The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-02-17
HoRArIo sExMovR.s LIFE.
Sketch OF the Long and Noble Public
Career OF the Patriot States
man of New York.
New YORK Worid.l

new 1Ofk WOtldsI
Governor Seymour of New York, who died
last Friday night in Utica, was born at the
village of POmpey, 0nondaga County, n. Y,
May 81, 1910, so he was just completing his
seventy-sixth year. Having strong, rugged
Constitution. Mr.. Seymour was able to endure
great physical and mental strain that would
have broken down most men. In the course
of his long aud eyentful life he often had his
powers Of endurance tested to their utmost
Capacity.
For nearly thirty years Horatio Seymour
Occupied central position in the Demo
Cratic party. Strong. self-reliant and having
all the aggressiYenesS and courage of leader,
he commanded the respect ana admiration
/. of his bitterest foes. No man in the history
of American politics retired to private life
after long and honorable public career more
universally respected and beloved by the
people at large than HOratio Seymour.
During the strife of civil war Governor Sey-
mour was cruelty and unjustly arraigned by
the partisan Republican press. The distin-
guished Governor in his interview published
in the World Last September (which was his
last public utterance of any lengthy, alluded
TO these attacks very pleasantly.
STRONG But BBOAD PARTISAN.
Time had sOftened their memory perhaps,
and besides a vigorous foe likes a vigorous
opponent. Governor Seymour took occasion
at that time to illustrate how much more a
strong pertiSan was inclined TO be fair than a
cold-blOOded style of politician who voted
and derived his being from hereditary preju-
dice or Pharisaical ideas of saintliness- Gov
ernOr Seymour uncOnsciOusly described the
Mugwumps. His keen judgment told him
that this class OF statesmen could not last
long.
More than ten years ago Horatio Seymour
made up his mind 10 retire permanently
from.pUbic life. He had no further ambi-
fiOn to crafty and had reached a period in
life when be needed rest and relaxation from
the cares of an active career. On one or two
occasions, particularly in the Tilden-Hayes
campaign of 1876, Mr.. Seymour emerged
from his retirement and put on the
political harness, but it was always attended
with more or less injurious results, physic
ally. to him. and of late years he abandoned
public life altogether.
In 1868 Governor TIlden took the stump
Tor HoratiO Seymour for President. Eight
years later Mr.. Seymour performed the same
service for Mr.. Tilden. Thus their political
obligations were squared.
There is no question but what Governor
Seymour could have received the nomina-
tiOn of the Democratic party in 1876. that
was given to Governor Tilden, if he had said
the word. He positively declined il. how
ever, knowing that he could not stand the
. excitement and worry OF another Presiden-
tial contest
HIS GREAT POWER FOR GOOD.
In Thurlow Weeds Memoirs he quotes
President Lincoln as saving TO him on the oc-
casOn OF a visit to the White House: ''Gov-
ernor 81 ymOUr has greater power Just now
for good than any Other man in the country.
he can wheel the Democratic party into line,
put down rebellion and preserve the Govern
ment. Tell him for me that if be will rem
der this service to his country L shall cheer
fully make way for him as my successor"
Mr. Weed adds that ne delivered the message
and urged Mr.. Seymour 10 accept the sugges-
ton. IL came Just before Mr.. Seymour was
lnaugurated Governor and had all the APP
pearance OF a tempting Oribe to him TO sell
out his party. Governor Seymour's heart
was with the Union cause, and he did not
need this offer 70 stir him on to do his duty.
his Democracy stood the test, and he refused
the offer. Mr.. Weed. in commenting on the
refusal deplOred the fact that
Mr. Seymour did not rise to
the level OF war Democrats, and thus he
continues. Governor Seymour, although
afterwards candidate, never became Presi-
cent" He had the satisfaction, however. of
being true to his country and TO his party.
The man who would desert the one might as
easily the other.
on assuming the State Executive chair Gov
vernon Seymour said, among other things:
I'VE shall hail as the best patriot whoever
does the most for the Union. to whatever
party he has hitherto acknowledged allie
glance
HE OUTLINED ALL HATRED AND ENNiriEs.
Governor Seymour lived to see many of the
unjust impUtatiOns upon his patriotism and
craftsmanship Withdrawn in humility. Time
will eventually give 10 this lofty patriots
name still greater hOnOrs when men come TO
study events impartially.
When HoratiO Seymour was nine years
old, his parents moved 10 Utica Oneida
County. The greater part of his life has been
passed in and around Utica He was edu-
Gated at the academies of Oxford and Geneva
New York and Partridge's military school
at Middletown. Conn.,. studied law and was
admitted to the bar january, 1892. Among
those admitted to the bar with Seymour was
Henry Burnett Chenango County: John V.
il. Pruyn, OF Albany; James S. WadswOrth,
Amos Dean. John McKeOn and John A Dix.
Young Seymour did not have a chance TO
make much of a reputation as a lawyer be-
fore he was called TO take charge of a large
estate left him at the death of his father.
This withdrew him from the practice of his
profession From 1888 to 1899 he served on
the military staff of Governor Marcy, and
obtained from that distinguished Governor
his first training in politics. In 1871 he was
crat, was reelected three times, and in l345
was chosen Speaker He retired from the
Assembly TO accept the nomination OF his
party to the MayOralty of Utica He was
elected by large majority, and in this par
ticular his career resembles these of Cleve-
land and Hill All three were reform May
0rs Of their respective towns.
HIS PATRIOTISM A. GOvEgSoR.
In 1890 Mr.. Seymour became the nominee
OF his party for Governor, and was only
beaten by Washington Hunt the Whig-Pro
hibition candidate by a plurality of 262
votes. Two years later he was again can
didate and was elected by plurality
of 22.56 votes over the same compe-
titor- A prohibitory liquor bill
passed by the Legislature in 1854
was vetoed by him on the gro1rd that il was
unconstitutional. He was renominated the
same year. The prohibition question en-
= tered largely into the canvass, which was
further complicated by the Knov-Nothing
issue and the anti-slavery agitation growing
out of the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise. There were four candidates for Gov
ernOr. hvron H. Clark, the Wing and Pro-
lihifiOnicf WON ~ M ~ of g(yD vOfoS