Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/314

 284 THE GRANITE MONTHLY.

form of religion that secures these three conditions: viz.. a virtuous people, reasonable laws, and just rulers, — answers the end for which government is designed. Any form of religion that restrains the masses of men from vice answers the end of religion, so far as the body politic and the temporal well- being of a people are concerned," and asserting in the same connection that "True piety, genuine reverence for the Deity, devoted patriotism, make a good ^citizen in any age, or in any country, no matter what the form of govern- ment or religion may be."

Probably no more accurate estimate of Mr. Bingham as a lawyer — and it is as a great and successful lawyer that he will be remembered in the years to come — can be framed in words, than his own estimate of Judge Woods, of whom he says:

'• As a lawyer his cases were always well prepared. The law was carefully looked up and well considered. The evidenee was sifted, and all impertinent and iuiinateriai matter rejected. Only what would tell on the matters in issue was put befoi-e the court anil jury. He never sought to dazzle the court by large displays of legal learning; but he ahvnys knew all the law needed for the c:ise in hand, and he had a very terse and vii;- >rous waj' of expressing to the court his views of the law. Nobody evei- cLiimed iliat he was a brilliant advocate. In fact he (h)es not seem ever to have studied wiiat are undtM'stood to be tin^ peculiar graces of oratory, or to have cared about them; h\it lie had a very clear-cut way of stating the issues in the cause on trial, and of narrating the evideace bearing on those issues, so that nobody could help understanding. He was a sui^cessful lawyer, and he won his success in the legitimate way — -by hard knocks and honest labor, directed by keen discrimination and sound judgment."

Mr. Bingham is now sixty-one years of age. Unflagging devotion to the arduous labors of his profession, su])plemented by the demands of public and political life, have in some degree impaired his physical health. A year ago last winter and spring he spent some time in Florida, deriving considerable benefit from mental relaxation and the change of scene and climate. Again the past spring he made a brief sojourn in the same locality with like result. That he may yet continue many years in the pursuit of his professional calhng, or, better still, be called to the service of his State and country in high public station, where his ripe experience and matura yet vigorous intellect would be of greatest benefit to mankind, is the hope of thousands of his fellow-citizens throughout the State. But whatever the future may have in store in that regard, his life and example will not fail to be to them, in the years to come, an admonition, or rather an inspiration, to the same effect as his spoken words, when, in closing his Memorial Day address to the members of Marshall Sanders Post, he said: " Weary not in well doing, and give your voice and your influence always for your country, so that, when the end shall come, with the consciousness that you have fought the good fight and kept the faith, victo- rious over the grave, and, with death disarmed of its sting, you

' Without a sigh, A change of feature, or a shaded smile. Can give your hands to the stern messenger, And, as a glad child seeks his father's arras, Go home.' "

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