The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-27

/ the event of failure to satisfy the public
expectation.
German during the momentous struggle
attracted public attention in an unusual
degree. The responsibility was too great to
be sought, and in the sense of public duty it
was too important to be refused. 1t came to
him by law of political gravitation. The
eminent services he had rendered in the cam.
paign of 1884, when, as chairman of the
National Executive Committee, he saved the
Presidency by courageous action at the most
critical hour, impressed the Democrats with
an abiding faith in his exceptional fitness for
any trust they might confde to his keeping.
Other experiences confirmed that conviction.
Hence the choice was unanimous, and even
mandatory, that he should stand before the
country as the authorized representative of
the Democracy. Personal jealousy and envy,
the chief irritants of public life, and of the
wedges of party disintegration, wholly dis
appeared in presence of the necessity for
one directing mind, known to be equal to the
emergency. That supreme confidence was
justified by every act and utterance from first
to last. He organized the minority on the
system of Won Moltke in military affairs by
preparing as far as possible for every foreseen
emergency, expecting occasional repulses,
but believing that success would finally come
with support which at the start was invisible
to the public, and was unsupported by the
Republican majority
This policy was executed without halt or
a blunder. The voluntary discipline was of
itself an imposing spectacle, as the Democrats
in both houses moved like an automatic ma
chine, without a word of command or an
outward sign of obedience to any authority.
Every man was at his post, and no roll call
was needed to assure a full vote.
Here stood leader who wore no badge Of
power, one of whose main elements of strength
was the absence of any color of self assertion.
Endowed with great executive ability, always
self possessed, decorous in debate, strong in
every assumed position and gifted with much
personal magnetism, it excites no wonder
that he should attract large friendship and
affection, and be recorded among the fore
most of the Senate without regard to party.
Day and night in all the prolonged struggle,
when the Republicans employed every expe-
dent to exhaust and to break down the Demo-
cratic line, he was on guard-fresh, collected,
cheerful, and ready for the next move of the
enemy. At times, when the outlook seemed
gloomy, his example of steady devotion and
brave words dispelled doubt and rallied the
despairing to new energy.
The mental and physical strain of this
duty, with the superadded heavy anxiety
hanging over every movement, could not have
been borne but for the well regulated life,
temperate habits and reserve of the strength
which he carefully husbanded for this severe
trial.
The Republican leaders, when defeated on
their own field, could not withhold their
admiration for an opponent who was fair,
manly and fearless with the odds against him.
| They did not hesitate to say that no such
exhibition of masterful management as Mr..
German displayed on the Force bill had ever
been seen in all their experience.
Mr.. German is not an orator in the pop
ular view. But he is a speaker who COM
mands the full attention of the Senate, who
goes right to the heart of his subject, and is
clear and convincing to the most ordinary
mind. As sound, reliable and statesman
like legislator he has no superior and few
equals in Congress. He has studied the
machinery of government thoroughly: he
knows its wants and its wastefulness, and as
a member of the Committee on Appropria-
tons he has saved millions by the exposure
of improper demands and estimates.
At 81 years of age, and without any of the
adventurous aids of family or fortune in a
State where these elements enter largely into
public life, he has risen from the place of
page in the Senate to the front rank in that
body by common consent. Certainly no
ordinary man could achieve this sort of dis
tinction.
Mr.. German disdains any personal credit
for the victory achieved under his leadership.
But every true Democrat in the Union who
followed his course on the Force bill knows
that no honor which could be conferred upon
him would fill the measure of gratitude due
to that patriotic and most valuable service.