Telegram-herald., 1889-07-04

possss>ed llas eleezenSs II Eopaizr fayor-
tf-s lA-naarEafie party hved tongSr Ia
sllceesstsl aeAAeyeaaehts thaa Sny ether.
LIZ tie Ev4ss0B tl44g 4 ste-e1 csts~r - TIE
p*oFls. bst darlas TIE fFss sentimental
es11aksak -lsh slavery II ariftes& lotc ssss
championship II that curse oa 0ar IA
tloE.ai ife and tiaas slsd s~as fFom the
gefaefal selsIlIslSng
-lll.su N21aexon n Is barn Ia Lancaster
oolRty Pa. March ;. l999. Sa.d after
working sexlle ears IS pgiutsg and editor,
entered politics. Ills success ~as phe-
nolaeIal from tie start. AID IN ls45 lie
&s elecssd United States senatoF - sue
ceed JAnles Buchanan. - ho HAD resigned.
No state ssss then more reliably Demo
cratic than Psnnsy lganla, and the Lew
senator went with his party ON al
the COMPROMISES, annexation Of Texas.
Mexican saT and other public issues;
ouI az the gFeaG uplle2yals Of 1886 he
Joined the Republicans. His progress
with them Was 81 rapid that in 1869 he
WAS tie Nominee Of las state for presi-
dent and received fifty votes on the first
ballOt at Chicago. lie had ben elected
United States senator ia 1851. bur Te-
signed 70 become secretary OF war 10
President Lincoln. It is freely conceded
oy hls friends that Ia that POSITION he
was not at his best. ard on Jan Ia, 1862,
he resigned and was appointed minister
To Russia In that position he was still
more misplaced, so he returned the next
November. re-entered the senate in 1860
and remained I'LL 1877, when he re-
signed, declaring that he was done for
ever with public lifeand desired to give
place - his son, j. Donald Cameron.
The son, now Senator Don Cameron.
succeeded at once 10 his fathers political
inheritance, according 10 what 10 jOcu-
larry called "SimOny," or the "Pennsyl-
vania system" and for the most part
the political sway of the Camerons seems
10 remain as firm in Pennsylvania as il
was near two centuries ago in Scotland.
After his retirement the old gentleman
made various trips 10 Florida and Be-
muda, always returning much inn
proved in health. lie remained one of
those rare old men who look upon life
without asPerity and express themselves
with all the vivacity of youth. When
nearing his ninetieth birthday he said:
Il am fond Of public life. l take as
much interest in its lights and shades to-
day as ever did. Although have given
up all active participation in political
affairs, yet l have not lost particle of
my interest in public concerns, and
watch the drift Of political life with as
much interest as ever. BY the way, we
are in the midst of negative era in our
national pIo ,ress that is hardly interest
ing. These are the days when there are
no great questions To call oit the powers
of our leading men. All nations pass
through sentimental, tragic and negative
times. Our sentimental era came with
the struggle against slavery, which
brought on the tragic in the shape of
civil war.
These two combined brought out the
best there was in our public men. and
they followed SO closely upon each other
that each aided in the development of
thought and action upon our national
necessities. The settlement of war aues-
tionS after peace was declared kept
strong men To the front or gave even
weak men an opportunity to show them
selves TO the best advantage. Now there
are no great questions before the coun-
try, and there is entirely too much dispo-
Sition TO talk of lack of brains and as
sertIve power among our public men. 1t
is the fashion of old men especially to
talk of the good old days. No day i'm
our national history was ever brighter or
broader than the present, and if an
called for a display of intel
lectual and physical power we are per
hapS as well prepared today to show as
well if not better than ever in our his
tory"
The social life of the Camerons has al
ways been notably healthful, natural and |
happy. There are two other sons besides |
'Don, but the public hears little of !
them; one, Simon, Jr.. is a thorough |
recluse, and the other, James. a quiet |
business man. Simon Cameron was |
never a high liver, though no liked good |
wine and could drink large amount.
and after retiring TO his old homestead |
le lived life of rural simplicity.
Henry y. Blake.
Henry n. Blake. appointed chief JUS
Ice OF Montana, was born in Boston i'm