Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-01-16
Historical Sketfhes.
Written for the SENTINEL.
FRANCIS THOMAS.
Personal "reminiscences Of Governor
Thomas, of Maryland.
by REVERE.

"Life's story still.
And every rank--the lowest--hath its height
To which hearts fiutter. with as large n
hope
As princes feel for Empire But in each
Ambition struggles with sea Of hate.
He who tolls up the ridgy grades of life
Finds in each station, icy scorn above,
Below him hooting envy"
In August 1857, was honored with =
Elimination for q seat in the next House 2f
la.agAtes Upon the close Of the conyen
ton repaired TO MY iiosei.and ,shen gsping
up the steps of the "Revere House" mt
the old Governor. He at once recognized
and grasped me warmly by the hand, saying :
a have just been told that You have been
nominated FOR seat in the next Legisla-
ture; you are too young mana mere
STRIPPING entirely too inexperenced to Crap
pie with the grave matters likely to come
before that body"
II is true, Governor, / am very young
and with but little experience, and without
wishing to he considered egotistical. have
known much younger men to hold more
important and responsible trusts with credit
to themselves and to those whom they rep
resented
well, well As you are about to take
an important step and with but little expe-
rience, MAyou have very frankly and mod
estly admitted, let one, who has come in
from the rough winds and stormy sea Of life,
give You few words Of advise, which may
the better enable you to read the chart, and
thus avoid, TO some degree, the rocks and
shoals which ever beset us in the great cur
rent of life.
Walking into one Of the drawing rooms
of the hotel we soon found comfortable
seats, when he continued:
youth, with nothing but ambition al
the helm, and hope for compass, is Blu
cephalus, fiery steed, and unless cautious
and prudent, is liable To be dashed 10 pieces
at any mohent. If you remember in ouI
conversation at my home, when ! took .occa-
sion to give you few Of the many Incl
dents Of my political life, and particularly
in regard to my canvass for Governor,
.asgleetsd-s-seityo that made that entire
canvass without taking a particle Of stimu'
liant or even asking or spending five cents
in treating, was before the people for po
.sition Of honor and trust, and in soliciting
their suffrages determined neither 10 de
grade them nor dishonor myself The PEG
pie made me a candidate, and uninhuenced
save by fair and legitimate means, they were
10 make me Governor. In pursuing any
other course you poison the fountain from
which you drink, you break down the very
bulwark which is to be your SUPPORT lie
me then beseech you to do away v th vis bas'
element Of influence which is Aeking Nici
rapid strides into every politAYRdT shia
organization, demoralizing to ettry healthy
sentiment which permiates society, striking
at the root Of all that is noble and eleyatinl
in character, reducing rs upon level witt
the brute and bringing no revenue but mis-
cry and woe.
" You are launching upon the political se'
at very critical moment Politics has IL
vices and alurements, and II may ever UNI
and give you distaste for any practical vo
cation. You have hardly been admitted L
the bar your law books are TO remain il
the case. your Office door locked, and you
clients, IL you have any, are 70 look for law
yers who remain in their Office and attene
10 business During all of my long publi
life and close observation | have never seei
q politician who made more than a scsnt,
living lie should have lived until thisda,
o. political morals) They may ride success
fully fIr while, few years upon tn
wares Of popular favor. the tide Is boun'
10 recede, and they are stranded along tn
shore like the old boats which are now am
then seen ON the banks of the canal
Your county committee will doubles
designate certain days for public meeting
throughout the county, when you will b
called upon To address the people upon mat
tiers II legislative expediency. Study wei
what you intend saying in as few words a
possible and 70 the point Above all, b
modest and unassuming. and avoid appear
! ing As though