The evening times., 1895-09-03
IRON HAND N SILK GLOVE
4 Study Of The Character Of Matthew
Stanley Quay.
The Last and Greatest Success of
''the Silent Mans" Life-Victory
Sits Well on Him.
tFrom the New York Herald,

Sits Well on Him.
(From the New York Herah.)
Senator Matthew Stanley eaay, whose
matchiess leadership in Pennsylvania poll
tics has been proved by his election In the
Craftsmanship OF the Republican State COM
niittee over the strongest opposition that he
ever encountered. has a political history
reaching 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 period of decline in
life, but is entering upon that mellow age
which gives him the strongest desire possi-
BILE to maintain his proud pplitcial position
few years longer He was eager for the
test. The test came and he is once more
niaster-stronger in his stronghold than ever
before.
Bitter was this last fight that Qua waged
because 1t was 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 epNome. the secret of Col. Quay success
in political life. He knows when e., Use
the iron hand, and when to use the velvet
glove. He steers when the fight is over
that beautiful middle course which capti-
Yates and charms human nature, because
from it there is scarcely any room for
reaction.
You may M longer wonder where Quay
gets his fighting blood, for it Is a sturdy
Scotch ancestry that gave it to him. His
father, a Presby yteriancIergym yman, reared his
son to withstand the storms of life and to
make his word a bond. And even in his
tender years he showed the drift of his mind
toward political sagacity. When his father
brought home Bible and a sword he asked
his son which lie would have. He was to
choose one and the other was to be gift
for his sister. The boy wanted both. He
chose the Bible because he knew that the
sword would be of no use to his dear sister.
IL is needless to say that this shrewd move
! worked beautifully.
While Quay was student at Jefferson
College, Canonsburg, Pa, and during his
term of study before admission to the bar
i'll 1854, 1T the age of 81 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 Beave.
county and the western section OF the State
and in 1855 he was appointed prothonotary
of the county, was elected to full term
later and reelected Then came the war and
he became conspicuous under Curtin, the
great war Governor. He commanded the One
Hundred and Thirty-fourth Pennsylvania
Volunteers for time and at the battle of
Fredericksburg, Gen, Taylor compli-
niented him for his gallantry. Quay re-
signed from the army on December Z, 1862,
to accept the appointment of State agent
at Washington. year later he was made
Military Secretary of the State, and 1t is
here that we date the real beginning of his
renIa rkable rise in politics.
Quay first worked to be elected to the
State legislature, succeeding in 1865.
For two years he was the devoted Servant
of Curtin. He assisted the latter In futile
effort to check the ascendancy OF Simon
Cameron in the control of the party. Cam
eron, though in bad odor. was tower OF
strength, because he controlled great
fortune and was not afraid 10 divert 1t
into the channel of politics i'll business
like way Curtin was soon hors de COM
bat, and Quay was defeated for the
Speakership OF the House. Col Quay saw
no personal advantage in a continued war
fare against the Camerons, for j. Donald
Cameron was working with his father. He
was ambitious TO rule with those who
ruled. He aspired to control men in sue
cessful, not losing campaigns
The conversion OF Quay to the Cameroniaa
dynasty was complete. AT this period Rob
ert w. MacSey was the abiest lieutenant
of the Camerons, but soon he was replaced
by this rising young star. The latter was
more aggressive and suited the time
Quay's zeal was always burning: his mag
natism was irresistible. Where diplomacy
or argument or brilliant strategy was
needed; where men were to be approache
by persuasion in all the varied forms that
persuasion in political contests is capable
of assuming; where an enemy was TO be
won with overtures, or legislation to De
urged on to rapid completion, Quay was
the genius of it all. Quay was not alto
gethcr careful of detail. He has always
been the. general for great emergency,
where the very recklessness Of daring car
ries a minority to victory.
Senator Quay can stand more abuse to
the square inch than most men. He VIII
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 to show
in q plausible and friendly manner that he
ia not such a 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 ad-
mire q man who has the pluck to endure
the smItes as well as the smiles of men.
Personally Senator Quay would never i'm
press one. He has no dandy manners, no
love for dress, no desire to shine in the
social world, no liking for the life of
literary man. He is in many respects
composite character. He can content him
self alone or he can be happy in the midst
of his friends. The colonel is fond of his
lone fisherman habits. and he is equally
fond of a chat with those who know him.
He is not q oonversationalist in the sense
that lie seeks to charm every person who
admires great ability, but when friend
comes into his room in whom he has COM
pletc confidence he will open the doors of
his speech and talk interestingly hour
after hour withal. in his personal rela-
tions he is gracious and unassuming. The
man who expects to find In him perfect
type of a mere politician Will be very
much disappointed.
He is broad-minded on all affairs, and