He realized, however, 
 that no political organization can be uniformly right, and upon 
 matters of detail, not going to the principles ujion which 
 the party was founded, he was boldly and soiiu'times ag- 
 gressively independent. More than once he drew upon himself 
 the censure of his party associates. I>iit it was political cen- 
 sure only. He was a brave and honorable opponent, never 
 lurking in darkness, never tiring from ambusli, but always in 
 the clear light of day, fighting upon ojien ground, and he held 
 the respect and esteem of his brother Senators to the last. As 
 a member of a body in which it is generally believed that 
 patrician ideas have to some extent found a lodgment, "Slv. 
 Plumb was essentially and distinctly a tribune of the people. 
 
 Although possessing an ample fortune, his tastes were plain 
 and simple, and no icy barrier separated him from the toiling 
 
164 Address of Mr. Bartinc, of Nevada., on the 
 
 millions of his touutiymeii. Hi' remi'iiibeicd the luiiiittle 
 cradlt' ill which lit- was lorki-d; he it'iiR'inbi'rcd the i>overty 
 of his early youth; he leiufuiheied the road hy which he iiad 
 traveled to fortune. He realized that, while he liad been suc- 
 cessful in acquiring wealth, favoring eircmnstauces had guided 
 and directed his efl'orts. He knew full well that a man's sue 
 cess in business is not by any menus a fair test of either his 
 moral or intellectual worth. To him it made im ditferenee 
 whether a man were a millionaire or a day laborer. He judged 
 both by the same standard: the (|Ualities of manhood which he 
 found them to possess. C(>smoi)olitan enough to love the wliole 
 human family and rejoice in the prospei'ity of every nation, 
 he yel loved liis own cdUiitiy better liiaii lie lo\e(i any other 
 country; he loved the American people better than he loved 
 any other people, and he loved the people of Kansas a little 
 better than he loved the people of any other State. 
 
 And no iieiiple e\(M liad a iimre laillil'ul public servant than 
 those for wlioin lie spoke and acted in the Senate of the United 
 States. 
 
 From morn till e\e, and away into the small hours ut' the 
 night, he toiled cm and on. And when the busy Inaiii ceased 
 its working, when the strong heart was suddenly stilled, the 
 great changi! found him in the conscientious discharge of his 
 duty. When he died, Kansas was robed in mourning. It 
 seemed as if a shadow ha<l entered every household. Every 
 Kausan felt that he had lost a frieml. and the heart of the 
 whole nation throbbed in sympathetic accord. His work has 
 been done, and well done; the Journey of his life has ended; 
 beneath the -soil of the State he loved so well he is sleeping his 
 last sleep; his soul is mingling with the inlinite and the un- 
 known. 
 
 To the family so near and ilear to him in life we can only 
 .speak words of consolation. Their loss has been irreparable. 
 
f.ifc and Chai-aclcr of Preston B. I'liiDih. 1(ir> 
 
 OiK' liits hccii taken from tlieiu who fan never he rej)laee(I, linh 
 I tnist they may (ind sonm comfort in knowinj,' tluit (ho 
 nation sliares tlieir jirief. May tlie h.ad of their sorrow bo 
 lijjlitened by tlie faith that, far from (lie scenes of earthly care, 
 the spirit of tlieir loved one is lioveriui; o'er them and cheering 
 them vritli the sweetest words of iiope. Fnmi the silence so 
 profound may there come tlie dear familiar voice, saying unto 
 them : 
 
 Tht" liviiiff are the only (lend: 
 
 TlLe (lead live, nevermore to die; 
 And often when we nionvu tlieni fled, 
 
 They never were ko nifrh. 
 
 The joys we lose are hut forecast, 
 And we shall lind them all once more; 
 
 We look behind ns for the past. 
 But lo! 'tis all Ijefore. 
 
 Address of Mr. Gate, of Arkansas, 
 
 Mr. Cate. Mr. Siicaker. my ac(inaiutaiice with the late Sen- 
 ator from Kansas, of whom it is my privilege to .speak at this 
 time, was so limited as to preclude me from making any ex- 
 tended comment on his personal characteristics and virtues. 
 
 What I may submit will be the views and impressions that 
 have come to me in an official or general way. 
 
 Others more favored in being permitted to know him more 
 intimately have spoken, and will speak, of his great personal 
 worth and his noble private cliaracter. 
 
 It is my iirovince to regard him almo.st entirely from the. 
 record he has made, from the impress that he has left upon 
 the th(5Ughts and feelings of his people, the "footprints" he has 
 left "upon the sands of time." 
 
 Of commanding ability and unending industry, with a fac- 
 
Ififi Address of Mr. Catc, of Arkansas, on the 
 
 uli.v t'lir work and :i ilisiM.sitii.ii I.. <li> it faithfully, yet appar- 
 ently liDUiidless ill the <iiasi) of his cinnpieheiisinn. foultlessly 
 acciiiate ill details, niiiek to pciceJM' his (ipixiitunities and 
 ever ready ti> utilize them, lie loi iiiuhitc il lii- plans with un- 
 enin{;judj;nient and ixeeiited them with unfaltering holduess. 
 
 I'nssessing thus within himself all the elements of sueeess. 
 he sueeeeded. 
 
 He was at once thcproduet ami tliei-\| cut of that pi'--iiliar 
 
 civili/ation and intellijieut development which has made re- 
 markable the histiny of our raee in the last half of the nine- 
 teenth eentury and recorded its frrandest aehieveuieuts in the 
 jnofrress of our peat liepublic. lie was piei-minently ''a man 
 of aftairs," and withal a jiatriot and a statesman. 
 
 In the lifeaiid in the death of Senator Pi.rMB we are taught 
 two lessons. 
 
 In his busy, earnest lile and its ailiievements we learn that 
 under oui- free instituiions no lidunds are set to the possibilities 
 of intellectual endeavor directed by a clear Judynu-nt and sup- 
 jdemented by industry: in his death we learn that there is a 
 jihysieal limit to liuman endurance. 
 
 So far as tiie first lan lie c-oiisidcred. lie was only within the 
 threshold of his accomplishments: what he might have done 
 had he been given the allotted sjian. n< <-an conjecture. 
 
 As to the last, he had reached the end. The bow too often 
 and too severely bent had broken whii<' many arrows were yet 
 uiispi'il anil in tlic i|ni\er. 
 
 Being one of tho.se who aicomiianied his remains to their 
 last resting-place, an op[)ortunit.\- was afforded me to ascer- 
 tain and observe the hold he had upon his countrymen, the 
 esteem in which he was held by Ihtise among whom he had 
 lived and for whom lu' had labored. 
 
 Those formal manifestations of sorrow which mark the loss 
 of an eminent citizen were tiot wanting. 
 
Life and Charailcr of Preston />. I'lnml). Ki? 
 
 They were c'laboiatc in unoil taste, and i]i cA'i'ry way cnni- 
 ineusuratt' witli the sulcninily anil iiiai^iiitudf of the occasiou. 
 
 The i)aii('aiif rcincscntcd a .meat State in inourninf;' for a 
 great man. 
 
 But wliat impressed nie more liircilily was that behind these 
 ])ul)Iic (h-nioustiations there was a deeji and abiding |)o]mhir 
 isorrow. In the erowds that tlironged the eapital eity of his 
 State, and his own t-ity of lOmporia. to (h) honor to their dis 
 tiuguislied dead, tliere wert- all classes of people. There were 
 the sturdy mechanie, the Intelligent and thoughtful merchant, 
 the studious divine, tiie eautious Itauker, the farmer bronzed 
 in the sun aud wind in his praiiie home, aiid there also was 
 the ever-bright face of buoyant childhood. 
 
 People there were in thousands, but there was no business; 
 the farmer exchanged no iiroduct of the soil for the wares of 
 the merchant ; the banker's office was closed and the mechanic's 
 shop was not open ; there was no sound of the hammer iu the 
 city, and even the gladsome shout of the schoolboy was not 
 heard on this sad holida.y. 
 
 Each one seemed as if he had sutfered a personal affliction. 
 
 The Commonwealth was mourning the loss of a statesman; 
 the people were sorrowing at the death of a friend. 
 
 The bright and progressive city where he had lived makes a 
 part of the record of his life and his labors. His restless en 
 ergy is seen and felt in its growth and industries, and no doubt 
 in watching its progress and its prosperity he had often real- 
 ized the fruition of the hopes and toils of his early manhood. 
 His home was such as those who knew him would picture it to 
 be; about it there was no elaborate effort at architecture, no 
 affectation of the feudal castle or baronial mansion. Complete 
 in its appointments, comfortable and convenient, within there 
 was that air that ever pervades the abode of intelligent worth 
 and prosperous effort. The books evinced a cultivated taste 
 for literature ; the pictures on the wall stood for his patriotism. 
 
1G8 .IMrcss of Mr. Cafe, of .-irkaiisas, on the 
 
 Contemplating' tlii'sc evideiiffs of t'onitort and fulture. I 
 thonylit how often in the Itrigbt, busy years that were j;one 
 liad lie who now hiy so peacefully Iieneath tin- rooftree he had 
 erected to shelter those he lovcil: liow ot'icn. wearied with the 
 luirdens of public life, woundeil and sickened and saddened in 
 the strife incident to his career; how often had he souylit this 
 home and within its walls had his braises hound up, his armor 
 burnished, his conragestrengthened,and his liope renewed, and 
 then goiu' forth again strong in the inspiration of home, love, 
 and sympathy to other coullicts and to other triumphs. 
 
 But he had gone out for the last time. Herolike, he had 
 fallen in liic palli of ilui>- with liis aiinor mi. lie liad fought 
 his last battle and was now come to slee*; his last sleep among 
 those he loved so well and wlio loved him. 
 
 One other thought and my remarks will he ended. As we 
 journeyed through the land and looked ii])on its homes and its 
 industries, as I watched the faces of the people who had gath- 
 ered in throngs, it seemed to me that in all things there was a 
 strong similarity between that country and its ])eo])le and my 
 own country and its [(eojile. In the two coininunities there 
 seems to be a homogeneous po])ulati(Hi; men and women with 
 like fortunes and misfortunes; the same struggles, the same 
 hopes and fears; a common country, one liag, a like destiny. 
 Ill all tlie.se interests there is no contliet; then why slioiiid 
 there be strife between us? 
 
 As we stood by the open grave there was on my right a war- 
 worn veteran who hail worn the blue, and in his eyes were 
 tears; in front of me stood my colleague, who, in those dark 
 daysofeisil war. followed the fortunes of the lost cause and 
 whose saddened face reliected the sorrow that was in his heart. 
 
 Here, then, in the shadow of death those who had confronted 
 each other in the hour of battle had found a common ground 
 on which to meet in cominoii syin])athy. 
 
Lift- and CharacUr of Preston B. Plitmh. 169 
 
 Will not the time soon come when, in the presence and m tlie 
 iuterest of the living, we can all make a common cause of t In- 
 common good ? 
 
 And when the bugler blew -'lights out" and turned away, 
 our formal duties ended, a hoi)e spraug up in our hearts that 
 in the coming years, not far away, we could blow out the lights 
 which party passion and sectional prejudice have lighted to 
 lead our people in divergent paths. 
 
 May we not believe chat in the near future there will ema- 
 nate from the graves of the great and good nieu in every sec- 
 tion of our broad laud a sjjirit of fraternal love and affectiou, 
 proclaiming to all the people, from our Northern borders to our 
 Southern shores, "on earth peace, good will t-omen?" 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. BAKER, OF KANSAS. 
 
 Mr. Baker. :\Ir. Speaker, I shall not attempt to give a 
 historical sketch of the life of Tbeston B. rLrin?, but shall 
 content myself to speal-- of him as he was seen by those who 
 knew his active life. 
 
 He whom we were led to believe was the incarnation of 
 physical force and intellectual energy has fought his great 
 tight, has finished his course, and we are here to-day to pay 
 due respect to his memory. 
 
 As one of the Representatives from the State of his adoption 
 I feel that it is a privilege to bring my meed of praise to place 
 upon the tablet of his memory. 
 
 The couplet — 
 
 Despair of uotliiug that you would attaiu, 
 Tinvearieil diligeuce your poiut will gain— 
 
 seemed to be tlie iusi.iration of his life. He was fully imbued 
 with that mandate. -Subilu.' tli.> earth." He was energetic 
 
170 .Iddrcss of Mr. Biiki-r, of Kansas, on (he 
 
 ami assidinms. diliiji'iit in all the various pursuits of life. His 
 earnestness, wholc-iieartedness, and steadiness in labor enalilcd 
 liim to overeonie all obstacles to liis success. Labor thai \\ ouM 
 utterly have exhausted others seemed but to streii^^llien him: 
 he seemed to Corbet what was behind and was ever reaehiuj;' 
 forth to that wliieh was before; and in doinj; this he was but 
 pressing toward the yoal for the great prize of his ambition. 
 
 To deliberate, witli liim, was to aet. He was thereby enabled 
 to obtain jxissession of mneh wliieh lie had not eontemjilated. 
 He believed that everythint; was i)rofi'ressive in its nature and 
 that by iiidnstrvall obstacles in lite mi^ht be overcome. With 
 liliii it promoted self-respect anil reliame and dro\c away a 
 dei)en(lenee upon <'ireuiustances. 
 
 He believed that in working we reign, and soon learned the 
 
 lesson that by industry man lifts himself to a seat among the 
 
 gi'eat of earth. The i)oet has well ilescnlMMJ him as he was 
 
 seen by his constituents at home: 
 
 Anil the soul, fnl ami fatteurtl ou the tliim};lits ami things around it, 
 
 Growctb to perri'ction, full of fruit, the fruit of foreijiu seed. 
 
 For we Icarn upon a hint, we find ujinn a elew. 
 
 We yield a hundredfold; liiit the great sower is analogy. 
 
 There must lie an acrid sloe liefore a liiseious ]icaeb, 
 
 A liall of rotting llax liefure the liridal vi-il. 
 
 An egg before an eagle, a thought liefore a thing. 
 
 ,\ s])ark striiik into tinder to light the laniji of knowledge. 
 
 A slight suggestive word to guide the watebing mind, 
 
 .\ balf-aceu baud upon the wall, pointing to the balance of comparison. 
 
 These seeiueil to be his moving forces. We fin<l him toilitig 
 with the hiind as well as the liead. He 1)elie\ed thai all laboi 
 that triids to Mip|il\ man's wants, to iiieiease man's happiness, 
 to elevate man's natiiie — in fact, that all labor, jihysical and 
 mental, were alike honorable. To him rest was ruiu. He felt 
 thai tlie structure of his body as \\ whole and every organ 
 showed that he was designed for activity. 
 
 r>ul a strong man has falh'ii. strong ]ihysicall,\ ami iiiii-l- 
 
Life and Channi,)- of l'icslo)i fl. t'liDiib. 171 
 
 lectually. The void cicaliHl by his (leatli can not bf easily 
 filled. To thosi' will! Iviicw him his very preseuce was a tower 
 of sirenutli. Whatever hr undertook with liis j;reat intellei't 
 marked him as the i)eer of the great men of his day. He was 
 always to be fonnd in the front of a contest. lie faltered at 
 no odds. Defeat never dismayed him. Believing in the justice 
 i)f his cause, nothing could deter him. As lie eaiiie in contact 
 with the best minds, the greatest intellects of liis day, we found 
 him their e(jual, never shrinking from the contest. His record 
 was that of a truly courageous man. He lived a life of fidelity 
 to home and I'amilv and of sincere devotion to his countrv- 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. Henderson, of Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Henderson. Mr. iSi)eaker, 1 can not permit this memo- 
 rial service to pass without ottering some tribute to the mem- 
 ory of one whom I so much honored and respected as 1 did the 
 late Senator from Kansas, Hon. Preston B. Plfmb. 
 
 For the past fifteen years I have been associated with him 
 in the public service in these legislative halls, he at the other 
 end of the Capitol and I as a Representative in this body, and 
 during all these years our acquaintance has been to me so 
 pleasant that while others are speaking to-day of his high 
 character and distinguished services as a citizen, soldier, and 
 statesman, 1 could not forgive myself if I did not add my testi- 
 mony, however feebh^ it may be, to bis long, able, and faithfiil 
 service as a Senator and to his m.aiiy noble and manly (pialities 
 as a man. 
 
 It was indeed a gratification to know such a man as Senator 
 Plumb, for he was kind and genial in his intercourse with his 
 fellow men, and especially with liis friends, and always ex- 
 tended to them such a warm and cordial greeting as to make 
 them feel better for liis preseiu'c. 
 
172 Address of Mr. Ihiidcrsou., of Illinois., on Ihc 
 
 I iiH't Senator Plimh for the last time but a tew days liefore 
 Ills death, and apparently he was the same stroii^r, vijjormis 
 man be had ever been since my first a<'([uaiiitanee with him. 
 He was cheerful and seemed to be in <;ood spirits. ;iiid. so tar 
 as I observed, in good health. And when I heard of his sud- 
 den, unexpected decease — that this stroii;.;iiian, tliis -^neat Sen- 
 ator had been stricken down in tlie midst of his usefnhiess and 
 of liis lemarkable career, I was severely shocked and rould 
 liardly realize that the sa<l announcement was true. 
 
 But, alas! it was true, and his unexpected decease save to 
 us. Ins associates in public life and friends who had known him 
 .so well, allot he !■ sirikinj;' lesson of t lie ;;reat uncertainty of this 
 life: a lesson whieh sliould remind us to do onr work well, and 
 to be ready, for in such an hour as wc kuow not of wc, too, 
 may be called hence, and then it will lie well for us if so j;;ood 
 an account can be given of our life work as can truly be of this 
 great Senator whose death we .so deeply lament. 
 
 Senator Plumi! always, from my first ac(piaiiitancewith him, 
 imiuessed me as being a man of great strength and vigor, 
 both i)hysically and intellectually. lie seemed to possess all 
 the elements of greatness. He was strong in his jihysieal as 
 he was in his mental organization, and was a man of wonderlul 
 industry and energ,\- of character. He was bold and fearless 
 in the assertion and maintenance of his opinions, and what- 
 ever cause he espoused foiiiid in him an earnest and iKiwertill 
 advocate. 
 
 (Observing his course in the public service, as I did, for I ad- 
 mired his higii character. I can say with sincerity that 1 have 
 seldom, if cNcr. known a man in |iiililic life w ho KkiuuIiI Iu I lie 
 discharge of his duties greater ability and tidelity than did 
 Senator I'LUMii. He was ever watchful and diligent in guard- 
 ing the interests of the ](eoi)le of Kansas, and we may say of 
 the whole country, to]- lie was a patriot in tlie broadest sense 
 
Lifi- and Chann-h-r of Preston B. Plunih. 17:5 
 
 of tlie term and took n ilt'cp intoiest in the luilioiial welfare 
 as well as that of his own State. 
 
 For nearly tifteen yi'ars 1'i;i;st<)N 1'.. Pltmr represented 
 the State of Kansas in the Senate ol' the United States, and 
 diiriuji- all the time of his illustrious service he was a consi)ic- 
 uous and distinguished member of that honorable body; and 
 it can be truthfully said that no State had a more devoted, 
 taithful public servant than the State of Kansas had in Sen- 
 ator Plumb. 
 
 Kansas honored herself in honorini; liini and in elevating 
 him to the high otfice which he so aljly tilled: and in return 
 for the honor conferred upon him he. by his euiinetit public 
 service, shed luster upon the State of his adoption. 
 
 But, Mr. Speaker, this remarkable man, this great Senator, 
 who rendered sncli illustrious service to his State and country 
 lioth in war and in peace, lias jiassed away, and we shall see 
 liis familiar form and face in the Senate Chamber and in this 
 Capitol no more forever! After giving to his State and to his 
 country the very best service of his str(mg and nol)le manhood, 
 he has been stricken down while robed in the honois of his 
 hio-h ofdce. But he leaves behind him an honorable name and 
 a record of which his State and the nation, his family and 
 friends, may l)e justly proud. 
 
 Let us who honor his memory to-day strive to imitate his 
 noble virtues and to give to our country that full measure of 
 devotion to duty which constituted the highest distiuctiou of 
 this faithful Senator. 
 
174 Address of Mr. Post., of Illinois, on the 
 
 ADDRESS OF Mr. Post, of Illinois. 
 
 Mr. Post. Mr. Speaker, the (leciKle wliicli iircceilL'il tlie civil 
 war was marked by a fervent discussion of liiuuan rijjlits and 
 was a tittiiif^ i)rfliide to heroic action. Trities were forgotten; 
 parties paused in their contests, disintegrated, and reorgan- 
 ized; systems of revenue and other ecctnoniic questions were 
 laid asi<le. and jjublic attention was absorbed by the one great 
 issue. 
 
 Our Uevohitionary ancestors had asserted with eloquence 
 and logii! never surpassed a people's right to liberty and free 
 government, and in 1775 repudiated their king, declared their 
 independence, and submitted their appeal to anus, always the 
 tinal court of arbitration. 
 
 Among the institutions which royal rulers had thrust upon 
 the Ameri('an colonies was that (tf African slavery. I^ngland 
 boasted of her freedom, but encouraged the slave trade, and 
 even extorted from .Spain in 1713 the sole right of selling Af- 
 rican slaves to the Spanish- American colonies. When Eng- 
 land's king was forced to rclini|uisli autliority on oiir soil, 
 England's cur.se remained. 
 
 The political con\nlsion which gave birth to the Territory 
 of Kansas again aroused the latent fires which had been suj)- 
 pressed by couqtromise, and when I'liESToN B. I'n'MU was 
 18 years of age the country was aglow with the heat of a con- 
 test destined never to grow less until England's curse had been 
 utterly wiped out and the l\ei)ublic rei-stablishcd on the basis 
 of universal freedom. 
 
 Born in Ohio in 18.'57 and naturally loyal to Northern senti- 
 ment, the influence which this revival of the spirit of our Revo- 
 lutiotiary ancestors had ii|miii I'liKsrON B. Plumij can now 
 
Lijc and Cliarachi- of J'lisloii J). J'liiinb. 175 
 
 liardly be realized. Times lijive eliaiij;c(l ; the seliools now 
 claim the desultory attention of jirowu men tlinnijih a <'Ourse 
 of study which may tit tliem to conipete for a life position as a 
 (rovernmeiitelerk. Preston B. PLUMBat ISwasnotasehool- 
 boy, but a man eagerly grappling with the business of life. 
 At 12 years of age he had begun to learn the printers' trade, 
 and at Itl lie had established the Xenia News, and coTiducted 
 it witli vigor and success. 
 
 He needed neither Latin dii)ionia nor eertiflcate ft'om aeom- 
 mission. He had accjuired the trade whicli teaches accuracy 
 and attention to details; he had succeeded in tliat profession 
 in which hunibngs and pretenders (expose tlieniselves. 
 
 At IS Preston B. Plumb was a printer and a journalist. 
 He was familiar with the foundation i)rinciples of government 
 as expounded l)y Hamilton, .lefferson, and by all the founders 
 of republican lilierty on tiiis continent. He understood the 
 constitutional limitations and tlie doctrine of State rights as 
 enunciated by those giants in intellectual contro\'ersy, Daniel 
 Webster and John C. Calhoun. H(* was eciuipjied by informa- 
 tion anil Judgment to grapjile with jiublic ([nestions. and was 
 conceded the rights and intluenee in council of a i)atriotic citi- 
 zen several years before the statutt^ laws pernntted him to 
 vote. 
 
 The history of the settlement of Kansas is a lomance and a 
 tragedy. Within the Territory was the geographical center of 
 the United States, for Alaska had not yet been acquired. This 
 arena was formally dedicated by act of Congress to be a battle 
 tield in which to inaugurate tiic physical contest between the 
 hosts of freedom and of slavery. 
 
 The Missouri compromise had reserved Kansas for freedom, 
 but on opening it for settlement Congress declared that reser- 
 vation ''inoperative ami void," and defined its intent and 
 meaning to be " not to legislate slavery into any State or Terri- 
 
17G Address of Mr. Post, of Illiuois, on Ihc 
 
 tory or cxcliulf it tlierel'iniii, liiit to li-ave tlu' iieojili- thereof 
 jierfectly Tree to rorm niiil rcjiulatc tlieir doiiiestii' institutions 
 in tlifir own way." 
 
 Till' Cdiistitiitiou hail iccoguized thf iieiiiliai- institution, 
 not lor preservation, but for discourajjement. Its extension 
 had been limited by law. but the Kansas- Nebraska bill arrested 
 the onward niari'li of civili/.ation, took a ste)) l)aekward. and 
 authorized shivery to be carried into a Territory where it had 
 never been. To this William H. Seward responded: 
 
 •• Come on. tlien. gentlemen of the slave States! Since there 
 is no escajiin;; your challentje, I accept on i)elialf of fieedom. 
 Wc will enjiajre in competition for the virgin soil of Kansas, 
 and (lod uivc the victory to the side tliat is strou;^er in num 
 bers as it is in rij;iit. 
 
 The eager skirmishers hastened to the designated arena. 
 The land was fair to look upon. Its wide .stretches of undula- 
 ting itrairif were annually covered wilh llowers massed in 
 jirofusion and bi-anliful in their variegated disoider. while the 
 course of the streams ndjjht be traced by the fringe of timber 
 which had escajied the autumn tires. Its .salubrious climate 
 attracted nnmy who sought relief from northern rigor, and its 
 varied agricultural resources were her;ilded far and wide. 
 
 Among its resources, destined to be dissijiated uselessly and 
 cruelly, were the immense herds of bulfaloes accustomed to 
 make their annual noiiliciti pilgrimage acro.ss Kansas during 
 tlic suinnier, returning laic in tin' autumn to the South. In 
 ilie midst of the tenitory thrown o])en to white settlement 
 were large traets liehl by various Indian tribes under solenni 
 treaty obligations that their occupation shmilil he protected 
 and never disturlpcil. Snincof tin' tnbeshail liccii louiul there 
 in 1710, when Dutisne, the disco\erer <if Kansas, was courte- 
 ously received in their villages and wigwams. 
 
 NN'hen the Americans began tojioui into Kansas it did not 
 
/-///■ aiiti ('//iirac/cr <>/ J'ri's/on />'. I'liiiiib. 177 
 
 n'(iuii(' the liil'l dl' in-opliccy fo liiiow tll;it the lM(li;iiis :i,s well 
 :is the Imll'alocs must ilis;i|i|i(';ir. 'I'licv hail mi iiowspapcrs to 
 liciald tlicii' wroiiys, and any atti'iii|il to prolccl llicir (i\v:i 
 ri^lits would privlaini I Ireni oncniit's to the wliitc man — hostile, 
 < riicl savages. When a thiuisaud squatters seized upon laud 
 solemnly j;uaiaiiteed as Indian land, the ehiet's entered a dii; 
 nilied |irotesl,the Attorney ( leneral decided in lavor of the 
 Indians. Init neitlui- the President nor the Army were power- 
 ful enouyii to redeem the ])lij;iited faith of the United States. 
 With hereditary stoicism and pathetic calmness the r(^d man 
 saw the liiilfaloes killed, liis land overrun l)y trespassers, his 
 rights destroyed. 
 
 The national breach of faith with the Indian.s was little 
 thoiiiiht of 1)y the restless and enerjietic i)ioneei-s who carried 
 ci\ili7,ation beyond the Missouri Ri\-er. They came tti stay; 
 they came t-o nuike homes, to bnihl up a new State; they came 
 from the South, to avail themselves of the privilege secured 
 to them by tin' re]>eal of tlie ^lissouri comiiromise, and from 
 the ^'^orth to proclaim freedom on the rostrum and to secure it 
 at the ballot box. The contest did not sto]) there. Foi twelve 
 years, until the very end of the civil war. Kansas was "Bleed- 
 ing Kansas." the theater of turmoil and bloody strife, of private 
 and public war. 
 
 C'onspicuous among the young men from tiie North who took 
 l)art in the settlement of Kansas was I'reston B. Plttmb. 
 He arrived at To]ieka in October, ISSO, and spent the winter 
 at Lawrence. In March, lsr)7,his name stands first among the 
 little baiul who essayed to build a city on the banks of the 
 Ncoslio. He established the Emporia News, and its tirst 
 numlier was issued June 0, 1X57. He had not yet been eight 
 months in the Territory and was not yet 20 years old. 
 
 H was at this ]ierio(l that 1 tirst became acquainted with 
 Preston B. Plumb, a tall, earnest, energetic young man, full 
 of enterprising ])lans lor Em]>oria and for Kansas. 
 
 S. Mis. L'l'.s 12 
 
178 .Idc/nss of Mr. /'os/, of Illinois, on Ihe 
 
 Kansas was then a broa*! cxiiaiise of waving grass, dotted 
 hen- and tluie witli an embryo villajre. No railroad aj)- 
 l)r()a<-lied its hordt'rs; the Missouri Kiver fiunislied the only 
 facilities for freight trausportaticm wiili the States, while ox 
 teams were employed for the interior. 
 
 Emjioria was a straggling frontiei' settlement; iK)rtli and 
 south of it for a thousand miles Indians and bufl'alocs occupied 
 the (iiiiMlry, while to tiie west, nearly >>n(l miles distant, was 
 the ancient Spanish civilization at Santa Fe. 
 
 Nevertheless, at E^mjjoria the dear eye of youth and hope 
 saw a future city, and thirty four years thereafter, toward the 
 tlourishingcity of Empoiia. with its radiating railroads and all 
 the accompaniments of prosperity, toward that city which he 
 had founded, nourished, and loved, we bore the lifeless body 
 ot' Senator I'H'iiH, while united in sympathy and lamentation 
 were fifteen hundred thousand people, citizens of Kansas. 
 
 All (isira jx'r aspera — to the stars through difliculties — tells 
 the story of his life. It is the motto of his State. It should be 
 inscribed ui)on his tomb. 
 
 The early life of Senator I'i,i':\ii!, his precocious connection 
 with ptdjlic affairs, the intensity of popular feeling then exist- 
 ing with reference to those affairs, the years of frontier danger, 
 of inces.sant vigUance, of undaunted ett'ort, were the discipline 
 whicdi made him a broad-minded, well-balanced, aggressive 
 leader ot' men. lie sought the appi obat ion of his own mind 
 and <'onscience and commanded the respect even of those who 
 tlid not agree with him. 
 
 To bring into clear relief his early training I have reviewed 
 but four years of his active life, years while he was yet a minor. 
 Others have sketched his biograjihy after attaining his ma- 
 jority, how lie stinlied law, was admitted to the bar, served in 
 the State legislature, entered the I'liited States military serv- 
 ice as second lieutenant, was promoted to cajitain. niajin. and 
 
Lift- and CJiai-(iit(r of Preston I', riiiiiili. 1711 
 
 liciitfiKiiitcoldiirl. ;i,i;aiii scrvcil in (lie SImIc lci;isl;ilun', :iii(l 
 at the ni;c ol' tO was clcclcil a Sciiatoi' of the I'liitcd States. 
 From that time to his death liis a<'ts were o\wav to tlie iiispee- 
 tioii ol' the nation and are indeiihiy endthizoned on th(^ history 
 of onr eonnti'v. 
 
 Senaloi- I'lJ'AlH lielped to create tlie State of Kansas. Me 
 gave /.eahins effort to her de\ehi|iMient ; in time of war as a 
 soldier lie contributed to her martial .uhiry, and in time of 
 l)caee as a statesman ln' supported and protected her interests 
 and those of the whole nation. lie was the untiring servant 
 of the State he represented. 
 
 Senator PLtTivn? was a partisan in its best sense, not a hanger- 
 on and blind Ibllower of a ])arty, but one who dared advocate 
 prineijiles without hesitation or (Mpii\((cation, trustiuy that his 
 party would sometime be convinced and adopt tiiem. He has 
 been criticised because he always gave his jiarty an earnest 
 and unwavering supjiort in the foium of the iieo]>le, even 
 though he had failed to secure the support of that jjartyto the 
 measures he advocated. 
 
 The enterprising solditu- who discovers in his defensive line 
 a weak positi(jn and suggests that it be strengthened, or who 
 sees an opponent's mistake and vainly urges an assault, does 
 not desert to the enemy because his comrades are shortsighted. 
 So in political strife time will demonstrate who is right; the 
 main body may progress slowly; a leader may be in advance, 
 but he is never tliei'e in the character of a traitor. A ])artisan 
 may sincerely believe in a prinrijile and yet l)e loyal to a party 
 which has not yet adopted it. 
 
 The real party leaders are not those who wait for the plat- 
 form in order to know their own opinions. These may be suc- 
 cessful politicians, " safe men to follow,'" for they travel a road 
 already marked out and fenced in. Some one must advance, 
 discover pitfalls, clear away ol)stacles, and blaze the unknown 
 wav. 
 
ISO Adiirtss of Mr. Yon mans, of Michigan, on /lie 
 
 III ;i iiri><;fri'ssivc jmrly some must liolilly si;iti' tlicii i-dinii- 
 li(»iis anil submit lor iio]>uIiir judj,'iiit'iil tlic incasuii's in wliii-li 
 they believe. 
 
 Senator I'l.i'^lli was tiiic to liis com i(iioii> and lalioretl with 
 tireh'ss energy lor his ]>i'oi)ie and bis c<miitiy. Those who 
 aceoiii|)aiiie(l Hiel'itiieial liain witnessed scenes ihe> will ueM-r 
 t'oiuii. The iieople (•rowdeii the railway stations ah)nj; the 
 route, they thronged to the eapital, where for a time his body 
 lay in state, and colleeted at Emporia with every manilesta- 
 tion of regard. 
 
 The leli.uious services at th<' residence of the stricken family 
 and at the ehundi. and the lieautiful ceremonial at the ceme- 
 lery, conducted by his comrades of the (hand Army of the 
 Uepublie. were made doubly impressive by the symiiathetic 
 sorrow of the multitude. 
 
 A people bowed down with jirief at a great and sudden 
 calamity, a State in mourning for a loved Senator, was a tribute 
 which recalled these pathetic words of Motley, referring to the 
 death of William of < >iange: "As long as lie lived he was the 
 guiding star of a whole brave nation, and when hi' died little 
 children cried in the streets." 
 
 ADDRESS OF MR. YOUMANS, OF MICHIGAN. 
 
 .Mr. YofMANS. .Mr. Speaker, it is only of the public life and 
 character of Senator I'LfJiit I can speak. 1 had not the honor 
 of his acquaintance. The Fifty second ("ongre.ss had hardly 
 convened before the shadow of ileath darkened these halls. If 
 was iii\- iirivilege, however, as a member of Ilic select roiii- 
 niitteeof the House, to t'ollow his remains tothcii- linal resting 
 place. 
 
 It is not my object, Mr. Speaker, to speak any jianegyric on 
 his life; his life is his panegyric— is on a sure foundation and 
 
Life and Character of Prrs/aii I>. flniiih. ]S1 
 
 is a [lai't of rUi' liisloiy ol' t lie lu'ijiiblii-. Always a s( iii'(l> dc 
 fi'iidiT (if cdiisl if iiti<inal rinlils; an iKiiKiralilc tluiii.^li mil a 
 liliiiil [laii isaii : at times assuniini;' iii<l<'i)ciiilt'iif political an idii, 
 tlicii ilt'tiMidiiiu' siK'li actiiin with \ij;'(ir anil ajinost match- 
 less eloinn'ni'e. 
 
 i'anlts, ihmbtless, he had; mistakes lie mifi'lit lia\e made; 
 Imt always relyini;' on his lio?iesty, lirmness, a^ul cantioiis 
 juduinent, always jiresei'vinj;' his sineerit\ of inirpose and in- 
 teuiitv of charaeter. I lis resolnl e deieiininal Ion i;a\ c him t haf 
 force we (h'liominate character, lake all who have ohtamed 
 liromineiit stations and assumed (lie responsihilities oi' pnlilic 
 life, it was his lot at times, however jnire his pnipose, however 
 piod the canse he followed, to lie misnndersto<id and his motives 
 ijiiestioned. The storm nuiiiif rai;e and the night he dark, yet 
 he followed the straiyhf path unerringly : his sure indgment 
 and persuasive oratory tiinied aside the obstacles liesetting" 
 his (lath. Others have outlined the incidents of his career, 
 but jierhaps it is worth our while to dwell for a moment <iii (he 
 lesson it teaches. Vei-y much of the best iiortions of our 
 country's history is the record of tin' achievements of lui'n who, 
 in their youth, without tin' adxantag'e of fortune, have written 
 their names high on the obelisk <if fame. 
 
 The list, though long, is familiar to every schoolboy; so, too, 
 are their persuasiviMdoquence and mighty achievements. These. 
 [lagcs <if history speak silver toned cnc<iurag'emeiit to young 
 men. saying to them, -'Onward, my young and strong brothers, 
 to the great battle field of life. Let not disappointment and 
 ti'ials damp your ardor; let no teui|)tations divert you from 
 truth and right. On every side great hearts will be in sympa- 
 thy, and strong hands linked in with yours, and the god of 
 battles will not suffer you to fail." 
 
 "Six. Speaker, another voice — 
 
 Is silent ill tfii' louiicil IkiII 
 1"<iic\ ("r. 
 
1K2 Address of Mr. Cariilh, of Kentucky, ou the 
 
 Aiiotlicr •• liitli' ylcaiii of time between twn i-teiiiitics" lias 
 been <\tin{,Miislic(l. Ibiw Imiji will it be fic we — 
 
 .shall leave imr 
 Mirdi auil our iiii]il()yiiients. ami shall loiue 
 Ami maki- our liid witli him? 
 
 And when time shall be no more for ns, may we depart "like 
 onecontiiiuintr a journey from an inn. not as one leavinir home." 
 
 The fre(|ueney of these sad sessions brin-rs the admonitions 
 of nioirality home to us. and when we ••shall take oui- cham- 
 bers — 
 
 111 the silent halls of death," 
 
 may it be said of us, "lie has fought the good fight, he has 
 kei>t the faith." 
 
 Address of Mr. Caruth, of Kentucky. 
 
 Mr. rAK'i^Til. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ,s))eak the last words 
 whith will be said in this legislative Hall in eommemoration 
 of the life and imblie .services of this distinguished Senator, 
 whose memory wc this day lamenr: and 1 sjieaji with profound 
 .sorrow of the loss our country has sustained. 
 
 It was not my ])uri)ose .Air. Speaker, to lift my voice on this 
 occasion, although there were ties of friendshij) which bound 
 the distinguished dead and my.self together. Wc lived at the 
 samehomein Washington; weate our meals at the same table; 
 our wives were friends and associates, and 1 grew to love and 
 to lionor the distinguished 1'kkston H. Pi.f:MH. 
 
 I believe tlial his career has done as much as that of any 
 man in .Vmcri<'a to show the great sticngth of our institutions 
 and the po.ssibility for the humblest to gi'ow to greatness. It 
 has been said of us with jiridc. in this broad land of ours, 
 
 '•cNcry man is b\- hirlli a prince oltlic lilood and a ] r of llic 
 
 ri-alm:" and from liir iiiimblc beginning of a printer's boy. 
 
Life and Charadcr of Preston B. riumh. |,s;5 
 
 sti'p l.y step, in the lanks of joiiiiialisiii. in 1 1„. i;iiii;s of ii„. 
 AiMiy. and in tlw l.-islative liall. I'liHSTON B. Plumi! woikr.l 
 Ins way until lie stood second in onicc to the President of tin- 
 I'nited States. So loved, so dislin-nislied, and so honored 
 was he fliattlieoreatpeoi,leoniM.Sta(..of Kansas, hyaunan- 
 iuions voice, for the third time elected him T'nitcd States Sen 
 ator. In that office, how well and liow faitlifnlly he diseharj;ed 
 his duties the records of his life's story will tell. Bold, free, 
 and inde])endent in liis position and ojiinion. never didhe— 
 
 Crook the i)r('gii:int binges of the km-i- 
 Where thrift may follow fawniii;;. 
 
 None loved truth more than he. Wherever error lifted its 
 h.'ad. from whatever side, the stalwart arm of Preston B. 
 J'LUMB was first to strike it down. A lover of his ••ountrys 
 institutions, he was always faithful. For the sanctity of the 
 Constitution of the Republic, his voice would ever be lifted 
 against any effort to ignore the provisions of that sacred in- 
 strument or to abridgetherightsof the American people; and 
 when he died there died u patriot. 
 
 He was a man wIk. could rise above party whenever occasion 
 lequire.l: a man who c.mld be true to party when bis j.arty 
 was true to itself. 
 
 Mr. Speaker, if you will go with me to yonder library and 
 examine the record of the CotigTosses in which he held mem- 
 bership you will find that there was no more zealous, no more 
 indefatigable, no more laborious member of the Federal Con- 
 gressthan Preston B. Plumb. Well maythepeopleof Kansas 
 regret his loss. I have sometimes thought that there were two 
 men who stood side by side in the Senate of the Unite.l 
 States: one was the Senator from my own State, Mr. Beek, 
 stricken down by the sudden and relentless hand of death, the 
 other was Preston B. Plumb, twin workers in the cause of 
 their country, with a zeal that was untiring and an industry 
 that never flagged. 
 
181 Address of Ml . Canil/i, of K'ciilucky. 
 
 When I first cniiic ti> Wasliin.uton and lalkt-d wiili the (lis- 
 tiiigriiislifd Senator tioin Ki-ntucky about liis colleagues upon 
 that floor 111' toltl uif tliat one ol" the j^reatest-biainod nicu in 
 that Chanilier. one of the -jreatest statesmen in Anieriea, was 
 I*i;i:sT()N li. PLfJiB; and fioui tliat reniaik of his tt) me I was 
 hd to \vat<li the career of Senator rLiMii, and learned to ad 
 niirt' ills zeal, his ability, and liis intej;rity. as I did his pati'iotie 
 IdVeof our country and its institutions. 
 
 I can not add any word to what has lieen said here today 
 to Ills iiicniory: hut deeply euyraveii in tlie liearts ot' the .\nier 
 ican peojile will ever renuiin the memory of the claim to fame, 
 of tiu^ service of Kansas's jjreat dead, killed by relentless 
 death in the hour and in the very heij;ht an<l strength of his 
 noble manhood. 
 
 Ml. l'l"NSTON. .Mr. Speakei, I move the adojition ol the res- 
 olutions. 
 
 The Si'EAKEi; yoo tciiqioie {Mr. Paynter in the chair). The 
 question is on the adoption of the resolutions. 
 
 The re.soliitions were uiuuiiniously agreeil to. 
 
 Accordingly (at 3 o'clock and - minutes) the House adjoiuned.