The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1898-10-05
Special corresDondencel

Special CorresDondence1
Philadelphia. Sept. 26.-The United
States senatorship having become a
leading issue in the present campaign.
Senator Quay's reelection being in
volved. our readers will doubtless be
interested in a recital of some Of
the noteworthy events in the unique
career OF Pennsylvania senior sena-
tor. beside whom. up 10 the present
time. no aspirant for the senatorship
has yet en- tered the contest.
This is plain sketch OF a mana
man of the people. For fulsome fiat
tery Of the subject the reader must
look elsewhere. for Virulent vitupera-
ton he is referred to the peregrinating
libeler so conspicGOosfy abroad in the
hand just now.
Matthew Stanley Quay. the son of a
Presbyterian clergyman. was born
Sept So 1888. He has. therefore, reach
ed the ripe age OF Go years. 43 Of which
have been spent before the public. Like
an open book is his life. He has held
various offices-he does not deny that.
Not a few of them have been elective
Offices, where the people have had
chance to vote for or against him. He
has never been defeated Nearly every
Office held by him ne has. resigned. in
almost every instance 10 step up higher.
by vote OF the people or as the choice
OF their representatives. II il is a
sin to be chosen to public Office by the
voters themselves. or those represent
ing them. then is Senator Quay a griey-
Gus sinner. Those who denounce the
holding OF Office as a crime must be
saints for in almost every case they
are men who have been beaten for
Office whenever they have presented
themselves. which usually has been
pretty often. Many Of the peripatefic
orators now at large in the state. de-
nOuHcing Officeholdlng as a sin. and
Senator Quay as a sinner for having
held office, belong to the class indicated
above.
A BRAVE SOLDIER.
Before becoming conspicuous in civil
life Senator Quay attained distinction
in military circles. When less than 30
years Of age he commanded the One
Hundred and Thirty-fourth regiment
OF Pennsylvania volunteers. After the
battle OF Antietam he become prostrat-
ed and enfeebled by typhoid fever. the
AACdQ QASC&<E WHICH, OuI re-
cent war with Spain. has carried TO the
grave so many gallant American he
roes. On account Of physical disability
he resigned. and his resignation was
accepted. This was Immediately be-
fore the battle of Fredericksburg. Dec.
13. 1862. When it became known that
the battle was TO take place he asked
10 be restored TO command. in spite
Of the fact that he was yet weak from
his severe illness. But il was too late:
he was out of the service. Then he ap-
piled to General Tyler. who commanded
his brigade. for place as volunteer aid
on his stafi. The surgeon objected most
Vociferousiy.
If Colonel Quay goes into battle"
was the surgeons decree, he viii die
as a fool dies"
L would rather die HE fool than
ike like a coward" was the response
of Colonel Quay.
He went upon the STAFF. That battle
was among the bloodlesl Of the whole
war. For his valor the United States
government awarded him a medal Of
honor. a tribute accorded to only a
handful OF the hundreds Of thousands
of gallant men who wore the blue Cen
eral Tyler. the brigade commander.
in his report of the battle. said: Colo
mel NJ S. Quay. OF the One Hundred
and Thirty-fourth. was upon my staff
as volunteer aide-de camp. and 10 him
/ am greatly indebted. NotwithsIand-
ing his enfeebled health. he was in the
saddle early and late. ever prompt and
efficient. and especially so during the
engagement
Surely it was not 4 sin TO have held
that office.
DID THEY WEAR THE BLUE?
BY the way. how many OF his detrac-
tors. now traversing the state. de-
nouncing Senator Quay. We're them
selves wearers of the blue? Surrey not
one. II these days. while we honor the
heroes Of Manila and Santiago. do not
let US forget those other horces who. in
1S6i-65. by their intrepidity and sacri-
fees. re-established the g-eat nation
and made il possible to win the mag
nificent battles OF 1888
Subsequently he held the important
Office Of secretary OF the common
wealth. serving under those other two
heroes Of the civil war. Governors
Hartranft and Hoyt. Finally. IN ISss.
he concluded 20 run for state treasurer.
an elective Office He passed through
an exciting campaign. in which vilihca-
tion was the only weapon OF his enc
mics. and was triumphantly elected.
Prom this Office ne rsssed. in 1857. by
resignation. 10 that stiii held by him
United States senator.
AN INSULT TO THE PEOPLE.
In electing him TO the above. and
other Offices held by him. have the peo-
pie always been wrong. as Senator
Qusy's maiigners would Have the pub
lie believer Such a theory is an insult
70 the intelligence Of the people them
selves
shortly after Senator Quay entered
the senate he was made chairman Of
the Republican national committee.
and in thai capacity he conducted shs