Saint Mary's beacon., 1880-01-01

JoHN v. L. McMAHoE.-A eorFespoD-
dent OF the cAarloisssiIle J.GssOnisnf
nm reviewing asmsll volume, lately pub
Iisbed by the BsIiimore press. entitled
q life OF John Van Lear McMahon. !.
develops many interesting facts ~ the
social and political life os The gifted
.aGarylander whose same heads the pres
sens notice. As there are many Of our
elder readers who were personally ac-
ouasnied with Mr.. McMahon snd who
stsll preserve warm regard for his
memory ss well a. an enthusiastic sd-
inlraiion :or histalents, We have thoughtit
would interest them 10 learn the new
facts in the life Of Maryland's, greatest
tribune which the JeGersonian's Cor
respondent has brought 10 light. Hence
the present publication.
More than tbree-quarters OF . centu-
nv ago Cumberland was an obscure lat
lie county town. but il could boast OF
being The birtb-place Of man than
whom Maryland, 20 prolific Of great
men, has produced none greater; IN all
the attributes of manhood he was truly
a sssnan Of mark" like The grand noun
,tains which surround the scenes of has
bOyh0od. he lowered up an intellectual
giant. Early in life John Van Lear
McMshon became q member Of the
MARYLAND bar, and made his home IN
baltimore. Youthful as he was, he
soon took rank with the most distin-
guished members OF bis profession.
amongst whom he has had few peers,
and no superiors. He was great os
tor and lawyer, and in the business or
his profession be was careful, painstak-
ing and conscientious. 0shim il might
be said, as was quantity remarked Of
Francis Plowden, who was offered the
Chanccllorshlp Of England by Queen
Elizabeth. and refused it: e.
SLOW excellent medley is rade.
When honesty and ability meet
IN man Of bis profession"
Those who have enjoyed the privi-.
lege OF hearing Mcmahon ut the bar
ana on the forum can never forget bis
matchless eloquence. The "mass meet
ing'' Of The friends Of Harrison and Ty-
Ier was the grandest out-pouring Of the
people ever witnessed in the United
States: even the sight of the vast null
titude assembled on Canton fields was
inspiring, and Il did inspire The great
orator, v ho was fully "equal to the oc-
casion," and to his fame. This was
one OF his grandest efforts. Who that
heard him can forget the thrill sent
through his system when in clarion
tones he called "the nation to orders"
When Mcmahon did take part in
public affairs (and great occasions called
him out someiimes) il was to direct,
control and advise; after that he con-
sidered his part done, for he had no de-
sire to enter the arena OF party striies.
In those days, the sharp practices os
the present did not prevail. To be a
Representative or Senator in Congress
meant sonethIng--the holding OF such
positions generally implied ability, char
acier and itness;it IS very different
nowadays. Mr.. McMasoH steadily re-
fused seat in either House OF Con-
gress, as he also refused the appoint
ment Of Attorney General Of the Uni-
ted States which was rendered 10 him
more than once.
He wanted no Office and he was q
riddle to the politicians, who could not
understand how q man could decline
such temptations. The mans charac-
ter was "beyond their KEN" Mr. Me-
Mahon was ambitious, but il was in bis
profession: he loved II, he loved bis
books, bis friends. and bis ease. His
tastes were simple. In The summer he
visited his kindred, and he loved TO
ramble over the scenes OF his boy days
ia AlIegany, to meet friends, high and
low; Cor aIf he bad kindly greeting.
These were his recreations, and he pre-
ierred them 10 all the watering places
on earth.
There has recently appeared in Bal
timore small volume, purporting 10 DC
a eLafe ol John Van Lear McMahon.'' =
The book contains something to COM
mend and much to condemn. In The
first plsce the author appears not TO
have been much acquainted with the
family antecedents OF his subject livery
important matters in biography A
little inquiry would have elected The
fact that Mr.. McMahonss maternal
grandsire was John Van Lear. alter
whom he was named At his baptism,
and Mr. McMahon did not '.assume tke
name Of Van Lear IN compliment 10 .
kinsman."
There are other blefaishes 10 the
book, which the friends Of Dir. McMa-
hon regret 10 see printed in q biogra-
phy. The charge Of "timiditY' Is men
TONED so oflen that the reader would
suppose that s.timidisy" was chronic
weakness Of the great lawyer. At one
time he 'sgave way to lntemperance." |"
whseh is something new TO those who
knew him best. Lastly, Mr. MeAIa-