The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1879-11-01
POLITICAL. FAME.

The retired politician can truly say, in
the language of Rip Van Wrinkle, - How
soon we are forgotten Yes, and in less
than Il third of a century after the grave
on earth who are appraised of the fact
that they ever lived. These reflections
were fastened on our mind by reading in
the Congressional Dictionary brief
sketch of the life and public services Of
General Sam Smith, of Maryland He
was a wealthy merchant of Baltimore,
once or twice its mayor, and contributed
much to its growth and prosperity
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 Repre-
sentative or Senator in Congress for thir-
ty-nine years. He was made Chairman
of the Finance Committee of the Senate,
and discharged the position with marked
ability. He was warm supporter of
Jackson's administration, and on more
than one occasion was elected Vice Pres
ident pro tenn. He had right to think,
and doubtless did think, he had achieved
a fame that would live after him. He
died about thirty-seven years ago, and
now let us ask, How many of the present
how'd nf hip1) w
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 ca
reer as Baltimore's public servant. Such
is life. and such is the ephemeral charac-
ter of political fame. We cannot close
this article without telling one of Daniel
Webster's anecdotes. 1t is decidedly to
the point. After President Tyler's sec
ond veto of a bill to charters bank of the
United States every member OF his cabi-
net save Mr.. Webster Indignantly resign
ed. 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 bricks. They denounced him with
| the variations. About this time an ell
| thuSiastic admircr called to see him.
Finding him i'll 4 gloomy mood, he ex-
claimed: Mr.. Webster you ought not
to be gloomy about anything; your fame
is made Fame" replied Webster.
land much for fame Whereupon he
! told the following story: lie said he was
travelling i'll a railroad car on 4 certain oc-
casion, and it 50 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.
"Oh. yes responded the octogenarian
cold Mr.. Webster and | were bosom
| friends in his life time
''What has become of the children"
inquired Mr.. Webster.
The old man answered. "Why. there S
Zekeil, he is the greatest lawyer in New
Hampshire, and one the greatest in the
country" He then took up the daugh-
ters and told whom they had married and
how we'll they had married, and finished
his account of the family without men,
tiouing the name of Daniel.
Were those all the children - asked
Mr.. Webster.
The old man answered i'll the aflirma-
tive.
care you sure that there was not a
boy named Daniel?' inquired Mr.. Web
Ster.
Daniel. Daniel. Daniel soliloquized
the old man for few minutes, and then
broke out with a reply: 20, now do re.
member. There was one by the name
of Daniel, but he went down to Boston
and have not heard Of him since