The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-09-11
SENATOR QUAY
AFTER VICTORY.
HIS LAST THE GREATEST STRUGGLE OF
THE SILENT MANS LIFE.

III Jn ~ IOlt Il
HIS LAST THE GREATEST STRUGGLE OF
THE SILENT MANS LIFE.
AN IRON HANDIN SILK GLOVE
From the New York Herald.
Senator Matthew Stanley Quay,
whose matchless leadership in Penn
sylvania politics has been proven by
his election to the chairmanship OF the
Republican State committee over the
strongest opposition that he ever en-
countered, has a political history reach
ing back forty-two years. Perhaps
there has been no struggle in which he
has taken keener interest than this
last one. He has not reached the pc
riOd of decline in life, but is entering
upon that mellow age which gives him
the strongest desire possible to main
tain his proud political position 4 few
years longer. He was eager for the
test. The test came and he is once
more master stronger in his strong
hold than ever before.
Bitter was this last fight Quay waS
ed because il was a family affair and at
this very hour of his triumph he points
not only to his iron hand that killed
his foes, but also to his velvet gloves
that soothed the feelings of his beaten
brothers. This is, in epitOme, the secret
of Colonel Quay's success i'm political
life. He knows when to use the iron
hand, and also when to Use the velvet
glove. He steers when the fight is over
that beautiful middle course which
captivates and charms human nature
because from it there is scarcely any
room for reaction.
You may no longer wonder where
Quay gets his fighting blood, for il is
sturdy Scotch ancestry that gave it to
him. His father, a Presbyterian cler-
gyman, reared his son to withstand
the storms of life and to make his word
bond. And even in his tender years
he showed the drift of his mind toward
political sagacity. When his father
brought home Bible and IA sword he
asked his son which he would have.
He was to chose one, and the other was
to De gift for his sister. The boy
wanted both. He chose the Bible be-
cause he knew that the sword would
be of no Use to his dear sister. Ii is
needless to say that this shrewd move
worked beautifully.
While Quay was n student at Jetier-
son College, CanOnsburg, Pa, and dur
ing his term of study before admission
to the bar in 1854, at the age of2l years,
he showed sagacity at all times in
everything that he did. His vigorous
passion for politics led him TO make his
first impression in Beaver county and
the Western section of the State and in
1865 he was appointed ProthOnotary of
the county, was elected to a full term
later and reelected. Then came the
war and be became conspicuous under
Curtin, the great War Governor. He
commanded the One Hundred and
Thirty-fourth Penna. Volunteers for a
time and at the battle of Fredericks-
burg General Tyler complimented him
for his gallantry. Quay resigned from
the army on December =, 1852, to ac-
cept the appointment of State agent at
Washington. \ year later he was
made Military Secretary of the State,
and il Is here that we date the real
beginning of his remarkable rise in
politics. He first worked To be elected
To the State Legislature, succeeding i'm
1865. For two years he was the dOvOt-
ed servant of Curtin.
He assisted the latter in a futile effort
to check the ascendency of Simon Cam
eron in the control of the party. Cam
eron, though in bad odOr, was a tower
of strength, because he controlled a
great fortune and was not afraid TO di-
vert it into the channel of politics in a
business like way. Curtin was soon
hors de combat, and Quay was defeat
ed for the Speakership of the House.
Colonel Quay saw no personal advant-
age in Il continued warfare against the
Camerons, for J. Donald Cameron was
working with his father. He was am
bilious to rule with those who ruled.
He aspired to control men in success
ful, not losing campaigns.
The conversion of Quay to the Cam
eronian dynasty was complete. AT
this period Robert w. Maekey was the
ablest lieutenant of the CamcrouS, but
soon he was replaced by this rising
star The latter was more aggressive
and suited the time. Quay's zeal was
always burning; his magnetism was ir
resistible. Where diplomacy or argu-
ment or brilliant strategy was needed;
where men were to be approached by
persuasion in all the varied forms that
persuasion, in political contests, is ca
pable Of assuming ; where an enemy
was to be won with overtures or legis-
lation to be urged on to rapid compile
ton, Quay was the genius of it all.
Quay was not altogether careful of de
tail He has always been the general
for great emergency, where the very
recklessness of daring carries aminOr-
ity to victory.
4
Senator Quay can stand more abuse TO
the square inch than most men. He
will not let you smite the other cheek,
but he will pull you aside by the coat
sleeve and begin to argue with you.
He will tell you that you are wrong
and then proceed 10 show in plausi-
BILE and friendly manner that he is not
such bad man after all, but very
genial hearted gentleman. His ability
to Withstand abuse and slander has
won him many friends 1t is human
nature to admire man who has the
pluck to endure the smites as well a