The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-01-02
From STAFF Correspondent Of The Press.

From SiGf Correspondent Of The Press.
HARRISBURG, Decem Der 6.-"The
election of Mr.. Carlisle clearly de-
fines the issues of the next Presiden-
tial campaign. 1t sharply draws
sectional lines and reintroduces Sec
tional questions into our politics
which all thoughtful men had hop
ed were forever buried. In placing
the Democracy squarely in line fer
a raid upon the tariff, free trade and
sectionalism are pitted against a
united country and the bulwark of
its industries. 1t is curious to wit
ness how the old party refuses to
learn wisdsm from the expensive
lessons of the past There is an old
saying that experience keeps a dear
school, but some folks will learn in
no other. The adage applies TO the
political folly of the Democracy in
thus reviving issues hurtful to the
country and dangerous to them
selves. The party of Jefferson is
to-day but sad reminder of what it
was when | began political life. 1t
seems to be living only upon its ira
ditions aud its prejudices."
Thus spoke a man who for more
that sixty years has had his hand on
the political wheel, and turned it
with matchless power. He is the
wisest politician ceartinly of this
day, and, in making this sage obser-
vation, reaches out for facts with a
grasp that no single man in this
land has ever had upon our political
history. AS the veteran talked, be
leaned back in his easy chair, with a
book acrois his knee which he had
Just been reading. He spoke slowly
and earnestly, his sentences forming
themselves directly and forcibly, but
without apparent choice of words.
As he warmed with his subject, he
repeatedly, as is his wont when in
terested, struck the palm of his right
hand against the half closed fist of
the left, with a pendulum like
He sat In his library,
two large rooms extending the entire
length of his house. These apart
ments hold wealth of books, the
well laden shelves reaching from
floor to ceiling on all four sides. He
sat near his desk, which was strewn
with letters and papers concerning
his large business interests and So
cial correspondence, to all of which
he still gives his personal attention.
The whole apartment looked like
The office of busy lawyer, rather
han the library of a man of leisure
lar past four score years.
SIXTY FIVE YEARS OF POLITICS.
A record of the busy and eventful |
life of General Simon Cameron |
would make volumns of important |
history. His political career has
,panned nearly three-quarters of
century of the national life. During
all that long time he has, without a
halt, been in the front rank and
among the foremost leaders in i'm
Dortant political events. To-day he
5 great and picturesque character.
In March he will be Sc years old
lut yet he is as much in love with
ife as a man OF thirty, and has a
.est for the affairs of his country that
ew men of even middle age can feel.
He lives in a beautiful home, solid
md unpretentious. An old stoue
house, with a wide porch and gable
-oof. fronts the banks of the Susque-
lanna. One of the first railroads he
,ver built passes hard bv the old
-oof tree and crosses the river within
1 stones throw. He cannot even
-aise his eyes to the window of his
,ffice without seeing one of the giant
inks in the internal traffic of Penn
which recall the time in
lis life when he was president of FIVE
different railroads leading out of
nearly all built and op-
rated under his direction. In all
he visits / have ever paid him, new
,r was he more interesting than to.
lay. His manner was, if possible,
more simple and winning than ever,
md he recalled with enthusiasm the
political battles of more than half a
century. He stands wonderfully
erect for man of his years. and his
deeply marked features-high fore
head, sharp, black eyes, prominent
nose, firmly set lips and broad, pro-
ecting chin-are only strengthened
by the lines age has drawn.
Perhaps it is well we are to have
a square contest upon the tariff
question now, if such an agitation is
bound to come, he continued. The !