Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-20

7.
Register, who WAS associated with Mr..
Elkins on the Republican National
Committee, makes the following esti-
mate of his character aud ability In an
swer to current misrepresentation:
There is probably no man In public In
America who has been so persistently
and so mesnly misrepresented as Hon.
Stephen B. Elkins. Active political
enmity has fed public curiosity on mis-
representation in respect to him until
in every quarter where he Is personally
known he is most unjustly estimated.
In truth, Mr.. Elkins. In public and
private life both, Is one Of the most sd-
mIrable Of American gentlemen. The
popular conception Of his character,
that he Is an adventurer aud bold ope-
rator Ia politics, could not be more
wrong or false. Instead, he Is gem
tleman Of liberal education, refined
tastes, quiet habits, avoiding rather
than couriing publicity, and finding
the greatest pleasure in life In his own
home and in the society Of his friends.
He Is one OF the most catholic, tolerant
and Christian Of men-a warm friend
aud generous foe.
He Is so far from being bitterly par
tisan and narrow that his warmest per-
sonal friends are about equally Demo
cratic and Republican. There Is prob
ably no Republican who has so many
close friends and admirers among the
leading Democrats Of the country ashe
has.
He was elected To Congress from New
Mexico under the most aattering au-
spices. lE Congress his intellectual
strength, his hard sound sense, his gem
erous nature, and minded per-
sonal worth won him the friendship Of
the best men Of all parties. This high
regard, won by force Of his own liberal
merits, he has constantly kept, and II
has changed only to be Frightened by
the lapse OF time.
He is a great, strong, broad man, with
caution rather than daring his charac-
teristic as u political mansger-with a
generous minded habit OF trusting peo-
pie In politics too much, rather than too
little, his most serious fault. lie Is
slow to believe III of any one, aud quick
to forget wrong and forgive injury, al
though It Is TO be hoped he will have
enough of the old stamina Of the earth
earthly to treasure up and pay on with
good interest some Of the debts Of this
kind incurred In the late campaign.
He went into this campaign whole
length, because Of his warm personal
friendship aud personal faith ia Blaine.
His great ability as an organizer largely
gave direction TO the public sentiment
which sent the party to Chicago 80
warmly for Blaine, and his equally
great skill as a manager was made plain
I'm Blaipe's success la the convention.
In the campaign he rendered no great
service with as great ability, aud every
step that he took and every act that he
did was clean, honorable and right. In
stead Of being reckless or doubtful In his
methods, he II one Of the most scrupn-
lou. OF men. There was not an action
on his part in the campaign which he
need fear, or would fear, 10 have made
public. lie was not willing TO fight
the fire Of the Democratic methods by
| which New York was stolen by them
by anything like return OF similar hre,
aud agreed with Mr.. Jones and the rest
of the campaign committee that it were
better 10 lose the State aud the contest
honorably than to gain them by any
doubtful means or dishonest measures.
IL all political managers were as clean
handed aud ms rcsolnte H. keeping
within such fair methods ~ Mr.. EikiLs,
the quality OF American politics would
be improved very large per cent.
Mr.. Elkins' own preference Ia for
quiet rather than conspicuous HE.
lie likes home life best; he has no lik-
Ing for club life, aud loves beet the
pleasures Of his family and the delights
OF his fine library. lie Is very tho
roughly educated man. AN accomplished
lingaist, one Of the most wideiy read oi
Americans Ia general literature, 10 al
ways we'll up Ia current science, and
has in every respect the tastes Of
scholar. HIS wife, one OF the loyliest oi
American women, IL the daughter ol
Senator Davis, OF West Virginia, and
he has large family OF iomping boys
: and happy girls, making up one Of th'
most delightful homes ON the continent
Some day public opinion Will grow
to be just, and when 1t does Mr.. Eik'n
will be everywhere recognized for tb'
7 manly and noble qualities In which b
Is rich, and undoubuul inteliectun
strength and mastery Of which he b
. pos sessed.