Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-02-28
SENATOR KENNA.
Icontinuea from Frs, Page

this critical period OF MS ire Hisso-j
he was assisted by his friends, and es-
pecially by Bishop Whelan, and under
their advice entered ST. NincentS
Academy at Wheeling, where he re-
NAMED for two and One-halt years
Possessed Of o quick, bright and vlgor-
ous intellect. he improved every moment
OF his time by earnest application 70 MS
studies. and when be left his anna
mater he had accomplished in training
his intellect aud storing his mind Win
those fundamental principles upon
which he was 10 build his future repu-
tation, as much as any one csuld have
done I'm that period of time. lie then en-
tered the law Office of Miller X Quarter,
the members of which firm were disun-
guished for their learning, ability ana
high personal character, for the purpose
OF reading law.
Recognizing that the law was jeal-
Gus mistress, no dcvOtee ever ueVOteu
himself more earnestly and enthusiaS-
tically to the divinity OF his faltn or
suDerstition than did Mr.. kcnna 70 the
pursuit and mastery OF legal principles.
He was admitted 20 the bar IN June,
1870. Prior 20 that time there existed
what was known as The lawyers test
OATH. which, by It's operation, prohibited
apy one who had aided, abetted, or sym
tbized with the Confederate States from
entering into the practice OF the DroIeS-
sion OF law. Ia o memorable speech
made by Mr.. kenna 10 the Senate OF the
10th aud 18th days Of December, lS9O'
he refers 70 this statute, the diihcultles
imposed upon him by its operation, ana
the struggles which marked his life at
that time, in the following language;
Mr.. President, should certainly not
offer myself in Illustration OF q great SUD-
iect like this. but when i had returned, IN
a. good faith as any mortal man ever ac-
cepted "a situation, 20 nay home, lmpover-
ished by circumstances over when i haO no
control, as were thousands around ana
about me; when had devoted almost every
hour of the daytime and the night tltne ~, 20
ft myself as well es posi- oily could Tor tue
pursuit of the profession which / desired 70
enter. when had 10 build my own fire,
boil nv own meat, bake my own bread 70
be able 10 hold in nv hand a certificate that
would admit me 20 the bar, had 70 slt ia
enforced idlenCss for SIX long anu weary
months until the laws which for0ade me 10
earn my bread were wiped from the statute
books.
Mr.. KenDa acted with his usual dis
erection and sound Judgment In select
ing thelaW as the prOiessionto which 10
consecrate his splendid abilities. lie
possessed a mind both analytical aud
logical. He compre hended the princi-
pies which should govern and control
his case with q clear, penetrating, judg-
.1sns that appeared 20 be more the re-
knl5 of intuition than reason; he grasped
The prominent facts involved 10 the rec
ord. and with a felicity Of expression
celdom excelled by one Of his years and
experience, he presented his cause 70
court or Jury so cOmpactly, with the
lines OF distinction so clearly drawn, aud
the lights and shadows so artistically
thrown upon the picture be had con-
ceived, that his clients case had the ap-
parent advantage Of its presentation TO
the final arbiters Of his rights, objective
IL as we'll as subjectively.
Asa lawyer aud as an advocate he
ranked among the leaders In his PROBES
sion, and had but few, il any, superiors
10 our State.
HE YaSalways popular with the peo-
Hi1oSg whom be lived, and his ability
as lawyer being promptly recognized
he was. at the age OF tWenty-iOur, two
years after his admission TO the bar
elected Co the position OF prosecuting
attornev OF hts native county OF Kama
wba. He entered into the contest for
this nomination with the ardor Of youth
and the strongest ambitiOh TO succeed.
He appealed % the younger element or
his party 90 support his claims, and dur
ing the canvass formed friendships that
were never chilled or loOSened 10 the
hour of his death.
Tradition tells us that 10 was very i'm
portant for him to carry one Of the dis
tricts of his county that had always
been controlled by gentlemen who were
antagonistic to his nOmintion. He per-
sonally took charge Of that section Of
the county; aroused his friends TO the
highest pitch Of enthusiasm, and having
triumphantly carried the delegation in
his favor, he retired from the conyen-
ton to the back yard of one OF his
friends, and with several OF his youth
full lieutenaats, who had stood by him so
Loyalty In the contest, engaged in the
amusement OF a game Of marbles.
Mr.. Kenna soon found the prOsecut-
ing att0rneyship too narrow a field for
the exercise of his great abilities and the
qualification OF that laudable ambition
which was part of his very nature. In
1874 be offered himself as a candidate
for Congress In the Third Congressional
district Of West Virginia, but failed to
receive the nomination by few votes.
Failures are with heroic minde the
stepping-StOneS % success" In 1876, at
the age Of 2S years, undaunted by his
previous failure or the fact that he had
as his competitors two OK the strongest
men in his district-the earnest and eiO-
Quent Frank Hereford, and the able and
brilliant orator, Henry ). Walker, he
boldly announced his candacy, and fixed
his appointments with view of can
vaSSing the district for the nomination.
His able and logical discussion of the
great questions that were then agitat-
ing the public mind, and his eloquent
appeals. rallied 20 20 his support 4 ma
iority Of his party, aud when the con-
yentiOn was held be received the nom
ination and was elected by an over
Whelming majority.
An incident occurred i'm this campaign
which well illustrates his methods as a
leader and politician. Mr.. Kenna never
fought under cover, yet az the same
time his movements were always con-
trOllei by the most consummate diplo-
macy. His biOCrapher tells US Of this
incident IN the following language:
The only objection urged against Mr.
Kenna was his lack OF years aud expert
ence. He had courage. and though young
ia years he had learned much Of the world
from association with men. A number Of
the leading members OF his party in bis