The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1899-03-04
Mr.. Germans Retirement.

The Fifty-ffth Congress expires today,
March 4th, at noon, and number of familiar
figures will disappear from the Senate and
some less distinguished. On the Democratic
side will be Senator German, Senator Mills
of Texas, Senator Turpie of Indiana, Senator
Gray of Delaware, Senator Smith OF New
Jersey and Senator Murphy of New York.
All of these, too, retire because of division in
the party created by Mr.. Cleveland, first on
the tariff and then widened on finance.
These are the main causes of division and
DISCRIMINATION, but there were other con-
tributing causes of division of Mr.. Cleveland s
making. Although without any persona
magnetism. Mr.. Cleveland had a considerable
following of as staunch supporters as any hg-
ure in American politics, and he carried
these with him, no matter which way he went
on public question, and drove wedge OF
division into the party that caused its defeat
for the Presidency, made the House OF Repre-
sentatives Republican and unseated at least
nine Democratic Senators.
The most notable vacancy on the Demo
cratic side in the Senate will be caused by
the retirement of Senator German, and we
venture to assert that he will be more missed
than any man who has retired from that body
in the past thirty years. While thorough
going Democrat, believer in parties and
marty man, no Senator has been more bust
ness-like in his work than Senator German.
In purely business legislation, such as appro-
priations, Mr.. German has acted just as he
would act in directory Of a business corpor-
alton. While always favOring economy in
public expenditures, he has never been paTsi-
monious, and in evying taxation he has al
WAYS been courageous enough TO advocate
bills that would produce sufficient revenue to
meet the expenses of government. In all hls
Senatorial career he never shrank from as
Stunning full responsibility in matters of APP
preparations and taxation, nor has he sought
to make political capital by attempting to put
his political opponents in hole in legislation
on such subjects. He has always sounded
note of warning when he believed appropri
ations were too great or unnecessary, and IN
framing tax laws he has sought to fix rates
that were ample to meet appropriations. Mr..
German has not been mere opposition
Senator" He has ever been active in
perfecting bills, not acting the partisan by
general attacks on measures and leaving to
the Republicans the sole duty of making
them conform to public necessities. He has
harmonized more disagreemeats and engi
neered more compromises than any one who
ever sat in the United States Senate. From
the very beginning of his term until today,
when it ends, he has been a leader Of his own
party, and he has always had great influence
with the opposition on legislation Of purely
business character. His long service ia the
Senate, dating almost frem boyhood, gave
him knowledge of government affairs M
equaled by any Of his colleagues, aud that
knowledge has been sought by both parties
in framing legislation. As paYliamentariau.
too, he has had no equal in the Senate during
his three terms The rules Of the Senate
we're as familiar to him as the alphabet, aud
in the great struggle on the Force bill, be d.
rected every move that eliminated in the
defeat Of that odious measure.
We shall give next week sketch OF Mr..
Germans career. 1t has been most remark
able and successful, and is without parallel
II has been marked by wisdom, courage and
ability; by prudence, knowledge and fairness
by frankness, earnestaess and honest endeay-
or. His record has been clean and honor,
able. He has been tower Of strength to his
party; its faithful guide. He has been true TO
the honor and faith Of TIL government He
has upheld the constitution aud hewed to the
policies and principles Of the founders Of the
republic In these matters his record has
been conspicuous in the past few weeks, whe0
he coutended against territorial expansion
and against large standing army. Mr.. Ger
man retires when most needed, and the whole
country will miss his services