Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1885-12-04
POLITICAL LANDMARKS DLSAP.
PEA RING.

II is noble faculty Of our nature which
prompts our homage to greatness. We re-
cognize in those who have toiled In tn g
cause Of humanity the qualities which AS.
simulate man TO the Deity, which seem To
lessen the distance between the finite and
the infinite. They appeal 10 that profound
hove for the good and the beautiful which
lies hidden ia every human breast
Hero worship is not u development Of
modern society. The beneiactors OF their
race in ancient times passed away from the
earth TO take their places among the stars,
and were elevated TO the circle OF the gods ;
and in this time Of ours. ruled Us the world
is by the commercial spirit, prime as IL is
TO gold seeking and all forms OF neterialism,
the heart OF this nation beats with gener-
Gus emotion when true man appeals " it
10 tones of real earnestness, or performs
some heroic exploit. or falls in the service
OF his country.
In this country, We confer neither stars
nor carriers nor ribbons, but we do confer
the nobest earthly reward which can be
realized. next 10 our own consciousness of
having done well, in giving to those who
have served their country faithfully the
unbought thanks Of millions Of freemen.
and the great heart of the nation throbs in
sadness us It's patriotic landmarks, one by
one, disappear from the stage Of life
The death Of Gen. McClellen and Vice.
President Hendricks, coming within few
short weeks OF each other, marks the ilrst
serious break in the ranks of the ol,itimc
Democratic leaders who have ber.ti ,.,nspic
nous in this generation. Nearly all II tho
prominent opponents Of these men lett us
prior 10 1870, and the leadership of tho Re.
publican party was altogether changed be-
tween 1865 aud 1875. While death was
busy among the prominent chiefs OF the
Republicans, the old leaders OF the Demo-
cratic party lived ON, some Of them in re,
urement, but many OF them active figures
In the progress Of political lite. Gov. Scy.
mour, now almost an octogenarian, survives,
and 1t is said is In reasonable health aud
with his mental faculties unimpairel. Gov.
Tiden, feeble in body, is as vigorous as ever
in mind, and at an aye Of more than 70
years, exercises more than ordinary intiu.
ence over the political current OF bis coun.
try. That splendid old Democratic war.
horse and statesman, Judge Thurman, now
beyond three score and ten, Is ENJOYING a
Md ~ NJ al Ia,
These, besides others Of less Prominence
who might be named. were the contempo-
rariss OF Lincoln. Seward, Chase aud Sum.
ner. They entered politics when Clay,
Webster, Benton aud Calhoun we're at the
font They have lived To see mau who
purp1rts " be Of their own faith in the
White House, but one who was never heard
OF outside OF his own town until they were
almost ready to lay down the cares Of ac-
tive life.
The next few years will witsess the exit
ol all these ancient leaders, preserved by
singular fortune long beyond the time en-.
joyei by their adversaries. The first two
togo were both the Juniors Of those re.
naming.
The memory Of such mon constitutes the
moral property Of the nation, and when her
fleets and armies are scattered and torn,
when her cities are leyeled with the dust,
when all her other monuments are crumb.
ling beneath the march Of time. then the
inemory Of her great aud good men will
stand unmosed amid the wrecks around
telling % nli generations the story Of her
greatness. snd encouraging mas through.
out all time 10 good deeds.
The Virginia Legislature convened Wed.
nesday last