The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-07-18
SIMON CAMERON.

Wos1nlrsrox. NIun. July IL, 1889
SIMON CAMERON.
The career Of the late Simon
Cameron was one both unique and
unimposing, and yet one OF the
most effective in American history.
He started in life poor. He devo-
ted his earlier years to business,
investing his means as he acquired
them in enterprises that built up
the country in population and also
in wealth and inventive energy.
He saw that manufactures were es-
sential to the prosperity of his
State, and the, development OF its
resources. He. encouraged man
ufacturing enterprise. He be-
friendsd the men who took the
risks of such enterprises. When;
the times were hard he was the
practical friend of many business
man. in time of need. He did
not believe in speculation as a
means of individual or national
enrichment. He believed in the
American system of creating pro-
property from the soil, from the
mine, from all natures vast re-
sources, by skilled as we'll as rude
labor. That system proposed the
diversifcation of home industries
in order to complete national in
dependence. It proposed to locate
the farm, the mine, the mill, forge
and factory in as close proximity
as possible.
As journalist he defended the
protective policy, as ON that the
success of home manufactures de-
pended. His political theories
were of the most practical charac-:
ter. He used good sense and adap-
means to ends. He was not a SEN
timentalist in either business, pol
itics or philanthropy, but practi-
cal in all things.
He seems to have entered into
political life on the compulsion of
business interests-not his own ex-
clusively or specially, but of the
manufacturers of his State. He
had attained middle life, had long
been q political editor, without
asking or holding any Office of i'm
portance. At length the Democrats
of his State nominated the most
'nb1e uuu prominent free trader III
the State for the United States
Senate. The party was in the ma
jority in the State, and for a men,
Der of the legislature to refuse
obedience to the caucus decree was
a thing unprecedented. Mr.. Cam
eron quietly interviewed some of
the more decided protectionists of
his party, and with the support of
the Wings, whose principle was
that of protection, he secured bolt
ers enough to elect him to the ma
tional Senate.
From that day onward, almost
to tho day of his death, no hand
was SO potential in Pennsylvania
politics as his. Nor was his infiu
ence confined to the party to which
he was ostensibly allied. He often
set in motion causes which placed
men in position whose action he
could control when necessity re-
quired
OF course such a power could
not escape loud and vehement ac-
cusation of corruption. But little
cared he for that. It is possible
that some of his methods were not
invulnerable to criticism, but it is
not possible that power so per-
manent as his could be attained, or
retained by corruption. His power
had a better and broader basis than
corruption can furnish. In the
first place his cause, in it's princi-
pies and measures was essentially
strong. He was too shrewd to al
low himself to be weighted with a
cause inherently weak, or to cripple
himself with the reproach of ques-
able proceedings. Weak men are
apt to be tempted into corrupt
methods which strong men need
not use. Simon Cameron was clear
in his perceptions, and sound in
his judgments, and escaped the en-
tanglements weak men fall into.
The measures he advocated were
in accord with the industrial inter-
ests of his State. He looked at
politics as a battle to be fought with
opposing ideas and interests. He
planned his campaigns wisely, and
moved vigorously. He took moth
ing for granted. He was a keen
discerner of men and knew how to
place them to secure the best re-
sultA He believed in the power