The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-07-05
DEATH OF GEN. CAMERON.
HE NEVER RALLIED FIR )M THE PARALYIIC
STROKE.

SIhOhE.
Gen. Simon Cameron died Wed
nesday evening, June &c, sho.tly after
8 o'clock. His last moments were
peaceful, and up to a short time before
the end he appeared to be conscious OF
his surroundings. During the day he
had shown a desire for food, which
was given to him in small Quantities.
He experienced no trouble swallowing.
But the wonderful constitution, Which
through ninety years hal withstood all
kinds of assaults, had been undermined
beyond the hope of assistance.
The Generals vitality was a great
surprise to the doctors, who, all day
before, were encouraged to hope that
he might survive until the return of
bis son, Senator Cameron, who sailed
that day from Liverpool The desire to
see his son appeared to be uppermost
in the aged statesman's mind. For
several days previous to the attack, he
regretted his absence and longed to
have him with him.
Around the bedside, when the last
summons came, were his daughters,
Mrs. MacVeagh and Mrs llaldemap,
ex-Attorney-General MacVeagh, Simon
b. Cameron, grandson, and wife, Jas
Cameron, son of the senator, Mrs. Da-
vid Watts, a granddaughter, and his
old body-servant. John, who for years
watched over the aged General with
the greatest solicitude. General Cam
eron was buried at Harrisburg, where
his wife is Inferred.
No man ever welded so command
ing an influence and power in Pennsyl-
vania politics as Simon Cameron. H.
was the last of line of political lead
ers In the two great parties who were
obeyed by large misses of men as i'm
plicitly as soldiers obey their officers
and officers their general.
Before Simon Cameron laid down
the scepter of his power in Penusylva-
mia he, not the Pennsylvania Railroad,
nominated it's Governors, Congress
men, Senators and Representatives.
In 1877, when he at last grew weary
of public life, he handed his son into !
his seat in the Senate, as if it were a
piece of family property. Political |
rivals and opponents protested and de-
The Lochie chief faced
the storm unmoyed, while every hill
sice and valley rang with the defiant
shouts of Clan Cameron. No tariff
baron, however rich or powerful, ever
presumed to dictate TO him what he
ihould say or what he should do. One
md all, they came to receive ord
srs, not TO give them. Presidents and
'abinets courted his support. No
mans advice was more sought aud
more followed. He was a leader of
eaders in party councils and party
His knowledge OF men
vas profound and no one knew better
ban he how TO regain what had been
ost or preserve what had been won.
lie never abandoned a friend. He
arely forgave an enemy. Honors
nd offices were the legitimate rewards
{ party service aud belonged to those i
Tho had won them. This was his /
leory, as, indeed, il was the theory of :
! his contemporaries. He began his Z
olitical life as a Jackson Democrat, {
I'd his methods were as autocratic as v
ose of "Od Hickory himself. He Il
as proud of his scotch decent, and h
Highland chieftain ever stood by S
} clan more Loyalty than he did by d
] political adherents. This system ii
political feudalism has almost en- "
ely passed away; indeed it may lC