The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1877-06-23
Political Easne.
ILouisville Courier-Journal,I

iHS retlIeu pGuIlclans can truly say,
in the language of Rip Van Wrinkle,
How soon we are forgotten" Yes, and
in less than a third of q century after the
grave encloses them there are but few
persons on earth who are appraised of the
fact that they ever lived. These refec-
lions were fastened on our mind by read
ing in the Congressional Dictionary a
brief sketch of the life and public ser
vices of General Sam Smith, of Mary
land. He was a wealthy merchant of
Baltimore, once or twice its Mayor, and
contributed much to its growth and
prosperity-more, perhaps, than any
other citizen. The good people of Mary
land exhibited their appreciation of his
talents and personal worth by sending
him to Congress for longer period of time
than the average life of man. He served
them as Representative or Senator in
Congress for thirty-nine years. He was
made Chairman of the Finance Com
mittee OF the Senate, and discharged the
duties of the position with marked
ability. He was warm supporter of
Jackson's Administration, and on more
than one occasion was elected Vice Presi-
dent pro tenn. He had right to think,
and doubtless did think, he had achieved
fame that would live after him. He
died about thirty-seven years ago, and
now let us ask, how many of the present
generation ever heard of him. We VEN
ture to assert that could he now arise
from the grave he would find three
fourths of the citizens of Baltimore en-
tirely ignorant of his long and useful
career as Baltimore's public servant
Such is life, and such is the ephemeral
character of political fame.
We cannot close this article without
telling one of Daniel Webster's anecdotes.
1t is decidedly to the point. After Presi-
dent Tyler's second veto of bill to
charter bank of the United States,
every member of his Cabinet, save Mr..
Webster, Indignantly resigned. The
Wings tried their level best to loosen his
grip on the State Department, but all
their efforts were unavailing. Then
they came down upon him like thou
sand of brick. They denounced him
with the variations. About this time an
enthusiastic admirer called to see him.
Finding him in a gloomy mood he ex-
claimed: Mr.. Webster, you ought not
to be gloomy about anything; your fame
is made" Fame" replied Webster,
"and much for fame" Whereupon he
told the following story. He said he was
travelling in a railroad car on certain
occasion, and it so happened that he was
seated by the side of very old gentle
man. He soon found out that this old
gentleman was a citizen Of New Hamp-
shire, and lived in Mr.. Webster's native
town. He asked the old man if he knew
the Webster family up there. go,
yes" responded the octogenarian. cod
Mr.. Webster and l were bosom friends in
his lifetime" "Well, what has become
of his childrenT inquired Mr.. Webster
The old man answered, "Why, there's
Ezekiel, he's the greatest lawyer in New
Hampshire, and one of the greatest in
the country" He then took up the
daughters and told whom they had mar
ried, and how well they had married, and
finished his account of the family with
out mentioning the name of Daniel.
"Were those all the children p asked
Mr.. Webster. The old man answered in
the affirmative. care you sure that
there was not boy named Daniel?'' in
quired Mr.. Webster. " Daniel, Daniel,
Daniel" soliloquized the old man for a
few minutes, and then broke out with this
reply: go, now l do remember. There
was one by the name of Daniel, but he
went down to Boston, and have not
heard of him SINCE"