Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1888-08-01

become a part of the history of PENNSYLVANIA
1t served to call the attention of the whole State
to the remarkable qualities possessed by the
quiet. inlperturbable little man from Beaver
County. But his record was by means begun
then. Quay never made much noise about h m
self, and be mad been a big man and had known
himself to be one long before the world found
it out.
Born OF Scotch Irish family in York County,
Pennsylvania, in 1873, Matthew Stanley Quay
the son of n preacher. When the boy was
six years old his father brought home Bible
and n tin sword and offered him his choice fhe
baby politician chose the Bible, because he
knew that his delighted father would give him
the tin sword anyhow, and then he would have
both, Another instance Of his early develop
ment of diplomatic instinct 10 related His
father arrival at church was DELAYED one Sun
daS, and tho congregation began to get restless.
Matthew quietly arose, and ascending the pull
pit steps began to turn the leavce of the big
became interested and wondered what he would
do next, but he didn't do il. He simply kept
their attention fixed and prevented theif de-
parture till bis fathers arrival.
Young Quay was graduated at Jefferson Col
lege, Pennsylvania, at the age Of H. and read law
in the Office o. Judge Sterrett. now member OF
Pennsylvania Supreme Court He spent some
years in Louisiana and Texas, where he picked
up much Of his profound knowledge Of human
nature. AS a schcoteacber in Texas his great
est exploit was to cure his pupils 81 the practice
OF carrying pistols. The average Texas school
boy was larHer than Quay was, or, for that mat
ter, is now, and it is needless to say that force
WAS not the means used
He returned to Pennsylyania In 1861. and en-
tered politics in Beaver County, where he WAS
elected and reelected to the Office Of prothono
tary He cast his first vote at the liquor-law
election OF I>54 and voted for prohibit on.
Since then, however, lie has become a high
license advocate. He resigned his Office In 1851
to become first Lieutenant OF the Pennsylvania
Reserves. but was immediately appointed As
sistant Commissary General on Governor Cur
tins STAFF. He preferred however, to go to the
front. and Governor Curtin asked him what APP
pointment he wanted. His reply was, 4 should
as 1o 20 % ~ IT. Gnu Hnndr 1here d nun me
fourth Pennsylvania Infantry. Quay said be
would rather not, but Curtin insisted, saying,
THAT T. the only commission you can have"
His irst act as Colonel was TO study a book OF
tactics on mis- way To Virginia In the fall If 1852
He contracted typhoid fever in camp and had re.
signed to go home when the battle Of Fresiericks
burg was making ready. He withdrew his resig-
nation in order TO go 10 the fight with his reg-
ment, which be did, carrying through it a haver-
sack containing over $4,000 that had been ill.,
trusted him to take home. Gen. Tyler COM
mended his bravery in an official report. Quay
then became GOV. Curtins military secretary.
He entered tho Penns ylvauia Legislature In 1866
and was at once marked for leadership and APP
pointed Chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, In which post he secured the passage Of
an act relieving real estate from taxation and in
creasing the taxation Of corporations instead.
He started and edited the Beaver Radical in
IN 1867, and made 1t the most powerful weekly
RepuUlCau lOufNal III EtQubylvtna. no was
Secretary OF the Republican State Committee In
1869, and helped to elect Gen. Hartranft Cover
nor in 1872. He became Secretary OF State In
1878 ard Recorder Of the city Of pnila telphia in
1878. when he was elected Chairman Of the Re-
publican State Committee.
To Col. Quay Is due more than to any other
one man the Republican victories Of 1873 all over
the country. Tho Greenback craze was appar-
emily sweeping over the continent. The Demo-
Gratis knuckled TO IL. What were the Republi-
cans going to do? All at once ex-Speaker Ga
lusha A. Grow, the cid horo OF the homestead
law, mad speech defnint the Republican po-
sition in favor Of resumption OF specie payments
aud sound currency. 1t was tho campaign
keynote. Grows voice shouted It FORTH but
Quay had struck the tuning fork, planned thu
campaign, and suggested Grows historic speech.
Everybody knows bow the Tight went. The
Penns ylvauie Idea triumphed over the green
back }dea. Secretary Ehermans policy VS.
overwhelmingly indorsed, and resumption b.
| came an accomplished fact before Jan ], 1872
In the unft-rule fght Of 1850 and the pennsyl-
vani& bolt OF 1881 Quay& concfliatoEy advice WAS
rejected by the cninerons, When Governor
Hoyt who had rsappotntsd hira Secretary Of tn
Commonwealth. wrote lsttsr IA favor al Tia
boltsr. Quay promptly rsstgned from hi stan "
telegraph and retired to patvats lie; - N a.
| prssstan q party hdelity. In 1855 however,, b
game 10 Tho 'front.' ~ candidate for Stats Tfeax-
ufer, and was elected ny 44.009 mnjoF1ty. Hin
strengSh nuSprisea even his fftenda ~ AOuGh
| thsy could - after looking hack ovee IN m.
feglnly eoEeil eereer. INT n -
Isssl6 - M slsiasss ~ scsl