The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-02-10
FIDELITY.

When men have just entered into
Positions of power or influence, or
while they are at the zenith of their
greatness, congratulations or obse-
quious praise are seldom lacking, for
satellites are prone to
Where thrift may follow fawning."
Likewise when a great leader has
won a great fight and is perched OH
the crest of his victory, few forget or
neglect to add their shouts to the
paean of his triumph for. verify
nothing succeeds like success" But
is it not better and more fitting to
congratulate the statesman who is
about to retire from the forum with n
proud record of duty well and faith
fully done than to flatter the future
dispenser of patronage, and does not
the leader who has fought noble
fight and used his every endeavor in
our behalf deserve our thanks, just
as heartfelt. as though he wore the
laurel crown of victory2
Just men can give but one answer;
therefore, the congratulations and
sincere thanks of the liberty loving
people OF the State of Maryland. the
South and the whole country should
be rendered with unstinted need TO
the senior Senator from Maryland,
Arthur P. German, who upon the
third day of March next will retire to
private life after eighteen years of
active and honorable service.
While at all times working with no
other end in view than the welfare of
his country there are two special &C.
casions when the advocates of the
constitutional form of government
have found their hope and champion
against Imperialism in Senator Cor
man. The first was when a Republi-
can administration attempted to dis
franchise the white people Of the
South by means of the so-called
Force Bill' and the second was dur
ing the fight against the badly mis-
named peace Treaty" which passed
the Senate on Monday afternoon 10y
by the slender margin of one vote. In
each struggle Senator German was
forced to contend with the whole pow
er of the administration, with all its
machinery and resources Of patronage
and with the unlimited wealth of the
great capitalists of the country to
draw upon. In the first fight he was
successful, in the second the result
shows that he would have again
triumphed over the imperialists had
it not been for the unfortunate battle
at Manila on Saturday and Sunday
a conflict coming SO inopportunely
that the suspicion almost arises that
it was precipitated for the sake of its
effect upon the vote to ratify the
treaty.
The treaty has been ratified. In
stead of peace it brings us war-war
with a savage foe, war in fens and
swamps, canebrakes and unexplored
mountains; war in pestilential l.
mate and in the uttermost parts of
the earth. 1t brings us grievous ex-
pense, death and misery to many,
many of our noblest and bravest
American youth; 1t brings us the walls
of widows and orphans. And, worst
of all, it signalizes the breaking down
of our constitutional form of govern
ment, the guaranty of our liberties.
And all for what Merely that Presi-
dent McKinley's policy" might be
endorsed. And he has not as yet
vouchsafed word to the American
people as to what that policy really
is! But let US not forget that honored
son of Maryland who did his best to
prevent the preparation of such an
outrage.
In the life of every man of great
prominence we may note the domi-
mating influence of some characteristic
trait. In some It is greed, in others
it is generosity, pride, love, charity,
uEdNcIJS CbO. AL CCAdOOE d
career the ruling idea has been fidelity.
Fidelity to his friends, to his party,
to his State, to our Magnolia Land
which has so often been the object of
oppression, and to his country.
APropos of his heroic fight against
fearful odds, just finished by his
brilliant speech in the Senats last
Monday, and in view Of the prob
ability, as he then suggested, that
practically terminated his public
service-in behalf Of the people OF
Hartford county who are in no wise
the meanest of his constituency, we
tender him heartfelt congratulations
and thanks and pledge him such
fidelity to his memory as he has shown
to the interests of Maryland.