Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-03-08


the finest figure in the United States SEN
ate of to-day that has been published. |
The portrai. is very valuable, inasmuch |
as 1t is not photograph, but a free.
hand sketch, with all the graphic move |
ment and life that a picture of that |
nature allows. There are some slight |
inexactnesses, rs Delawarcans familiar |
with the personality of the man they so
admire, will discern. But against that
there is the genuine familiar pose of the
Senator we all know so well and recog-
nize In the present sketch. 1t is life
like in the fact that the picture shows
the Senator just arising to meet ques.
ton, his intent eyes glancing straight to
the point of attack, hands in pocket,
and whole form intent and brsced for
argument.
II is in all respects the best idea of the
general appearance of Senator Gray
that has yet been published, as 1t affords,
with remarkable felicity, true picture
Of the Senator as he is daily seen. In
company with the picture is printed the
following biographical story;
AMAN WHO ATTRACTED ATTENTION.
Among the men who attracted atten-
ton in the Democratic National Con-
ventions of 1880 and 1884 was George
Gray of Delaware. lie went to Gin
cinnati and Chicago as the advocate Of
his friend, Senator Bayard. He was
then encouragement of his State. Little
was known of him outside of Delaware
and the neighboring States, for he is a
man who permits his character to speak
for him, and does not seek opportunities
to secure an audience or to enlarge the
number of his acquaintance. When he
had addressed the first Democratic con-
vention in behalf of the nomination of
Mr.. Bayard, it was agreed by all who
heard him that the orator and the
| speech were worthy of the occasion
and the subject; SO that when the
| second occasion came, at Chicago,
| Mr.. Gray's nominating speech was
| looked forward to as sure to be one of
the agreeable episodes Of the conven.
ton. In these two conventions there
was presented to the Democratic party
one of those promising opportunities
upon which tho party in its modern
mood has so persistently turned its back.
The MASSACHUSETTS Democrats, coming
| out of their bondage 10 the worst ele-
ments of their party, through the trials
and tribulations of Butlerism, were
turning their faces to the rising sun.
Men like Leverett, Saltonstall, and
Francis Bird, old Democrats with young
hopes and aspirations and quick con-
sciences, were clearing the way for the
new men who have made the name of
Democrat of deeper and better import
in the old Bay State. When Massachu-
sets was called in the convention of
1880, Mr.. Saltonstall, speaking the voice
of tho majority of his delegation,
seconded Mr.. Gray's nomination of Mr..
Bayard. If the southern men in that
convention had been AS free from fears
and doubts as they might have been, Mr..
| Bayard would have been nominated,
and the Democratic party would have
been saved the fatal Hancock expert
ment.
Senator Gray, like Senator Bayard,
has for years been one of the forces for
good in the Democratic party, one Of the
leaders who have attracted to the party
the Independent voters who have made
its victories possible, because they have
hoped to make the party represent the
principles of economic and administra.
tive reform, to which the Republican
party was either actually opposed, or in
behalf of which its advocacy was cold
and meaningless. There was time, some
10 years ago, when Mr.. Bayard was the
one public man who seemed to unite
the Democratic party with the indepen-
dent voters who had gown dissatisfied
with the practices and tendencies of the
Republican party. 1t was generally sup
posed that he stood alone in his State,
and therefore the appearance of man
of such evident character as Attorney
General Gray was somewhat of a sur
prise. Delaware had persisted in send
ing ordinary men as colleagues to Mr..
Bayard in the Senate and as its Repre-
sentatives in the popular branch of Con
gress, so that it had been accepted as a
fact that Mr., Bayard was the only con.
siderable public man of the State, al
least in the Democratic party. The truth
Is, however, that faction politics had
more to do with this state of things than
the merits of individuals, for Delaware
Id those days, being firmly under the
command OF the Democrats, was divided
between the Bayard and salisbury fac.
tons, with the balance slightly in favor
; of the latter. Mr. Gray's first Office was
by appointment of the governor. The
first elective office he held was the Sen
atorship.
The Senator's father, Andrew @. Gray
was one OF the distinguished lawyers o.
Delaware, and stood on even terms with
/; James A. Bayard and Secretary Clayton
George Gray was born at New Castle
on May 4th, 1910. He WIS graduated a
; Princeton College in 1859. After gradu
: alton he studied law with his father anC
at Harvard College, and was admitted
to the bar in 1868. For 16 years he prac
ticcd his profession with distinguished
: success, and was regarded not only a
one of the first lawyers Of his State, bu
5 as one of the soundest lawyers of tn
section of the country in which h
dwelt. His first appearance in nationa
politics was in 1876, when he attended
!, the national convention at st. Loui
= which nominated Mr.. Tilden. In 1877
- he was appointed attorney-general O
/. the State by Governor Hall, and was re
I appointed by Governor Stockley in 1886
!, 1t was while holding this Office that hi
= worth became generally known throug
!, the part which he took IN moving tn
= nomination of Mr.. Bayard, as has beel
already narrated.
1t was fitting in every way, when MI
Bayard was appointed Secretary o
,s State by Mr.. Cleveland at the begin
!. ming of his first term, in 1885, that MI
!. Gray should be named as his successor
Is In mind and in character no was Gel
II tainly the equal of the Democrati
r. leader who preceded him.
IF From his first entrance upon hi
l. duties as Senator Mr.. Gray has bee
recognized as leader. BY tempers
ment he is peacemaker, but he is
peacemaker who does not compromis
8 his principles as he understands then