Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1899-03-23
j. ]. INGALLS,
ON GORMAN.

UN VUNMhNs
The abdication of Arthur Poe
German ss chairman of the Demo-
cratic caucus, and his retirement
from the Senate. removes tempo
rariiy from public life one of the
most interesting and extraordinary
figures in the political and parlia-
mentary history OF his generation.
OF the so years Of bis existence.
AZ hav. been spent continuously in
Office. Appointed, the year Henry
Clav died. p4ge in the Senate of
the United Senate, at the age OF Ii,
when its sessions we're held in what
is aow the Supreme Courtroom,
and subsequently, its postmaster,
he returned in 1881. after Is years
Of public service in his native State.
to seat IN the chamber, where, 20
years before, in the most subordi.
nate capacity as q messenger and
errand boy, his active life began.
His career is thus exceptional.
II stands unique and alone in
American politics in its contrasts,
its vicissitudes and its duration.
Though fashioned to much honor
from his cradle, Gorman's birth vas
humble, and he had no favors from
fortune. He is q son of the toll.
His education was limited to the
rudiments taught in the common
schools of his native county. In
the race Of life such a handicap vas
heavier in Maryland than else
where. because inera6icable dis
tinctions of rank, birth and station
had descended from patrician ORR
gin.
Noted Soma of Maryland.
Although renowned for religious
toleration and devotion to liberty,
the colony was as aristocracy. where
ancient families living on ancestral
estates, with hereditary wealth, dis
pensing manorial hospitality, ex-
erted powerful control over its So
cial structure aud its political ener.
gies.
To the Calverts, Bsrons of Balti-
more. succeeded the Carrolls of
Carrolton; the Howards. Bowies,
Pinknevs, Swanns, Thomases, Lees.
Keys and Goldsboroughs; Kennedy,
Secretary Of Navy; Vans Murray,
Pinkney Whyte, and an array
scarcely less illustrious-Goyernors
Senators, Representatives, Judges.
Cabinet officers and foreign Minis
ters. for $50 years.
Into this splendid succession of
scholars, statesmen and jurists
broke ia 1881, at the age of 40 this
self-made invader "f the precincts
Of caste aud privilege, offspring OF
the people, with no diploma. nor
coat-of arms, nor pedigree, nor for
tune, and there for Is years main
tanned himself with q genius for
practical political management un
tqusled in his lifetime.
Viewed by His Enemies.
TO his enemies be stands as the
most conspicuous representative of
everything evil in civics. a COM
pound of the worst traits of Me-
phistopheles, Mschisvelli and Wal
pole-an exemplar of obl'qui.y,
craft and corruption; the organizer
of the dangerous and criminal ele-
ments of the Common wealth into n
depraved phalanx that By force and
fraud established an execrable su-
premacy compared with which
Tammany, under Tweed. vas a
Chautauqua circle or an Epworth
League.
No epithet has been too rank, no
ihvective to violent, for those who
condemned his methods and de
tested his power, and bis vorst
foes have been they of his own po.
litical household. With the history
of Maryland politics in petto | am
not concerned; but to his friends
and acqnaintances, aud to the gem
eral pubic. Germans character.
bearing and conduct are in Singular
contrasts with the imputations OF
bis advefsaries. He has the beney-
olent demeanor of Q Franciscan
friar in the act of pronouncing
benediction.
Tributes 60 Els Friends.
If he be 9 monster Of political
iniquity. bis private life and repu-