Evening journal., 1896-01-15
An wish Him woiI.


emireat citizen. Hon. Nathaniel B
smlthers, OF Dover He Is one OF the
most distinguished OF Delawsrs's many
distinguished sons, and our state will
rustaln severe loso should his sickness
terminate fatally.
Mr. Smithers has been a prominent
figure In De'aware's social, political and
legal circles for the past 6fly years. Hls
career has teen remarkable In many
respects and his last hours must be those
OF ssIf-eratulation.
Socially, Mr.. Smithsrs is one Of the
most lovsble men that It has ever blen
the good fortune Of mankind to meet
He lisa gentleman OF the old school with
all the graceful attributes that the name
carries with 10. Always genial and
polite TO his neighbors, both rich aud
poor, he Is 10 return respected aud
beloved By those who knew him and who
have come within the sphere Of his
wholesome psrsonal influence.
Il WAS unfortunate for Mr. Smithers
that hls political opinions ran counter to
the dominant sentiment In Delaware
Had he been Democrat instead Of
Republican, a most brilliant career would
have bson his
In The party Of his choice he has been
prominent figure for nearly forty
years, and has exercised q wonderful
irfaencs 10 keeping together political
organlz .tlon which suffered defsat after
defeat a. the polls. only TO march up to
the guns Of thu Democrats party TO be
defeated again at the next election. l.
must have been source Of great
eratl6oa Ion to him 20 live TO sec a pagty
which he loved 70 phssionotely and for
the success OF which be had lsbored so
devoledly, win at the last general
election.
He has had many hoaors heapad upon
him. Starting out in political life as a
Wing be Was cffrsd the congressional
nomination la 1874 but declined IT, Ho
was then elected clerk Of the House OF
R,presenta.ivss and served Ia that
capacity for two terms In 1913 be
represented the Whigl In the Natlonal
Convention held IN Philadelphia and
agaln declined the congressional
nomination Leaving tha Wing party In
1919 bscauss Of ths temparance plank
in It's platform, he being Ia fayo' Of
restrictive and prohibitory legislation
against the liquor tiains, be becnmo
eniiatsd With the American party, and
later cast bis fortunes with the Ripub-
llcan party, voting for Abraham Lincoln
% the Chicago convention in 1860
Governor Cannon made him secretary OF
state in 1892 aud ho was sent 10 Congress
IN 1868 by msLhods which we're mere
effective than csnmendsbls. Union
soldiers controlling the polling places in
our state and intimldating the Democratic
voters but the same methods wonld have
prevailed hAi any man other than Mr.
smiihers bssn the RopuSlloan candidate
When he raa fsr 70 election he was
defeated b. bis Denlcrasio opponent
He voted for Grant and C,liax at the
convention In 1868. ard for James q
Blaine ia 1880 In the Fail Of 1894
Governor Marvll appointed him secretary
Of state, which ofhcs he rslinqulfhed
upon The death Of Mr Marvil aud ths
Succession Of Mr. Watson.
Tkere is no other Republican in the
state who has had such honors hsspsd
upon him By q pirty which has haa 60
little opportunity to dispense political
preiermsnts
As lawyer he has hsd no superior,
and bu. fer equals, especially 10 his
kno vledgs OF ancient Law. HIS mind is
stored with legsl truths which he has
always bosn rssdI to inpart TO fellow
members Of the bar and especially TO
young men who we're struggling to gain
afoothold In tho profession
10 recognition Of his legal learning the
degree Of d,ctor Of laws was conferred
on him By Lafayette College, from which
be graduated when he was bus eighteen
years OF age.
BAD be been ambitious for wealth and
located In q 6lld like Nav York sr Phil
adelphia, he would have real zsd his am
billion Being a man o. dsmsstis habits,
and loving his native town. he has bssu
content 20 live In the place which gave
him birth, prsferring those .eougeala
and famii surroundings and com
panionships 10 the wealth aud greatness
which would have been his had h'
located in field less cifcunsoribsd
He is a Republican. bus oae Of suct
large parts IN his social. political and
professional relations that Dsmoerat.
can join with thslr natural foes IN Wish
ing HIN a longer lease Of lis, or il
mourriog the loss Of such distinguishes
leader should the dsessa Of the Greai
Law giyer b. one OF death.
Belligerent rights fer Cuba are belnl
considered 6y the ssnste Committee oi
Foreign Relations. Il Is high time the
were granted