Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-02-03
MR.. WALLACES DErl Mrps


MR.. WALLA CES DEFA MER.S.
The rivals and personal enemies Of
Mr.. Wallace, in their efforts to defeat
him for United States Senator, rcsorted
to many low lodges and cheap tricks
to accomplish their ends. Their first
attempt was to array the Democratic
press of the State against him. A few
insignificant sheets fell into the ditch.
Outside of the State their success was
just as feeble, although the Baltimore
Gdrette and the New York Sun diS ,
some dirty work for their employs re-
during tho canvass. The former still
sings dumb, but the N. Y. lS,~ editor
RISES to explain and makes rep aration
for his blunder in this way;
"Mr. William A. Wallace has won in
pennsylvania triumph Of which any
politician might be propd Under a
cloud oi scandals he fought his way
through TO eaueus Nomination for
United States, Senator without a word
OF personal explanation, and, more
wonderful still, without n word of re.
crmination. And his good fortune
pursued him to tho end. Three Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature had
refused in the caucus to make his nom.
nation unanimous, and averring their
solemn conviction that, under the new
Constitution, he was ineligible, tboy
stood out upon their oaths, and sternly
declared their resolution not to vote
iorhim under any circumstances This
looked ominous enough. If these men
had remained firm, the caucus nomi.
nee would have been defeated. But
when the balloting came on, they had
forgotten all about those, dreadful oaths,
and voted in body for the fortunate
Mr.. Wallace. He was elected, of course,
and deserves all the honors in such
cases accorded.
"This election is something morcthan
a personal victory. II shows not only
that Mr.. Wallace is man of extraor-
dinary abilities, but that he is pacti-
cally the undisputed leader ofthe Penn
sylvania Democracy. He has at this
moment more power in that party
than Simon Cameron has in the other.
In other words it is his to guide and
control, and he will bc held to a strict
accountability for its acts. Therefore.
as Mr. Wallace has borne himself with
much singular forbearance throughout
the campaign, and has never deigned
to notice while the issue was in doubt,
the numerous calumnies circulated by
his enemies, we have some right to cx
pect that he will now dispose of them
in the most effectual method at his
command"
The editor of the Baltimore Gazette
has not seen fit to confess his mistake,
but his superior rival of the Baltimore
Sun gives the following true and con.
else sketch of our fellow citizen:
"Hon. VIM. A. Wallace is of Scotch
Irish descent and born in Huntingdon
county, that State, in 1927, where his
father, who died recently, was pio-
neer member of the bar. In 1886 Mr..
Wallace's father removed to Clearfield
county. The son commenced the study
of law with him in 1914, and in lsi7
was admitted to practice by Hon. Geo.
W, Woodward, then president of the
Court of Common Pleas of the Clear
field district. He applied himself es-
pecially to the study of land law, and
! in few years he acquired large prac-
tice. He practiced his profession with
marked ability and success for fifteen
years. He married a daughter of Hon.
Richard Shaw when he was about
twenty-one. sln 1862 the Democrats
elected him over l.. w. Hail. then
Speaker of the Senate. He was re.
elected in 1865, 1868, 1871 and 1874,
invariably leading his ticket. In 1865
he was made the chairman of the
Democratic State Central Committee.
He was honorcd with the same .posi.
ton in 1866, 1867 and 1868, ALWAYS
giving his opponents all the fight that
was IN nm, and showing great skill
and discrimination in marshaling the
Democratic forces In 1871, when the
Democrats had the Senate, he was
elected Speaker, in which position he
displayed signal ability, and enjoyed
the good will of both parties He has
always been discreet and hard-worls.
ing legislator, even TO the detriment of
his health. A large bulk Of the i'm
portant legislation last winter was pre-
pared by him, and in the United States
Senate he will be one OF its ablest and
most industrious members"
We could gil two issues of the RE.
PUBLICAN with similar extracts from
leading journals outside and inside of
the State, but oil these are no nows to
us who know Mr., Wallace personally.