History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 27
cal honors were seldom thrust upon hini but were nearly always
the result of victorious contests. The last contest against him for
his seat in the state senate did not even reach the floor of the convention
hall where the republican candidates were nominated.
This was not because the opposition to him was not determined
in certain quarters but simply because those who opposed him
grew fearful of defeat and abandoned the fight rather than suffer
the consequences.
"In properly studying the life work of any man the conditions
of the time which form the background for the picture must
also be considered. The political life of Charles H. Hughes ran
thiough a time of the ugly wounds of the Civil war and into a
time of wondrous iDrosjierity in his own country. Commercialism
was all pervasive. It permeated all the varying lines of man's
activity. The politicians of all parties were enamored of expedi-
ency. They contended for temporary victory and personal advancement
rather than for the principles that shall make the world
better and the people happier in all the years yet to come. Silent-
ly and ominously rearing its massive walls at the side of the
highway of public acti^dty was a neglected temple. Here un-
noted and in most cases unhonored gathered the prophets of a better
time. They weighed all questions as world-problems which
must finally be settled at world tribunals and 'according to everlasting
principles that obtain in all nations, underlie all ages and
overreach all righteous courts.' Their theories were considered
impractical, yet about that temple was the purer atmosphere that
inspires the souls of men. Those who reached it must 'struggle
up the steps, they must travel a road that is a lonesome road—
road that is rocky and dusty and that has neither springs nor
shade trees beside it. But the road along which are found the
footprints of genius and the finger-boards that point to immortal-
ity.' Out of this temple are marching the delegates to the international
peace conference and a year ago they established an
intei'national institute of agriculture having its seat at Rome. Out
of this temple will come the forces to purify politics and make
the world's work one of universal brotherhood.
"Charles H. Hughes saw all of this and the passing and ephemeral
work in the field of politics tinged his later and riper years
with something of pathos. But what he missed in human nature
he foimd in nature.
"When man disappoints the moon holds. He ever devoted
much of his time to his farming interests and in the Blue Book
a