The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-02-07
Age Counts for Nothing.


\ writer in last weeks ADVOCATE, upon
the sort of man for Governor, said the
times demanded a man of ripe Judgment,
of business capacity &c, man OF years,
and suggested that the candidate from
Carroll is still young, and the youngest,
perhaps that has ever aspired to the gov
ernship. and therefore can afford to wait.
Age, in the matter of years, is OF no
consequence in selecting public servants.
Capacity to serve is the only question.
Wisdom is not always associated with gray
locks and wrinkled front, nor do youth and
inexperience 90 hand in hand Charles
XII of Sweden was but little more than
eighteen when he fought the battle Of
Narva, and routed 10000 intrenchcd Rus
slams with an army of 5000 Swedcs. Rich
elieu was Frances Secretary of State at
twenty-five Jefferson was but thirty-three
when he wrote the Declaration of lndepen-
dence. and Madison but thirty-siX when he
draughted the Constitution. Alexander
Hamilton was made Secretary of the Treas
ury at thirty. two, and George Washington
was but forty-three when he was appointed
to command the Revolutionary army.
Samuel Chase, of Maryland, was only thir-
ty-three when he was sent to the CONT
mental Congress. and but thirty five when
he affixed his signature to the charter of
American liberty. The ''Iathers of the
republic" were in reality young men. Of
the forty signers of the Declaration Of In
dependence, only five had reached the age
of sixty Twenty were less than torty-five,
and all the leading spirits were less than
forty. History is full of examples of dis
tinguished services of young men, and in
our own day there are many Of them
whose abilities have placed them in high
and exalted positions. Massachusetts Gov.
ernor is but thrty-two, and Pennsylvania 5
but forty, and eight years ago he filled the
same position. Cleveland was only forty.
five when he was chosen Governor of the
first State in the Union and but forty-seveu
when elected President
In our own State many young men have
been chosen to high positions. Luther
Martin was bnt thirty when appointed At.
torney-General, and he was chosen again
at the age of seventy John Henry was
Governor at forty-seven, and previously
had served two terms in Congress, lower
house. and term in the Senate. Edward
Lloyd was Governor at thirty, serving two
terms in Congress previously. William
Paca was chosen Governor at forty, and
he, too, had previously held a number of
responsible positions. In later years Mary
land had a number of young men as Chief
Magistrate-Enoch Louis Lowe at thirty;
William Pinkney White at forty-sevcn,
James b. Groomc at thirty-six and Henry
Lloyd at thirty-two. Charles B. Roberts
was a Presidential Elector at twenty-six, Il
Congressman at thirty-two. and Attorney
General at forty
Not youth alone has borne all the honors.
D'Isracl directed the British Empire when
he was sevcnty-fvc; Gladstone nearly
eighty, is the most conspicuous and ahlest
statemen fthe British empire. Bismarck
the greatest statesman in Continental Eu
rope, was nearly eighty, when recently he
retired from the active management of the
German Empire, and virtual mastery of the
Continent. Among American statesmen,
today, very many of the most eminent
are past three-Score and ten.
Persons cannot be measured by their
years, either as to their mental or physical
ability. 1t is true wisdom comes of expe-
rience, but experience can only be obtained
by practice. If young men are not given
opportunities, their merits will remain un-
tested. Happily there is no bar to their
entry TO the public service and the road to
public preferment is open to all who as
pire.
Mr.. Frank Brown, in years, is nearing
the middle age, though he has all the ply
steal vigor of one of twenty-five. Nor is
he without experience, Twelve or fourteen
years ago he served two terms in the House
of Delegates, and acquired considerable
knowledge of state affairs, and he has taken
much interest in public matters ever since.
President Cleveland appointed him post
master of Baltimore, and his administra
ton of the office was marked with signal
ability His administrative ability and
business capacity havealso been well shown
in the management of the Agricultural
Society. State Fairs and other enterprises.
He is gentleman of energy, of excellent
business capacity, and if chosen Governor
would give the people iudicious business
administration.
Gov Pattison, Of Pennsylvania, had
scarcely gotten warm in the uubernatorial