F ON THE MEMORIAL ADDRESSES LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ASHLEY B, WRIGHT (LATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM MASSACHUSETTS), DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATE, FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION. WASHINGTON : GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1898. , - * J * * (JU* \l CONTENTS. Page. Proceedings in the House 5 Memorial address by Mr. KNOX 8 Mr. LAWRENCE 1 1 Mr. WALKER 15 Mr. POWERS 16 Mr. SWANSON 20 Mr. NORTHWAY 22 Mr. McCALi, , 26 Mr. GH.I/TT. 28 Proceedings in the Senate 31 Memorial address by Mr. HOAR 33 Mr. MORGAN 38 Mr. HAWLEY 43 Mr. LODGE 44 442314 DEATH OF ASHLEY B, WRIGHT, PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE. DECEMBER 6, 1897. Mr. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, the House has already heard, by public report, of the death, at his home in North Adams, on August 14, of the late ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, Representative in this bod}- of the First Massachusetts district. In .accordance with an honored custom of this House, I will at a later time ask that an hour be set aside for paying heartfelt and well- deserved tributes to his memory. At this time, as the Representative of the people whom he has so long served upon this floor, and as an expression of the feeling of us all, I will ask the adoption of the resolutions to be offered by the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Allen] . At the present time I will ask the adoption of the resolutions which I now send to the desk. The Clerk read as follows: Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow of the death of the Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, a member of this House from the State of Massachusetts, and of the death of the Hon. JAMES Z. GEORGE, a Senator of the United States from the State of Mississippi. 5 Character of Ashley B. Wright. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Representative WRIGHT and the late Senator GEORGE the House do now adjourn. Ordered, That the Clerk communicate the resolutions to the Senate. The resolutions were unanimously agreed to; and accordingly (at 3 o'clock and 5 minutes p. m.) the House adjourned. JANUARY 8, 1898. Mr. Lawrence, by unanimous consent, submitted the follow- ing resolution; which was read, considered, and agreed to: Resolved, That Saturday, January 8, 1898, be set apart for paying tribute to the memory of the Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Massachusetts. EULOGIES ON HON. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT. Mr. L,AWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, I desire to submit the resolu- tions which I send to the Clerk's desk. The resolutions were read, as follows: Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Massachusetts. Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended, that opportunity may be given for fitting tributes to his memory. Resolved, That as an additional mark of respect the House, at the conclusion of these memorial proceedings, do adjourn. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy of the same to the family of the deceased. The resolutions were agreed to. Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. KNOX. Mr. KNOX. Mr. Speaker, I can not forbear to add a word to what has been already so well said in reference to the life and character of our deceased colleague. Living at the same hotel with him the first winter I spent in Washington, I was the recipient of many acts of kindness at his hands, and there grew up between us a personal friendship which lasted while his life endured. Brief as was the existence of this friendship, it was sufficient for a thorough understanding and appreciation of the man. No one could make any mistake as to the manner of man he was. What he was, what he could and could not do, was an open book. When such a man dies, the language of eulogy has very little office. His life has told its own story. His acts and purposes are plain, and at his death his epitaph is already made up. There is really nothing to be said. But the purpose of the ancient custom in accordance with which we are acting to-day must largely be to place upon the record something which strangers may peruse, and gain profit and guidance therefrom. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT was an unassuming, true man, with practical, sound, and broad attributes of mind that well fitted him to be a public servant. He was so fair and candid that if he could have his way here to-day nothing would be said of him by another that could not be justly and appropriately said, and my few words shall be spoken as if under his admonition. His chief characteristic, perhaps, was an ever- present desire, if not anxiety, to discharge fully and fitly every obligation which he assumed or which was laid upon him. Address of Mr. Knox of Massachtisetts. 9 He was constant in his attendance upon the sessions of the House. He was patient and laborious in the investigation of subjects of legislation. He was no easy-going and careless legislator who accepted the conclusions of others and blindly followed them. He thought for himself, and acted with a keen appreciation of the responsi- bility which he owed to his country and to his constituents. He was a well-poised man, physically as well as mentally, not to be carried away by excitement or driven to hasty conclu- sions. Now, these qualities which made him valuable in the councils of the nation had been previously exhibited by him in the service of the Commonwealth from which he came, and the} 7 had given him an assured position in the esteem and con- fidence of the people. Personally he was a most genial and approachable man, with an equable temperament that was seldom ruffled. He was free from envy, and rejoiced in the success of his colleagues. His ambition was to win and hold the confidence and the approval of his constituents. His popularity at home had grown from the commencement of his political career, and each reelection to Congress had been with an increased majority. At the time of his death it seemed that a long career of public usefulness lay before him. Such was the man who a few brief months ago was a member of this body. Such \vas the man whom the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the country have lost. Such was the friend from whom we, his colleagues, have parted forever. Others have left a more distinctive mark upon the record of this body, others have enjoyed a larger fame, but whatever his hand found to do, he did it faithfully and well; and there are few who have gone who have left behind them memories more tender and true. There are others who have had greater power io Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. to impress their convictions upon their fellows, but there are few whose advice in times of perplexity and doubt was more calm and dispassionate than his. There are very many others who have left perhaps a more enduring reputation, but in the hearts of those who knew our friend best there will be a vacancy only to be occupied when in the silent moment there comes a gracious memory of his pure life, his noble manhood, his faith- ful service, his lovable personality, and his gentle ways. When he left at the close of the extra session, he had no thought but of a joyous vacation amid the delights of his home, surrounded by the glories which autumn brings in western Massachusetts; but if he could have known the fate that was in store for him, there were few things in his past life which would have caused him regret. He was exceptionally blest in the manner of his death. It came without warning, without pain or suffering, with no sorrowful partings from loved ones. He passed in an instant beyond the parting and the meeting, and sleeps amid the hills of Berkshire that he loved so well, by the side of an honored ancestry who had gone before, and who, like him, in their day had exemplified the things that are worthy and admirable in the life of man. Address of Mr. Lawrence of Massachusetts. n ADDRESS OF MR. LAWRENCE. Mr. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, on the evening of Saturday, August 14, 1897, the people whom I now have the honor to represent were shocked and saddened by the announcement that ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, their honored Representative in Congress, had passed away. Death had come suddenly, the result of an apoplectic shock. Without an instant's warning a strong man had fallen, a life of rare usefulness was ended. It is hard to understand why such a man should have been taken away. Beloved in his home, relied upon by his business associates, trusted and honored by the people among whom he lived, he could have looked forward to many years of happiness and effective service. When a man dies at his post, in the midst of a useful career as a member of this House, it is fitting that business should be suspended in order that his brother members may have an opportunity to pay affectionate and sincere tributes to his mem- ory. The plain, unassuming, earnest man whom we honor to-day is worthy of this mark of respect. A kind neighbor, a devoted husband, an honest public servant has gone, but he will live in the memory of the people of his beloved Commonwealth, for as a public man his obligations had been conscientiously performed, and his whole life had been characterized by service for his fellow-men. ASHLEY BASCOM WRIGHT was born in Hinsdale, Mass., among the Berkshire Hills, on May 25, 1841. He was of New England stock. His father was an early Free Soiler, one of the pioneer Republicans of Massachusetts; a man of sterling integrity, who held to the day of his death the respect of the 12 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright, entire community in which he lived. His mother was a gra- cious, conscientious woman of true New England type. Theirs was a happy Christian home, and its uplifting and inspiring influence was a controlling factor in the life of our friend. Mr. WRIGHT was educated in the public schools of Hinsdale and at Lincoln Academy. Upon completing the course at the latter place he secured a position in a mercantile establishment in his native town. He was preeminently a business man, and until his election to Congress was actively engaged in mercan- tile pursuits. His business career was marked by honesty and thoroughness, the same principles which governed his public life. At the time of his death he was a director of the Adams National Bank of North Adams and a member of the board of investment of the North Adams Savings Bank, to both of which institutions his services were of great value. In 1862 Mr. WRIGHT went to North Adams, Mass., to accept a position as chief deputy in the internal-revenue office, and from that time until his death was thoroughly identified with the welfare and prosperity of that thriving city. Mr. WRIGHT was a modest, practical, able man a trained man of affairs, sys- tematic and conscientious in the performance of his duties to a remarkable degree. A successful business man, he never shirked the responsibilities of citizenship. Dr. Munger once said, ' ' Ex- clusive devotion to the home makes one weak; to business, sel- fish. A hearty and practical interest in the State alone can make one strong and large." Eor thirty-five years he was almost constantly employed in some department of public service. He was called by the people from one position to another, his influ- ence becoming constantly greater, his ability keeping step with his opportunity. His administration of the official positions to which he was chosen at his home was characterized by integrity, careful Address of Mr. Lawrence of Massachusetts. 13 attention to detail, thoroughness, sound judgment, and com- mon sense. He was always a wise and conservative leader and a safe counselor. In 1884 he was elected county commissioner, in which position he served for three years. In 1888 he became a member of the executive council of Massachusetts, and was reelected to that position in 1889. In 1892 he was elected from the First Massachusetts district a member of the Fifty-third Congress, and was reelected to the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses. He was serving his third term in this body at the time of his death. I do not propose to speak of his services as a member of this House; that I shall leave to those who are to follow me. He was not a debater" or a parliamentarian, but I am sure that those who served with him here will bear witness to the fact that his ripened judgment and experience, his business capacity, and his sound common sense were of material assistance in carrying on the work of this House that his influence was on the right side. That he had a place in the hearts of his associates here, I have reason to know. Many members have spoken to me of him not alone with hearty praise for his public work, but with affectionate expression of their own sense of personal loss. Especially touching have been the words of quick and tender sympathy for the sorrowing wife. May God comfort her in this great bereavement. Mr. WRIGHT was a Republican by inheritance and convic- tion; he never faltered in the faith, but he was not a bitter partisan. He had the judicial temperament in a high degree and always treated respectfully the views of those from whom he differed. His political successes were not always easy ones. Some of his battles were unusually close and earnestly contested, but he was always cool and kept his head. He kept personali- ties out of his campaigns, and never sought to advance his own 14 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. cause b} T heaping abuse upon an opponent. It was my fortune to be in close touch with him in some of his campaigns, and it is gratifying to be able to say that I never heard him, even in private conversation, speak ill of a political opponent. I was with him on Thursday before he died. We drove to Bennington, Vt. , with a party of gentlemen with whom we had been associated in public work. Never had I seen Mr. WRIGHT in better spirits or apparently in better health. He was bright, companionable, full of courage and hope. It was a happy day one long to be remembered. Little did I think as I said good- bye to him that evening that it was a last good-by. It was the last time I ever saw him. On Saturday he died, sincerely mourned by the people who had .so long known and honored him. The funeral services were simple, as he would have had them, and loving hands laid him to rest in the beautiful Berkshire land he loved so well. His work here is finished. The record is made. I have not spoken of him with fulsome eulogy. You who knew him know that he was the last one who would have wished that. I have tried to pay a just tribute to worth and fidelity. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT will not be forgotten. In the years that are to come his memory will be sacredly cherished. Address of Mr. Walker of Massachusetts. 15 ADDRESS OF MR. WALKER OF MASSACHUSETTS. Mr. WALKER of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I shall add but a single word to the very just, to the very able and eloquent speech of the honorable gentleman who has just taken his seat, as a tribute to the memory of our late colleague, whose eulogies we pronounce to-day. Mr. WRIGHT was a typical Massachusetts business man, a class of men exceedingly valuable in the halls of legislation, thoroughly appreciative of the relation of facts to each other, a man who could be relied upon to come to a sound conclusion on all questions that came up in the House. He was always present at the meetings of his committee, where his services were exceptionally valuable. While his voice was seldom heard in debate, his influence for good was far greater than that of many exceptionally able speakers. His service in this House was creditable to himself and to Massachusetts, and his death is felt as a personal bereavement by each member of the delegation. 1 6 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. POWERS. Mr. POWERS. Mr. Speaker, ASHLEY B. WRIGHT first came here, as the Representative of the First Massachusetts district, at the extra session in August, 1893. From that time till the close of the session last July I lived at the same hotel and sat, most of the time, at the same table with him. With such opportunities to know him, it is not surprising that our companionship ripened into a close, mutual friendship, for he was a man whom to know was to love. His public career in Congress was marked by the faithful and diligent work he did for his constituents. No call was too insignificant to receive his watchful attention. Indeed, I doubt if there be another member on this floor who gave more hours to the special work of his constituents than he did. He did not take an active part in public debate, though on occasions he could express his views publicly in a clear and for- cible way. His natural modesty and retiring disposition led him rather to the field of meditation than to the forum of discussion. He was an excellent listener, and was seldom out of his seat when questions of public concern were under consideration. In the committee room he was a close student of questions presented, and brought to their solution a fair and judicial con- sideration. Educated largely as a business man, he examined these questions with a business eye. Good, sound judgment was the notable characteristic of his mind. As L,amartine said of Mirabeau, "His genius was the infallibility of good sense." In his relations here with his fellow-members he was a genial, jovial, and welcome associate, respected by all and envied by none. Address of Mr, Powers of Vermont. 17 But the man was best seen and most admired in the closer relations of the social circle in the after-dinner chats and in the unrestrained freedom of his room, where no arbitrary rules of procedure nor conventional restraints barred approach to that flow of exuberant spirits and that fund of rich anecdote for which .he was specially noted among his friends. He had a keen wit and displayed an inexhaustible fund of humor, and every hour spent with him in these informal gatherings was a benediction. He was absolutely unselfish. He was always thoughtful of others and ever doing something to promote their happiness. . His characteristics were what Wordsworth calls: That best portion of a good man's life His little, nameless, unremembered acts Of kindness and of love. But better than all was Mr. WRIGHT'S home life, where he was not merely the head, but, in an especial sense, the idol of his household. Happily married, his home was the abiding place of mutual trust and confidence and the scene of unre- strained joy. Buckle tells us that the characteristics of men are fashioned and shaped largely by the aspects of nature which environ them. If this be true, who will deny that the grandeur and beauty of those far-famed Berkshire Hills, celebrated in song and story, upon which his eye feasted nearly all his life, contributed to that love of nature, that equable temper of mind, that profound spirit of veneration, and that love of the beautiful in nature and in art for which he was noted. He looked through nature up to nature's God, and became a sincere and devoted Christian in a broad and catholic sense. Identified with a church in his home city, he was never a sec- tarian. He looked out from the narrow vision of sect upon the wide sea of humanity and saw in every man a brother, whose H. Doc. 464 2 1 8 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. foibles or failings he might dislike and attempt to correct, but he never assumed to sit in judgment and denounce penalties upon his fellows who differed with him in opinion or stubbornly adhered to the dogmas of an erroneous creed. Because of the broad charity of his heart he could say with Miller: In men, whom men condemn as ill, I find so much of goodness still ; In men, whom men pronounce divine. I find so much of sin and blot, I hesitate to draw the line Between the two, when God has not. In his home city he was the friend of that most numerous element of our population, the plain people; that element that President Lincoln always relied upon in his official life; that element that directs, if it does not originate, public opinion and ultimately determines the public policy of our Government. Being their friend and holding their confidence, it is not sur- prising that he was selected as the only available man of his party to wrest his district from the control of his political oppo- nents, as he successfully did at his first election to Congress; and being their friend and holding their confidence, it did not surprise me at his funeral to witness an unusual exhibition of grief as these people gazed for the last time upon that face that had so often beamed with delight whenever he could do them some kind deed or give them some wise counsel. But their friend and my friend has gone. On the i4th of August last, just as the curtains of evening were drawn over those moun- tains he loved so well and which so aptly typified the loft} 7 grandeur of his manhood and the immovable solidity of his character, with no note of warning in the twinkling of an eye the grim monster stealthily entered his happy home, and snatching his spirit bore it away to the God he worshiped and adored. We can not fathom the purposes of the Almighty, Address of Mr. Powers of Vermont. 19 and it is well that it is so. But in that sublime Christian faith which our friend possessed we can divine some great good to him that he was called to enjoy, and some great good to us who mourn his loss, that we will some time share. My humble tribute to his memory finds its source in a sad heart that is swollen with grief at his untimely demise. Others will speak of his virtues and his career from a less partial stand- point, but all who knew him honored and respected him. Honored citizen, faithful public servant, honest man, trusted friend, pass on. The gates of history are wide ajar to receive thee, and should some jealous sentinel on the outposts demand to know the excellencies of thy life or the graces of thy charac- ter, point him to us, who to-day will write them in letters of living light on the tablets of an unfading memory. 2O Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. .ADDRESS OF MR. SWANSON. Mr. SWANSON. Mr. Speaker, I come from a State whose peo- ple have their own distinctive traits, their own past traditions and history, their own ideals and aspirations. Though proud of our own history, though rejoicing in those qualities of mind and heart which climate and circumstances have developed in our people, yet we feel an equal delight in the glorious history of our common country and entertain a deep admiration for high qualities of character possessed by other sections. So Virginia rejoices in the proud history of Massachusetts and entertains a profound esteem for the resolute, sterling, per- severing, energetic traits of character possessed by the people of that noted Commonwealth. The wonderful achievements and fame of Massachusetts, and, I might say, of New England, are due not so much to a few illustrious names adorning the pages of her history, but rather to the high qualities of the great mass of her citizens. It was the typical New Englander's passion for liberty that made him resist the British stamp act and oppose British aggression. It was the stubborn courage of the typical New Englander that met British force and wrote in blood some of the brightest pages of American history. It tvas the unconquerable perseverance of the New Englander that transferred a bleak and dreary wilderness into great and magnificent Commonwealths. It was their thrift that has made this section one of the most prosperous and wealthy in the world. It was their love of adventure and of enterprise that induced them to seek, in the West and the Northwest, new abodes, to build their States destined soon to rival in power and greatness New England herself. To be a typical representative of citizens who have accom- Address of Mr. Swanson of Virginia. 21 plished so much where attainments are so high is indeed a proud honor and a high distinction. Our deceased colleague, Mr. WRIGHT, whose loss we this day mourn, was a genuine and true representative of this high order of New England citizenship. He possessed preeminently these distinctive qualities and virtues. I met him here in this Cham- ber first, and our acquaintance became more intimate, as we lived for quite awhile at the same hotel. My acquaintance with Mr. WRIGHT increased my admiration for those splendid elements that constitute New England citizenship. He pos- sessed a -mind strong, vigorous, and liberal. He had a judg- ment that was careful and sound. He was the very soul of honor and integrity. He had as kindly a heart as ever pulsated in man. He was entertaining, attractive, and made a fast, warm friend. He was a man that one was glad to know, that one could trust implicitly and must admire for his modest, frank, manly character. He was a most useful, efficient, and capable Representative. He had his convictions upon public questions, which he maintained without offense, yet with firmness. He was a strong Republican, but broad-minded, patriotic, and liberal, devoid of any petty, bitter partisanship. He num- bered among his best friends many on this side of the Chamber. His own people bestowed upon him many positions of honor and of trust. He so faithfully discharged every duty that each year witnessed the bestowal upon him of higher honors and responsibilities. His life was one of progression. Massa- chusetts loses, in Mr. WRIGHT, one of those ideal citizens whose patriotism and deeds have made illustrious that Commonwealth. Mr. Speaker, Humboldt has well said, "Earth holds up to her Maker no fruit like the finished man." Thus, in conclusion, I can truthfully say, in the pure, noble life of our deceased colleague the earth has presented her Maker with one of her best offerings. 22 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. NORTHWAY. Mr. NORTHWAY. Mr. Speaker, at attempt to express one's feelings on an occasion like this results in failure. If one performs a perfunctory duty his words are lifeless, and if he feels the keen pangs of regret at the death of the one eulogized then they fail to convey to the hearer or reader the inward emotions of the speaker. I perform no perfunctory duty here to-day, nor can I give adequate expression to those feel- ings which are struggling in vain for suitable words to convey them to my hearers. Sorrow and deep regret are among the bitter experiences of life, but they can not be portrayed by words, and it is probably well that it is so, as it is not best that we should bear each other's pain. In our associations with one another here in this body we rarely form those strong feelings of friendship which charac- terize home and neighborly associations. Ours is more of a business relation, and knowing as we do that our stay here is somewhat limited, and being slow in forming new relations with others, it almost necessarily follows that our eulogies are a good deal in the formal order and largely lacking in those expressions which arouse the emotional side of our natures. I would not have my words formal, and I may not make them expressive, but my failure to do so is not because I lack in those ties of warmest friendship which death can painfully sunder. I knew Mr. WRIGHT well, and my knowledge of him led to the forming of strong ties of friendship for him. My knowl- edge of him was more than the mere acquaintance formed among Address of Mr. Northway of Ohio. 23 members upon this floor. We became acquainted in the early days of the extra session of the Fifty-third Congress, and I trust it will not be thought to show a lack of intelligence on his part or of egotism on mine when I say that that acquaintance ripened into friendship, which continued until his death, and which I am vainly struggling to express here to-day. Mr. WRIGHT was not one of those who leave strong impres- sions at first acquaintance, for his retiring nature gave him the appearance of coldness; and yet it was simply the appearance, for a close acquaintance brought him out in his true light, that of a gentle and honorable man. He possessed wonderfully strong traits of character, but it took intimate association with him to learn how strong they were. His rugged manhood was so softened and subdued with the gentle qualities of his nature that at first knowledge of him he appeared negative and want- ing in ruggedness. But he was a man of deep convictions, and he possessed in a quiet way the power to impress others with those convictions. He was not a man of words or much speech, rarely, if ever, attempting to sway minds with lengthy talks or set speeches, and yet he possessed the power of presenting in conversation his ideas and convictions in such clear, consecutive, and logical manner as to show that his was a rare and very strong mind. He despised the demagogue and hated shams. He believed that political pledges should be redeemed, and that as a public servant he was acting not alone for his constituents but for his country also. He believed in parties and was a party man, and yet his intense loyalty to party never for one moment swayed him in his friendship for members of other parties; and so it came about that some of his stanchest supporters were members of other political parties. He was most sincerely devoted to his constituents, and by his constituents I mean all the people 24 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. of his district, for he did not divide them into classes in his estimate of his duty to them. He did not perform one kind of service for the rich and influential and another kind for the poor and humble, but all were alike the objects of his official care. He never practiced duplicity and he hated sycophancy. He did not regard his official preferment as elevating him above his neighbors and friends, but he looked upon it as a position which he could honor by being true to himself, his con- stituents, and his country. Hence duty was his guiding star, and honor in his estimation came alone through the performance of that duty. These qualities made him conspicuous among those whom he had known from childhood, made him loved and trusted by his neighbors. To these neighbors and friends his death came as a great calamity, bringing with it a sorrow as deep as the love they bore for the honored dead. The life of such a man is never lost. It is remembered and copied, not because of its brilliancy, but because of its goodness. Such a life needs no commemoration in brass or marble, for loving hearts will bear it on to everlasting remembrance. I learned to admire and love Mr. WRIGHT. A very close companionship for months enabled me to observe ' his sterling qualities, to learn of his noble manhood, his unyield- ing devotion to duty, his very marked tenderness as a husband, and his gentleness which made his presence so very dear. All these impressed me much, and now, when death has come, my sorrow is the deeper for having been impressed by them. We may not stop to moralize on the future of such a life, but there is something within us, after all, which suggests that such a good and gentle life enters into rest after death. Address of Mr. Northway of Ohio, 25 We can not help but be touched by the idea suggested in the lines upon the monument standing at the grave of John Howard Payne: Sure when thy gentle spirit fled To realms beyond the azure dome, With arms outstretched God's angels said, "Welcome to heaven's home, sweet home." 26 Life and Character of Ashley B, Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. MCCALL, Mr. McCALi,. Mr. Speaker, the eloquent words of eulogy which have beeu spoken here upon our dead friend by the repre- sentatives of both political parties and by his colleagues from Massachusetts and from distant States leave nothing to be added, and yet I can not forbear to utter one word expressive of the loss which his Commonwealth has suffered and of the deep sense of bereavement which must come to all who knew him. No constituency was represented in this body by a more con- scientious member than ASHLEY B. WRIGHT. He gave the most painstaking attention to every matter of public business with which he was intrusted. The work that he did was unos- tentatiously and yet effectively done. His qualities were not of a showy or superficial character. He took none of the time of the House in what is called debate, and what is sometimes unjustly dignified by that term. But he possessed a fine, solid judgment, which he was able to express to his friends with clearness and force. It was my for- tune, during the period of his service, to be for a time intimately associated with him, and I can say that every day of that asso- ciation added to the esteem and affection with which I came to regard him. I came to see that the people of the Berkshire district had shown great sense and discernment in selecting their Repre- sentative. But the end came suddenly and without warning, at least to us. I have no doubt that a well-spent and blameless life prepared him to receive the summons without fear. He has Address of Mr. Me Call of Massachusetts. 27 been snatched from our midst, and while we are deeply touched at the public and our own personal loss, we shall warmly cherish the memory of his high but modest merit, his genial and kindly presence, and of as tender, brave, and generous a heart as ever beat in human breast. 28 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. GILLETT OF MASSACHUSETTS, Mr. GILLETT of Massachusetts. Mr. WRIGHT'S characteris- tics have been so fully described and his qualities so accurately analyzed by my predecessors that for me to enter the usual field of eulogy would be but repetition. He was a man of such mod- est habits, such even temperament, such self-contained moderate nature that he did not challenge observation or description. Although my city was formerly a part of his Congressional district and we were always neighbors, I had never met him until we were both candidates for Congress in 1892 in adjoining districts. I well remember "how he then impressed me by the quiet, imperturbable, businesslike way in which he was attend- ing to his campaign. His district was very close and doubtful, he had not been prominent politically, he was not a public speaker, he had no very shining qualities to draw votes and yet he was selected, I might almost say drafted by his party, to be their candidate when they were in earnest search of their most popular man. His nomination came as the result of no effort on his part ; he was no self-seeker; it was fairly thrust upon him, and he accepted the unsought responsibility unflinchingly and success- fully, and proved to have that quality so valuable and yet often so difficult to analyze, of being a vote getter. He had not served the apprenticeship in the legislature which is usually demanded of Massachusetts Congressmen, and which certainly is a most useful schooling, for I doubt if there is a better forum of debate now existing than our State house, where questions are discussed on their merits without party strife or party feeling or party division, where arguments are made t:> Address of Mr. Gillett of Massachusetts. 29 influence votes and votes are gained by argument, and where men speak for immediate effect and not for advertisement or home con- sumption. Coming here without such legislative training, Mr. WRIGHT was at first most unobtrusive, quietly feeling his way into his new duties. Except with close friends, he was always rather grave and taciturn and reserved, and gave to strangers the impression of a serious, reflective man, not given to frivolous thoughts. He reminded me somewhat of Sydney Smith's remark to his brother: You and I have reversed the order of nature; you have risen by your gravity and I have sunk by my levity. I think constituents prefer that their Representatives should err on the side of dignity and seriousness, and that Mr. WRIGHT'S habitual public demeanor gave him strength and popularity. As he grew more familiar with his Congressional duties, made the acquaintance of his colleagues, and doubtless found in the friction of committee work and discussion that his modesty had underestimated himself and overestimated his asso- ciates, he became notably freer and more assertive; and men found that the quiet man whom they had perhaps overlooked had an intelligence and industry and sagacity which won him first attention, then respect, and finally confidence. And with each year of his Congressional life his influence widened, and a well-merited self-confidence developed, which increased his usefulness and popularity. No man can obtain a very conspicuous position in this House who is not a facile speaker; but there is many a member who never opens his lips except for a necessary motion, who, by dint of long experience and acquaintance, wins a reputation for solid judgment and safe leadership more helpful than the most brilliant oratory; and Mr. WRIGHT'S third term of service, so sadly interrupted, was winning for him this distinction. 30 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. I should leave a false impression if I did not suggest that the gravity which marked his public career was thrown aside in social life, where his amiable, genial nature attracted and delighted a large circle of warm friends who mourn with us his untimely loss. The SPEAKER. As a further mark of respect, and in accord- ance with the directions of the House, I declare the House to be adjourned until Monday at 12 oclock noon. And accordingly (at 3 o'clock and 5 minutes p. m. ) the House adjourned. PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. DECEMBER 6, 1897. Mr. HOAR. I ask the Chair to lay before the Senate the reso- lutions just received from the House of Representatives. The VICE-PRESIDENT. The Chair lays before the Senate reso- lutions from the House of Representatives, which will be read. The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: Resolved, That the House has learned with profound sorrow of the death of the Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, a member of this House from the State of Massachusetts, and of the death of the Hon. JAMES Z. GEORGE, a Senator of the United States from the State of Mississippi. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the late Representative WRIGHT and the late Senator GEORGE the House do now adjourn. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate the resolutions to the Senate. Mr. HOAR. I present the resolutions which I send to the desk, for which I ask immediate consideration. The VICE-PRESIDENT. The resolutions submitted by the Sen- ator from Massachusetts will be read. The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow of the death of the Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Massachusetts. Resolved, That as a further mark of respect to the memory of the deceased the Senate do now adjourn. The resolutions were considered by unanimous consent, and unanimously agreed to; and (at 12 o'clock and 50 minutes p. m.) the Senate adjourned until to-morrow, Thursday, December 9, 1897, at 12 o'clock meridian. 32 Life and Character of Ashley B, Wright. FEBRUARY 18, 1898. The VICE-PRESIDENT. The Chair lays before the Senate reso- lutions of the House of Representatives, which will be read. The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 8 , 1898 . Resolved, That the House has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, late a member of the House of Representatives from the State of Mas- sachusetts. Resolved, That the business of the House be now suspended that opportunity may be given for fitting tributes to his memory. Resolved, That as an additional mark of respect the House, at the conclusion of these memorial proceedings, do adjourn. Resolved, That the Clerk communicate these resolutions to the Senate and transmit a copy of the same to the family of the deceased. Mr. HOAR. Mr. President, I ask for the present consideration of the resolutions I send to the desk. The Secretary read the resolutions, as follows: Resolved, That the Senate has heard with profound sorrow the announcement of the death of Hon. ASHLEY B. WRIGHT, late a Representative fron the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Resolved, That the business of the Senate be now suspended in order that fitting tribute may be paid to his memory. Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the family of the deceased, and that as a further mark of respect the Senate will, at the conclu- sion of these ceremonies, stand adjourned. The VICE-PRESIDENT. The question is on agreeing to the resolutions submitted by the Senator from Massachusetts. Address of Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts. 33 ADDRESS OF MR. HOAR. Mr. HOAR. Mr. President, Berkshire County, Mass., with the regions lying eastward toward the Connecticut River, and north- ward and southward in southern Vermont and northern Con- necticut, seems to the people who dwell in it the most beautiful spot on earth. Certainly to Massachusetts 's eyes no Arcadian landscape, no Italian skies, present so fair a vision. The verses in which Virgil described his beloved Italy, as rendered in exquisite English verse by a genius akin to his own, are appli- cable here without exaggeration: On many a hill the happy homestead stands; The living lakes through many a vale expands; Cool glens are there, and shadowy caves divine, Deep sleep, and far-off voices of the kine. One reverence still the untainted race inspires; Their country first, and after her their sires. This region owes much to nature. It owes much also to his- toric association and the hand of man. There can be no scenery perfectly beautiful without historic association, and without the charm which comes from the habitations of men. That com- munity is specially fortunate which can look upon beautiful and noble scenery whose features it can take into its own nature, and to whose features its own nature has contributed. The landscape of Berkshire County is almost as much the product of the genius of her people as her towns and cities themselves. We do not often reflect how large a part of the effect of any landscape comes from what is put into it by the hand of civil- ized man. .Think of Berkshire County as it came, beautiful but still a desert, from the hand of the Creator, even with its ' .-CIB June glory on, or adorned with the richest tints of autumn; and H. Doc. 464 3 34 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. then think of the same scene, its valleys and hillsides covered with tilled fields and waving corn and herds of beautifnl cattle and the spires of churches and the smoke from human dwellings rising to the sky; the lowing of kine and the sound of church bells, as George Herbert says Heard beyond the stars and the hum of factories and the music of children's voices. In this community there can be found no native born who can not read and write. Here the poorest man lives in comfort, and the wealthiest feels a kindly concern for his humblest neighbor. The valleys are fertile and luxurious and adorned by countless sparkling brooks and by the beautiful streams of the Hoosac and Housatonic. The plains and the sloping hillsides are adorned with farmhouses and herds of beautiful cattle. On the north and south Grey lock and Taconic stand sentinels, as they have stood from the beginning of time, and shall stand till time shall be no more. The traditions of the early settlements, of Indian wars, of contests with wild beast and savage, and the history of later days give to each town and village its own historic and poetic associations. From these valleys and mountain sides in the days of the Revolution the farmers hastened to join Washing- ton at Cambridge and Stark at Bennington; and again their children from the same farmhouses hastened to give their lives for their country in the war for the Union. Here, in the early times, dwelt Jonathan Edwards, foremost metaphysician of America, among his Indian congregation. Here dwelt Sedg- wick, friend and counselor of Washington, the second Speaker of the National House of Representatives. Here, in later days, Mark Hopkins, most famous of American teachers, gathered about him the pupils whom he was to send out to carry the Address of Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts. 35 torch of good learning and of pure patriotism throughout the whole country. The dwellers in Berkshire Count} 7 have from the beginning been worthy of this goodly heritage. Their mountains become them, and they become their mountains. They have ever been a patriotic, religious people, lovers of country, lovers of home, of simple manners, of strong sense, open hearted, generous, hos- pitable, brave. Among this people Mr. WRIGHT was born; among them he spent his life. It would be hard to find another man whom they knew more thoroughly as it would be hard to find another more perfect example of their best qualities. His education was in the country schoolhouse. His father was an old anti- slavery man, one of the founders of the Free Soil party. He had drawn in the love of liberty and of justice with his mother's milk. His life from his youth up was crowded with important public service which tested his intellectual and moral quality. When he was 21 years old he was made deputy collector of internal revenue. He held that office from 1861 to 1865, when the collections were very large and brought the officer into inti- mate relations with the business men of the district. He was also soon summoned by his fellow-citizens to their service in the various offices of the wealthy and rapidly growing town, now the city, of North Adams. In 1884 he was chosen county commissioner, a station of great dignity and responsibility, demanding integrity and business capacity of a high order. This board has control of county expenditure and administra- tion, besides a very extensive miscellaneous jurisdiction. Chief Justice Shaw used to say that under the Constitution all powers not bestowed*on the General Government were reserved to the county commissioners. Soon after his term of three years' 36 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. service ended, he was chosen, in 1890, member of the executive council of the Commonwealth, and reelected in 1891. In 1892 he was chosen Representative in Congress and reelected in 1894 an d 1896. Few members of that great assembly have ever gained a stronger hold on the affection and the esteem of their associates. He seldom spoke in the debates. But he was constant and industrious in committee service, where, more and more, as the vast concerns of the Republic grow in magnitude and variety, the powers of legislation are wielded. He was universally esteemed as a man of sound judgment, absolute integrity, and unfailing courtesy. He was a just man. He was a faithful man. His word was as steadfast as Greylock on its base. He was a modest man. His life was simple and frugal. He was content with an honorable poverty. He was an independent man. He never flinched from disagreeable duties. He per- formed scrupulously the duties which were most obscure. He had a sweet and kindly nature. He was growing constantly in the esteem of the House and of his constituents. The people of Massachusetts were looking forward for him to a long career of honor and usefulness. On Saturday, August 14, 1897, m the dusk of the early even- ing, the beautiful city \vas startled by the news that Mr. WRIGHT had fallen just as he entered his house and died instantly, with- out a shock and without pain. Surely for him there could have been no happier parting. The prayer of the liturgy to be deliv- ered from sudden death is a prayer for the survivors rather than for the man who dies. To the friends to whom his presence was a benediction, to the neighbors to whom the hospitality of that simple dwelling was a perpetual pleasure, to the constituency who so delighted to honor him, to the city in which he was a pillar and staff and Address of Mr. Hoar of Massachusetts. 37 stay, to her of whose heart he was the larger part, the stroke seems as cruel as it was sudden. But to him there is nothing to be deplored. He died by his own fireside. ' ' I shall die in my nest," saith the wise man. His life ended in the prime and vigor of perfect manhood. He was spared old age. The joy of youth had crowned him. He drank of the cup of the water of life while it was sweet and clear, and was not left to drink it to the dregs. For him was the promise ' ' the pure in heart shall see God." Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wail Or knock the breast, no weakness, no contempt, Dispraise, or blame nothing but well and fair, And what may quiet us in a death so noble. He was fortunate in life. He was fortunate also in death. He leaves to his city, to his constituency, to the great assembly of which he was a member, a fragrant and precious memory. 38 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. ADDRESS OF MR. MORGAN. Mr. MORGAN. Mr. President, I had no personal acquaintance with Mr. WRIGHT; yet I know him in the light of his reputa- tion. This test of character is rarely at fault as to an}- man, because it is a comparative declaration from the whole tenor of a human life rather than an inference drawn from some con- spicuous act in the course of his career. As a high character for integrity is the best possession that can be enjoyed in life, so it is the best legacy a man can bequeath to his family, his friends, and his country. I will speak of the value of this legacy left to this country rather than of the winning personality of Mr. WRIGHT. A stranger who is called to give expression to his views of the character of one who has passed through this life and is now in the inheritance of a life that will never end has a duty to perform in which he can have no other guide than the estimate that is placed upon the work of his life by those \vho were his associ- ates and colaborers. Yet I find this a pleasing duty, because I am to speak of a life well spent in the honorable labors, of a life that was devoted to the benefit of his fellow-men in all the public and private demands of duty. I form my opinions of Mr. WRIGHT upon the facts contained in the record of his life, as to which all his acquaintances agree; and I am glad to say that they justify that highest eulogium that any man can deserve: That he was an honest, God-fearing, and God-loving man. It would be at least a pardonable trangression, if the personal affections that incline us to a charitable view of the lives of Address of Mr. Morgan oj Alabama. 39 those who are our friends should lead us into expressions as to their virtues that are too brightly colored; and it would be painful, perhaps, to meet a man in the great beyond who could say to us, ' ' You overstated my virtues and forgot to mention my failings when you stood in the Senate and eulogized my life." That will never occur, if the eulogy is sincere, whether or not it is fully deserved. There is a loveliness in the tribute of praise for the dead tffat is holy and inspiring, because it is the truest expression of affection to love and honor the dead and to follow them in our thoughts to the unknown world, where they reside, with tear- ful remembrance of our bereavement at their loss to us, and with wishes and prayers for their happiness. We are seldom so deeply concerned for them when they are living. In the purest affection for the living there are still some jealousies that mar the most devout love. A stranger to Mr. WRIGHT, who never shared in the bene- fits or pleasures of his personal friendship, and is yet earnestly moved by his convictions to speak strongly in his praise, can safely rely upon the fact that he was an honest man to justify the strongest expression of his admiration. Not that honesty of mind, heart, and purpose is a rare vir- tue, to be admired for its scarcity. It is found in millions of bosoms, and, like corn and wine and gold and silver, it is loved for its abundance and its purity. Whatever life has, at its close, left a record of high moral integrity is grounded in the Christian creed, a life that meets the requirements of the Divine Creator, whatever may have been its obscurity. The height and depth and breadth or the beauty and value of such a life can not be exaggerated by praise, because it is the full measure of the purpose of God in the creation of the soul 4O Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. and body of man. A world filled with men who are simply and truly honest would not have needed redemption, if that sublime condition could be otherwise accomplished. But, alas, that could not be! We are informed that Mr. WRIGHT was one of the vast num- ber who realized that an honest man, in the sight of God, is not a mere moral structure built up by human care, but that he is all that such care can create, and yet is still imperfect until he has been touched with the fire of divine inspiration and has been crowned by his Creator for a perfect and eternal life. Now, what tongue or pen can bestow honors that are too great upon such a man, whose life and its labors have made him worthy to resume the pure image of God in which he was created ? His work in Congress, it is said by those who were best acquainted with Mr. WRIGHT, was in keeping with this high character, and a profound sense of duty was the guide and motive of all his public conduct. He had a field of usefulness that was assigned to him by an excellent constituency because of his fidelity in smaller matters, and he worked diligently in the great forum of the House of Representatives for nearly six years. He used all his powers in that service with faithful, earnest zeal, not listening to catch the applause of a nation, and not alarmed if he was antagonized even with the harsh criticisms of those with whom he disagreed. He had the courage of integrity, which is, after all, the highest trait of a true manhood. He was a representative man in a government that is in- tended to represent the will of the people in its laws and poli- cies. He did not attempt to set himself above his people in autocratic control of their affairs; nor did he humiliate them and himself by resorting to the low arts of the demagogue in order that he might deceive them into becoming his personal followers. He was fortunate in his constituency, and could Address of Mr. Morgan of Alabama. 41 well have gratified his greatest pride or ambition in being, what he was, their true representative. In the Houses of Congress there is a great variety of repre- sentatives, corresponding in a marked degree with the differ- ences that exist among the people in the States and districts in their social, political, and industrial matters. In the aggre- gate, they voice the sentiments of 75,000,000 of free people, and their voice is like the voice of the multitudinous seas, the grand harmony of which is eloquent of an infinitude of power, when it is united in a common expression of the will of the people. In a free government the truest representative of the will of the people is the best public servant. He is sheltered against the violent excesses of popular passion by the limitations of the organic law; but within those limits his duty is to obey the will of the people he represents, otherwise his constituents become his servants. In these controversies the struggles are often very severe. Mr. WRIGHT had little of this sort of embarrassment in his political career. He represented a settled community who are largely homogeneous. An enlightened political constituency, not radically opposed to their antagonists on some of the great party issues, invited him to become their Representative in Con- gress, and he consented to devote himself to their service. -That community, like this Senate, was divided into political party organizations upon great leading measures of public policy and the principles of government; yet, in the main and amongst the honest men, they were all endeavoring, as we are, to promote the welfare of a common country. I was antagonized to Mr. WRIGHT on almost all of these political issues. Yet, recognizing the fact that he represented his constituency, as I feel that I represent mine, I honor him in his 42 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. grave for his fidelity to his people. After all, in every patriotic sense, we are one people. The sun that glorifies the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts shines with no less splendor on the Appalachian range in Alabama, and the breezes from the Atlantic have played together on the same seas before they toyed with the plumes of the Alabama pines and tossed the tops of the great elms in Berkshire. These are nature's blessings on a common people. The polit- ical blessing of a starry banner to wave in harmony above a nation of true Americans still more than nature's ties is a bond that is ordained, in the providence of God, to unite our strength for the good of mankind. Mr. WRIGHT has faithfully served his day and generation as an honest American in this great work, and has left us an example that is worthy of our emulation. Let us follow it. Address of Mr, Hawley of Connecticut. 43 ADDRESS OF- MR. HAWLEY. Mr. HAWLEY. Mr. President, I knew very little indeed about Mr. WRIGHT until I began to read the generous notices of him in another place. I feel as if I knew him now. It is because, perhaps, I know many men of the same general character. With no special distinguishing qualities to mark him a great man, he had apparently a most perfect combination of all excel- lent elements. Mr. WRIGHT began when he was 22 or 23 years of age to receive evidence of the trust and respect of his fellow-citizens. For thirty-five years he continued with scarcely a break in public service of some description or other. He was a collector of internal revenue; he was county commissioner; he was man- ager of a national bank and director of a savings bank. He was sent to the great council of Massachusetts, which is the adviser of the governor. He was sent to Congress, and he was in his seventh year here when he was suddenly taken away. In his family life they tell us he was the very idol of his household. As a friend and neighbor, he was cheerful and happy, generous and just. His judgment was sound, his integrity unquestioned, sturdy as an oak. He was indeed an unusual man. I am reminded of what the great poet Tennyson says in speaking of Wellington. He was Rich in saving common sense. And again, as Tennyson said, he Stood four-square to all the winds that blew. Faithful, true, just, honest, patriotic, finely balanced. As another poet said: Since he had The genius to be loved, why, let him have The justice to be honored in his grave. 44 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright, ADDRESS OF MR. LODGE. Mr. LODGE. We are not called upon to-day, Mr. President, to commemorate the memory of a man whose days were filled with notoriety, or of one who, through brilliant oratory or aggressive success, held a large place in the public view. ASH- LEY BASCOM WRIGHT was a plain man and a silent man, of that type of silent man which has been so much eulogized by Thomas Carlyle. He was rich in what are called, or miscalled, the ordinary virtues, for he had that unswerving honest} 7 in purpose and action, that judicial clear-sightedness in dealing w r ith all questions, that gentleness of heart, and that human kindness which mankind in a fine and fragile optimism have agreed to designate as the common virtues of humanity. Mr. WRIGHT was a man of the people, and of the best peo- ple of Massachusetts, for he came of a stock long rooted in the soil, and his ancestors, notably his father, had been well known for elevated citizenship, efficacy in public and private affairs, and unswerving patriotism. His father, who had been an early Free-Soiler and was among the very first Republicans in Massa- chusetts, was a man who, through all his life, commanded the respect of the entire community in which he lived, and his mother, sprung from the same New England stock, was an admirable woman in every way. Mr. WRIGHT was born in Hinsdale, Mass., in the country of the Berkshire Hills, on May 25, 1841. There, amid the nat- ural beauty of that part of Massachusetts, he was brought up. He received his education in the public schools of his native town and at Lincoln Academy. At the expiration of his course Address of Mr. Lodge of Massachusetts. 45 in this latter institution he entered a mercantile house in Hins- dale, and there he grew into a practical man of business and developed that sanity and clearness of judgment and that exec- utive capacity in affairs which were of so much service to him in later life. His entire business career was one of honesty, intelligence, and thoroughness, and the same might truly be said of his public service as well. At the time of his death, although actively engaged in his work as a member of Congress, he remained a director of the Adams National Bank of North Adams and a member of the board of investment of the North Adams Savings Bank, and to these institutions his services were always conscientious and valuable. In the year 1862 Mr. WRIGHT was called to North Adams, Mass. , to accept a position as chief deputy in the internal-reve- nue office, and from that time forward that active and growing city was the place with which he was most thoroughly identified. Although unflagging and admirable in the various business enterprises with which he was allied for Mr. WRIGHT was essentially a trained, practical, and successful business man he nevertheless fully realized and adequately fulfilled the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, and was for thirty-five years almost constantly serving the State in some branch of the public service. The same qualities which had enabled him to proceed in busi- ness with so much judgment and success, when brought to bear upon the duties of public office, rendered the discharge of his functions so able and intelligent that he was constantly called by his fellow-citizens from one position to another. I have said that Mr. WRIGHT was of New England stock. New Eng- land people are essentially a sensible and honest race, and Mr. WRIGHT possessed those qualities which by association and 46 Life and Character of Ashley B. Wright. inheritance lie had every right to. Careful attention to detail, absolute honesty, sound and decisive judgment, and especially common sense were among his best attributes, and the various offices he rilled with so much credit were benefited by his presence. In 1884 he was elected county commissioner, and for three years he discharged the duties of this post. In 1888 he became a member of the executive council of his native State, and in 1889 he was reelected to that position. In 1892 he was elected from the First Massachusetts district a member of the House of Representatives of the Fifty-third Congress, and was reelected to the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Congresses. It was before the expiration of his third term that he died of an apoplectic shock on August 14, 1897. The eloquent testimony of those gentlemen who recently spoke of him in the House of Representatives shows how valuable a member of that bod}- Mr. WRIGHT was. He was not a debater, nor did he seek distinction in the more brilliant ways of political life, but his participation in the affairs of the House was active, intelligent, and effective, and the many r,trong qualities which he possessed made him an extremely useful member. How thoroughly his value was appreciated by his constituents, how deeply his untiring kindness to all men, and his unceasing inter- est in the needs and wants of his district were felt by the people he represented requires no other testimony than his reelection twice to Congress. Mr. WRIGHT was a stanch Republican, both by personal con- victions and by inheritance; but his mature judgment was never warped by party hatred, and his cool-headedness was never dis- turbed by the strife of faction. As a practical politician he was able and energetic, for his successes were by no means always easy, and under a gentle though taciturn manner he concealed a Address of Mr, Lodge of Massachusetts. 47 calm courage and an untiring energy. His politics were of the best kind, for they were always clean, manly, and right-minded, and he never sought to succeed by personal abuse of his oppo- nent or by underhand methods. In the consideration of national affairs he was sound and fair. It is owing to such men as ASHLEY B. WRIGHT able, intel- ligent, honest, energetic, and successful in private affairs as well as in public office, loved and respected both privately and pub- licly that this country has developed from the small beginnings of Plymouth and Jamestown into a vast, opulent, and power- ful nation, whose territory extends to-day, populous and thriv- ing, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In such a life of unostentatious usefulness, in which public spirit was never lost in the engrossing cares of private gain and personal advance- ment, there is a real and valuable lesson. We may learn from it the dut} r which American citizenship imposes and see the rewards which the quiet performance of that duty is sure to bring. To those nearest to him, to whom his sudden death in the prime of life and in the fullness of activity came the heavy stroke of personal sorrow, it is not possible to offer consolation here, but in the passage of time they too may feel that in the words of praise spoken by those w r ho knew him in the discharge of his public duties there is proof that he was rightly valued and appreciated, and that his useful and honorable life was not lived in vain. The VICE-PRESIDENT. The question is on the adoption of the resolutions offered by the Senator from Massachusetts [Mr. Hoar] . The resolutions were unanimously agreed to; and (at 3 o'clock and 42 minutes p. m. ) the Senate adjourned until Monday, Feb- ruary 21, 1898, at 12 o'clock meridian. LIBRARY USE RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED LOAN DEPT. THIS BOOK IS DUE BEFORE CLOSING TIME ON LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW LD 62A-50m-2,'64 (E3494slO)9412A General Library University of California Berkeley