The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1889-07-27

years since he entered into politics, and five
years after his advent he was was one Of
the most powerful politicians In the State.
The county or Reform Democracy had all
the patronage and all the power Tam-
many Hall, with its hundred years of Dem
ocratio traditions and triumphs, was driven
to the wall a shatterered wreck, and many
thought that there it would lie forever
Hubert o. Thompson occupied the posi-
tion formerly held by William M. Tweed,
and Maurice b. Flynn was the power behind
the throne. Mayor Edison was about going
out, and he was anxious to appoint Com
missioner of Public Works to rob the IN
coming Mayor Of the power of appointment
of the best office in the gift of the city.
Hubert o. Thompson had given mortal Of
fence toseveral members of the Board of
Aldermen, and they would not listen to his
re-appointment. In the nick Of time Mr..
Flynn put in his fine work by nominating
Rollin b. Squire, political tramp, whose
name was utterly unknown to New York
politicians, and was unknown to the Mayor
shameful and humiliating bargains Mr..
Squire was appointed Commissioner of
Public Works, and Mr.. Flynn and Hubert
o. Thompson proceeded to divide the fifty
millions of plunder that lay in the pew
aqueduct job. Then Rollin B. Squire, find
ing himself firm in the saddle, turned upon
the men who made him. The ingratitude
broke Thompson's heart and sent him to a
suicides grave; but Flynn was made of
sterner stuff = he turned upon Squire; the
scandal became public property. Mayor
Grace who had been robbed of the appoint
ment, got Squires letter from Hubert o.
Thompson died, wherein, in consideration
for the Office he abjeetly promised to become
the henchman Of Flynn and Thompson.
The integrity Of the party was in deadly
peril when the Governor came to rescue
Squire was knocked out of his office and
Flynn was particul larly driven from public
life.
Highly sensitive, and proud of his great
achievements, he had meyer up to this time
met serious defeat. He held his rule with
an iron hand that brooked no opposition.
AT last it became life and death struggle
between the powerful Democratic organiz-
ations, Tammany and the County Demo
cracy. Flynn's Iron rule cost him many of
the County Democracy's most able chief
tains, and they went over to the Tammany
camp. In the last election Tammany won
everything, and the sceptre passed from
MIR. FlYnn's hands, never to come back.
From that moment he was changed man:
his health broke and ablest medical skill
was only able to postpone the day which
was bound TO end in death. Up to the last
moment he was full of far-reaching plans
in which fabulous millions were involved.
Pallid, worn, and racked with pain, a yul-
ture constantly gnawing at his yitals hard
ly able to stand on his feet, he still thought
death far off-and so he died. His life may
be taken as warning and an example.
His natural instincts were those of o gen.
| leman, and his life all through tar above
| the average of men. He had sound princi-
pies and sterling character, which preserved
him from falling amid temptations where
weaker men perish.
Stripped of power, suddenly hurled
| from imperial position, the heart of the
| proud man broke. Deserted by those for
tunes he had made, their ingratitude
stung him to the quick, and his constitu-
tion, never strong sank under his accumu-
lated misfortunes. His obituary may be
briefly summed up thus: Poor ignorant
and frlendless, he came TO New York at
| eighteen years of age; by his own industry
and self denial he was an accomplished
scholar at twenty-fve; he was prosperous
manufacturer on the high road to fortune
at thirty; at thirty-five he was the gieat-
est political leader in the Empire State; ;
and he died at forty millionaire, but with
all his wealth, broken-hearted bankrupt.
The fatal step of his life was when he was
lured into politics. Up to that time his
life had been success; but from that
moment he trod the pathway of certain
ruin.
| Let the young men who are working for
| political advancement measure their
chances not by those called political failures
but by ne successes, and then ponder on
the result. Webster, Clay and Douglas
sank disappointed to their graves. Lincoln
and Garfield were assassinated. Andrew
johnson was driven in disgrace from
Washington. Roscoe Conklin and Reuben
E. Fenton were bounded out of public life.
| Tweed, John Kelly, Hubert 0. Thompson
all proclaimed life failure, and now the
great leader Maurice B. Flynn sinks broken
hearted TO his grave utterly wrecked at
forty.
| Another death that caused profound
sensation was that of S. L. NJ. Barlow, who
stood at the head of the New York bar as
a corporation lawyer. Mr.. Barlow will be
remembered as a member of the law firm
that was robbed by their chief clerk Bedell
OF -Four hundred thousand dollars, the
great bulk Of which he alleged he lost
playing policy. The blow fell with crush
ing weight on Mr.. Barlow, for he had
made the guilty man friend companion
for twenty years. In fact he never re-
covered from the shock. No attorney in
New York lived in moro liberal style. He
had fine honse up town and magnificent
country seat at Glen Cove, where he died.
He was royal entertainer-some of the
very best company in the State being
found at his table, and his judgment on
art matters was of the very best. He is
another illustration of the possibilities of
our American life. He, like Maurice B.
Flynn, came to New York country boy,
poor and friendless, but by his own in
domitable energy he worked his way up
patiently to the foremost place among the
great lawyers of the land, and in the full
ness OF years dies, is supposed, worth a
couple of millions of dollars.