The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-20
Senator PenrOse.

The new senator from Pennsylvania
will go to Washington facing one of
the brightest prospects that ever greet
ed an American legislator. He VIII enter
the senate at an age Offering the prom
ise of more than thirty years of active
usefulness, yet already equipped with
twelve years of valuable experience
gained at the capitol of his native state.
He will have at his command one OF the
most compact and influential political
organizations known to American poll
tics. supplemented by the counsel OF
colleague without n superior as man
ager of men. His Introduction to the
larger field which he is about to enter
has been accomplished with suthclehl
regard for dramatic effect to attract
to his interesting personality the
amount of public attention necessary
to give him a favorable start In tact
no preliminary is lacking to a most pro-
pitious beginning; and as further
stimulus to high endeaVor he has before
him the knowledge that a considerable
element among his constituency, view
ing him i'm the light of misrepresenta-
tion. will watch with intentness Tor
things to criticize.
We believe that Boies PenrOse Will
prove equal to his opportunity rms
belief rests largely upon the demon
stration which he has already given OF
his ability to face discontinue, rise
above detraction and Wrest victory out
of seeming defeat. Hitherto Mr.. PEN
roses intellectual dimensions and
strong force of character have been
more or less Obscured in the smoke and
fog of fractional conflict That conflict
has not been without value to him. 1t
has stifled natural tendency to indo-
lence, given spur to natural talents at
one time seemingly threatened with
rust, and taught the young man that in
Cessant vigilance. coupled at times with
desperate battle is the price of political
supremacy. Penrose has been broad
ened and strengthened by adversely.
The common belief was never more err
roneous than when it ascrhed his VIC
tory over Wanamaker to the grace of
Quay. 1t was, indeed. Quay who shaped
was Penrose's own indefatigable per
tinacity, indomitable viii and the power
of inspiring heroic friendship that sin
le-handnd laid the foundations of the
success of his candidacy. He even more
than Quay was from the beginning the
master of the situation.
But now the dominating and relent-
,t
assume the place of a servant in high
position of the whole state. 1t We're idle
to expect him to discard the means by
which he has risen to his new emf
nence, nor is ingratitude among the ac-
Cusattons against him; but while hold
ing fast to the friends who We're in
struggle tested, Senator Penrose will
doubtless appreciate the wisdom of
broadening the plane of his future op-
erations to fit the futures enlarged ne
cessities. II will now be as the sem
ator and not as the factionalst
that he will have to identify him.
self before the people. In the
fate of his predecessor, Senator
Cameron, he will perceive a vivid illus
tration of the unwisdom of exclusive
ness and of the peril of assuming to set
personal prejudice before manifest pub
lie opinion. Mr.. PenrOse has ii within
his power, without any real sacrifice of
personal independence, to become as
popular a senator as Mr. Cameron has
proved an unpopular one. The cOndi-
tions are wholly in his favor. Youth
Vigor, ability pride, personal presence,
political fertilization, all supplement
and reinforce strong natural ambition
We do not see how, under these circum-
stances, Senator Penrose can possibly
fail to acquit himself with credit to
himself and to his state.