The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1877-10-09
SENATOR ARMSTRONG.
A Brief sketch Of His Life and Ser
Woes.


Scotia. on the 18th Of October 1872. and
villin . few days be s;xty-6ve years
Of ssr. He enigrated to Missouri in 1885,,
and settled IN st. Louis. Without fortune
or friends he had bis own career 10 carve,
snd With the indomnitable industry and
perseverance, which has characterized his
lie, he set 10 work to build upon honest
poverty the ststelier fortunes which have
crowned his labors. Commencing - .
school teacher, his poorly paid work was
both toilaome and harrasing. But were in
that early day the stern gravity Of his char
scser made his influence felt, and while yet
comparative youth, he became . man Of
note in the politics Of Missouri. His .onod
Judgment, prudent counsels and sagac,ty,
made him IN effective and controlling fac
tor in the ferce and bitter contests which
distinguished that period. With practi-
cal education to begin with, his extensive
reading made him q man Of culture; his
associations made him q man Of experience.
The rigid discipline Of his pemonal life, he
brought into politics, and tn him perhaps
more than to any other man in the state,
the democratic party is indebted for the
succe~fuf carer it has Lad in Missouri.
He va always obstinate in his convictions
because be never formed them hsstily, and
vss never given to impulae. He is devoted
in his frieodahir for the reason that they
have always been made upon = careful esti.
mate Of character, and were never inconsid.
es.te. In 1857 he WA appointed on the
Central Democratic Committee, and It was
then that he 6nt displayed his admirable
powers OF organization. Shortly asierward
be became its chairman, bringing to the
discharye Of it. dates that admirable tact,
and comprehensive intelligence which 10
peculiarly distinguished the management Of
its Attain, in the campaign Of 1886. when
Buchanan vas elected. The following
year be Vas appointed postmaster At St
Lnui, and made the best Official the place
h.s ever had. To him perhaps more than
to any other man, il due the success Of what
- known. - the "Psaaive Policy" in 1870,
and which % e6ectually redeemed the state
from the blighting influence Of republican
rule. In fact Senator Armstrong has .
right to regard this a among the most a
gacsous, a Il Vas certainly among the most
beneficial Of his public services. not only to
His party bat to his country. At the time
Of biz appointment to the senate. he waa
serving a Police Commissioner of 81. IIonis.
4 most important but = most thankleas
trust.
OF Ill our public men, he il the only one
Who never sought Office. On the contrary
he has studiously avoided il. The architec,
Of more political regulations than any
other man in the state, he has given his
services freely. and has never asked for
OF claimed . reward. Self contained, appa-
rently sustere in his manner, retiring in
his babits, there yet heats beneath his
rugged nature a. warm and generous 8
heart % ever animated the mind Of man
Fashiooed upon the rugged model Of 9
sentlensn Of the old school, he believes in
The honesty Of politics. A born foe to cor
raptioa, intrigue and trickery. the sincerity
Of his convictions lead him 10 Q manly
avowsl Of his purposes, and that which he
believes to Be- worth winning at all, ia worth
Sighting Tor in the light Of day and with biz
fsce TO the enemy. The shoddy pre.enrion'
aud the nuahroom erowt h of politicians,
born in trickery, and nursed in the fetit
atmosphere Of the sluma, always found il
Senator Armstrong bitter and nnreIeniinl
foe. Believing in the honesty, he alao BE-
lieves in the purity Of politics, and h
looked upon The trickery Of . politician mucl
in The aane light, that society looks uros
the pickpockes and the thief. Men of thi
g.. character have always been his enemie'
and alwsys will be. But the honest senti
neat Of the country will End in him IN adj
and sincere expoaent Of it, hest cosvictions
A senator be viii honor the state, an
will bring 10 his exalted station, cult
waited intellect, great aftainments and no
bility Of mind and character which vii
exert IN eaviab1e and controlling influence
A brilliant man be II not; but the senat
will have few statesmen, il any, Who ~
his superior in ability, and none. in digni
y and dsvotioa 70 he public service.