Page 311 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. 307
In personal demeanor, he was kind to all, but particularly to
his friends, winning their constant attachment, and inspiring
respect even from his enemies. He had enemies. Elome of
them were bitter enemies; but he also had many, many friends.
In general intercourse, he was affable in his manners, courte-
ous in debate, dignified in address, and civil to his opponents,
eliciting similar treatment from the most rancorous, except such
a8 could not 66 reasoned with.
The most prominent trait of Mr. QUINNEY'S character, was
perseverance. The continued obstructions by which he was
beset, was enough to discourage the career of the most noted
fabled heroes of the ancients; and the smiling manner in which
he repeated his efforts, until triumphantly successful, deserves
to be celebrated in song!
JOHN W. QUINNEY was certainly an illustrious character.
Had he lived in the days of the ancients, his name would have
in
been registered with HERCULES the Temple of Fame. Eng-
land has had her ALFREDS and CROMWELLS ; France her NAPO-
LEONS; Rome her CZSARS and SCIPIOS; Carthage her HAN-
NIBAL; Sweden her CIIARLES THE TWELFTII; Prussia her
FREDERICPS; Russia her PETERS and NICHOLASES; and
America her JEFFERSONS ADAMSES. Had his destiny
and
been to dwell among more civilized nations, and to move in a
higher or different sphere of action, his career would have been
none the less distinguished than were those of the aforenamed
heroes and statesmen.
In later times, the Cherokee Nation has her Ross~s and
RIDGES! And now during the faint and glimmering light yet
remaining of a "decaying and decayed people," caused, among
other things, by their internal dissensions; during their last
and expiring existence, the ill-fated Mohicans can also, once
more, perhaps for the last time, chronicle on the records of
Fame among the illustrious dead and living-their JonN W.
QUINNEY.
LEV1 KONKAPOT, Jr.