Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-04-30

From Philadelphia North American.
1t is easier to lead forlorn hope and
march steadily to the cannons mouth
than to do right when inclination, in
fluences of intimate association and ap-
peals of friendship lead the other way.
There is heroism in fidelity to convic-
tion and duty unmatched by the
heroism born OF physical courage and
stimulated by hope OF fame and glory.
1t is but little thing for a man to lose
his life in defense Of his country-mil-
lions Of men have done that and mil
lions more will do it-for when life is
lost all is done, and pains, regrets and
sorrows cease to be. But when man
loses lifelong friendship his loss is
great indeed, for the pain and regret
and sorrow are with him evermore.
George Graham Vest, of Missouri,
aged, broken and nearing the end OF
the trail that leads to the country
whence no traveller returns, looms up
today the most heroic figure in Ameri-
can public life. Few perhaps know
and fewer still can sympatheticaly feel
at what cost Senator Vest spoke that
little word "No" that shattered the
fabric of friends ambition, wrecked
his hopes and cherished plans and
placed to his lips the bitter draught of
disappointment.
Senator Vest and Mr.. Quay have been
friends for many years, close friends
and companions, loving as strong men
love, forgetting defects and weaknesses
and loyalty seeing only the best each in
the other. 1t was but natural that
Quay should expect his closest and
warmest friend to stand by him, even
at the cost OF inconsistency in his
public record, when others, mere ac-
quaintances and occasional companions.
were ready to sacrifice to good fellow
ship their public duty and their own
consciousness of right.
But Senator Vest had higher ideal,
and they who reckoned upon the wan
ing of his intellectual powers in the
sunset of life to weaken his LOYALTY to
that ideal, misunderstood the man. He
had striven all through his life to keep
In view the right as God gave him light
to see it, and his mental vision was still
Keen and clear. He knew that his
friends claim to seat in the senate
was not valid, and he knew that he
could not recognize or support that
claim without being false to his own
convictions and to his own sworn duty
to the people who had given a sacred
trust into his keeping.
Quay did not hesitate to appeal to the
obligations of friendship. In his over
mastering desire for political victory
and spoils, he was ready to sacrifice the
honor of friend, to plead with that
friend to be false to himself and to his
country and to cast vote that would
save friendship but destroy sef-respect.
Holding in his hand a note, upon
which the ink was not dry, begging him,
for the sake Of all that is sacred in
friendship, to save from the shame and
humiliation of defeat the man dearer to
him than all other men, Senator Vest
was true to the highest ideal OF man.
hood and American statesmanship, and
rounded out long and honorable
record in public life with that heroic
word that saved the honor OF state.
Such is the stuff of which the idea
senator Is made, and which the youth o.
America are taught to believe alone car
make senator OF the United States
Bat men OF that make are not otter
chosen, and Senator Vest looms I'D O
grand and lonely figure in the public
life of today.