Wichita eagle., 1888-07-29
MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY.

NSNSNS& Y
MATTHEW STANLEY QUAY.
the utmost Importance, and as he will
necessarily be a prominent figure in the
great campaign, our readers will, no
doubt. be glad to become familiar with
the personal characteristics Of their gen
eral who is to lead them on to victory.
Mattl<.% Stanley Quay was born Sept.
30, 1888, at Dillsburg, in York county.
TIL was the same year in which Senator
Don Cameron was born and four years
after Simon Cameron had entered public
life as adiutant general Of Pennsylvania
That rugged old Democrat, George Wolf,
was then governor, and the places III the
United States senate now filed by Quay
and Cameron were then occupied by Will
lam wilkins and George Mitiin Dallas.
Quay's father, recalling the struggles and
friendships of his early life, named his
son Matthew Stanley Quay, after Gen.
Matthe- tanley, of Brandywine Manor,
in Chester county.
Senator Quay traces his family back to
Scotch Irish origin, and to the sturdiest
of that sturdy race.
The senator grandfather Joseph Quay,
was a farmer and storekeeper i'll Charles
town township, Chester county when he
made q runaway marriage with Ascenath
Anderson, = daughter of Patrick Ander-
son, who was a captain in the Revolution
and the first child of European parents
born in Charlestown township Ascenath
was also a sister of Isaac Anderson, who
was member of congress for two terms
at tho beginning Of the present century.
Of his runaway union-which, however,
seems to have turned out very we'll
Senator Quay'S father was born. He was
given the name of Anderson BeatOn
Quay, the first name coming from the
family of his mother and the second from
that of his mothers mother, who was
Ann Bcaton, a sister Of Col. John Beaton,
who mad charge of military affairs in
Chester county during the Revolution.
Anderson b. Quay early IN life showed a
disposition for the ministry, and, follow
ing the traditional bent Of his race, he
became a Presbyterian clergyman. lie
made circuit westward beyond the Sus-
quehanna river.
The stories told of Quav's very early
days make him out just the kind of hui
man boy that thousands Of others have
been. One of bis earliest recollections
was that his father one day brought home
to Dillsburg 4 small Bible and Tin
sword, and gave the boy his choice. 1t is
favoriie way of testing the inclinations
of very young people which parents havs
not yet oUtgrown. The small boy in this
case was but years of age. He had
even then. however. some OF the quick
wit which has since been so useful TO him.
He knew very well that his father had no
one else to give that tin sword TO. and he
chose the Bible, greatly to his fathers de
light, and the sword was thrown in, as
the boy knew it would be This kind Of
diplomacy he cultivated as the years went
on On the first ily leaf of the book thus
presented the father had written few
lines of inscription from Scott. On the
next leaf the mother had inscribed some
verses. Young Quay carried this book
with him when he went from home; it
was with him in all his subsequent
wanderings, and today is IA part of the
library at his Beaver hOmc-a quaint lit
tie book III very fine type and stout
leather binding.
1T would have been far better for me-"
said Senator Quay recently, IF had kept
out of politics and settled down to the
law" This Will strike with astonish-
ment those who look upon the political
career of the new senator as one of sue
said il at any time during the wear or two
preceding his election as state treasurer IL |
would have been understood by all: but it
was said after he had been chosen to the |
United States senate. and when it was on
all sides recognized that he held greater
political power than any other man in the
state. What he said, however, was I'M
questionably sincere. Ii the stormy poll |
~ In 4.,+a hN lo> 4i,-r,
years Col Quay has taken more than his |
share Of responsibility, which has not al
ways been desirable.
His sturdy friendships have cost him |
great deal--a great deal more than can |
ever be calculated even by himself. His |
friendship for Andrew G. Curtin through !
n series of years made his political path a |
rough one st the time, and he had 10 fight |
almost hand to hand over every inch Of |
the way. And when he found that politi- |
cal friendship parted and he found himself |
going over other ground and with those |
whom he had previously opposed in the |
party management, he was still fighting /
his way, but he was now doing still more |
for others. and responsibility for their |
methods and plumbers was pretty steadily |
shared BY him, If not wholly loaded upon |
his shoulders. Il is little wonder that he |
should even now feel that he would have |
bcea better off had he settled down to the |
practice of law at the outset. 1t would /
doubtless have brought him wealth, and |
certainly reputation, and political dis |
tinction might then have been had with |
no exertion which has now come after |
years Of turmoil and sacrifice which few |
can comprehend.
II was not alone Quay's ability which |
excited the jealousy and opposition of |
some whom he had sought to serve, for /
it is undeniable that such feeling regard. /
ing him did exist. although but cautiously |
manifested. He was always restless IN |
der any purpose to drive the party, and /
this feeling has grown upon him In the |
stormy conflicts few years ago against
bossisl he never had but one opinion. |
and that was that the party had al in
disputable right to control itself. His |
methods would have saved it from dis |
ruption at that time. and il was duo 10 |
his eKertions IN 1883 that there was sucb
a complete and speedy reunion Of the dif
ferent clements. In 1850. when ii was
desired By Cameron that the national dele
S1tion should be iIlslrIir,a4i for Grant for