Mexico weekly ledger., 1898-12-01

AhNM18AHA8A AGNNAa8N
The washjsSton Post, from which !
have frequently quoted and to whose
editoria. capacity | have frequently re
ferred, deyotes nearly an editorial coll
umn to Mr.. Walkers discontinue, deal.
ing somewhat In political philosophy
which may be Of beneht to young gem
tlanen who are contemplating 0 public
career as the Eurest means Of attaining
eminence and happiness. The article
appears not to be unfriendly to "the
Gray Eagle, "nor yet too friendly. With
the tail Of the editorial the writer hits
Mr.. Thayer, Walkers SUCCESSOR, a
whaok which will probably attract more
than the usual or average amount Of Mt
tention to that Statesman in making his
debut. The Post ,
Zone Of the most notable incidents Of
last Tuesdays elections was the defeat
Of Representative Joseph B. Walker Of
Worcester, in the Third Massachusetts,
district, by the Hon. John r. Thayer,
who is politically classed as a Demo
orat. Mr.. Walker Is now serving his
fifth consecutive term, for which he
was elected by a majority Of 1880
over his Democratic competitor. he nlls
the important position Of chairman Of
the banking and currency committee,
and if the general estimate Of his abili-
ty in finance were equal TO bis own, he
would be regarded as an invaluable
member Of the national legislature. The
Post does not assert that Mr.. Walker
overestimates himself. ID is not The
Posts business to confirm or correct the
publio's view of this matter. The pur-
pose of this article is to explain Mr..
Walkers defeat 1t the hands of his Re-
publican brethren; to show why a ma
jority Of aizaost 10, 900 has been changed
to q minority and q Democrat elected
TO represent a district that lie rock ribbed
In its fidelity 10 Republican principles
at can be said in the first place that
Mr.. Walker is not retired for lack Of
intellectual capacity. His natural en-
dowment and his acquired knowledge
are ample for the efficient discharge Of
his duties as a congressman. The fact
that he was five times elected by such a
constituency as be represents is a sufa-
oient attestation Of his qualifications for
acceptable service.
"But talent without tact is sure soon
er or later to lose its hold on the pop
ular regard, and when talent is supple
mented by o too exalted appreciation Of
Its magnitude on the part Of It's posses
sor the need of a large equipment of tact
Is emphasized. There Is no official posi-
ton In which the tactful man Of aver
ago capacity will not achieve greater
success than the taotless man of superior
intellect.
Walkers Successors.
1.-THE Hartford Courant, referring In
q kindly, sympathetic way to Mr..
Walkers defeat, says; He Is q positive |
quantity. he has been accused Of OBJ
stinacy and a certain infiammahility Of
temper That comes pretty near tell
ing the whole story. He is too positive /
q quantity, too obstinate, too inHam-
mable. If The Courant's explanation Is
not sufficient, Mr.. Walkers WI state
ment, made when he learned that his
brethren had turned him down, will
make up the deficit. He said: 1T is a !
source Of the very highest qualification
TO me that not n word Of legitimate
adverse criticism has been uttered by
friend or foe upon a word written in
the thousands OF letters and articles
written by me, and In speeches, adj
dresses and interviews without number,
and truthfully quoted during my whole
congressional service
Thousands Of letters and articles and
speeches, addresses and interviews with
not number'-where was there ever q
whose popularity could have stood
that strainf The wonder is, not that
mfr. Walker falls in 1898. but that be
was able to stand so long.
Mr. Thayer. who Is to succeed M.
Walker, appears TO be . Democrat who
is thoroughly equipped with Republican
principles and convictions. He is in "a
of sound money and protection, for
the gold standard and the Republican
tariff policy. The Massachusetts Demo
in their platform this year Shrek
ed for I6 10 l and gave no hint of con-
version to the protective policy. On the
question of territorial expansion Mr..
Thayer and Mr.. Walker both stand with
their neighbor, Senator Hoar, in cpposi-
tion to the retention of the Philippines
On one memorable occasion the Hon.
Roger 9. Mills of Texas, then . member
of the house, spoke of Mr.. Cleveland, |
the then president elect for the first
time, as "a Republican Democrat, or
Republican" Does not this
definition dt the factfuI ma who has