The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-10-04
A TRIBUTE TO SENATOR
GOItMAN.

GOlCM n N.
Just before Mr.. Germans retirement
from the Senate the Cincinnati Enquirer
published the following tribute to his
worth and ability:
'1n the last year of his service in the
United States Senate, with the general
knowledge that his successor has been
chosen for the term commencing on the
4th of March next, there is no more com
handing man in that body today than
Arthur p. German, of Maryland. Whcth-
er considered as a party leader and adj
visor, or as one familiar with the methods
and details Of legislation and govern
ment, or as a statesman able to Profound
ly discuss broad propositions that do not
rest on patty foundations, he commands
the highest respect. Whether the Senate
is Democratic or Republican, he is inf1u
entail IN obtaining results. He is pol
itician and statesman. 1t is now candid
ly admitted on all hands that the State of
Maryland did herself more harm than she
did to Mr.. German when she permitted
his senatorial career to be interrupted. 1t
is a vindication that comes at the right
time for this gentleman to be now taking
so prominent part in affairs, for him to
be at the highest point of his activity in
legislation, and one of those councillors
who has been not less important than a
cabinet officer in matters pertaining to
the war. His cooperation was solicited
at the earliest stages of the embodiment.
and he has borne himself so wisely and
with so thoroughly an American s.,irit
that there is not candid man of any
party who is familiar with the circum-
stances, that does not in his heart regret
that his retirement from the Senate is so
close at hand.
1T seems opportune to write of Mr..
German as in the ripeness of his career
rather that passing Senator. He is now
in the fullncss of his honors Heis under
stood and appreciated as he never was
before He has the reward of patience
and the wisdom and the self possession
which look through the years for vindi-
cation. AS a politician he has always
been willing to wait. His plans have not
been brief and evanescent. He has been
satisfied to accomplish things without i'm
mediate exploitation of himself. He has
achieved and been content to allow
others to have the credit for the time. He
has worked necessarily for others, and
for his party, and there has in the sum of
it all been no more conspicuous victim of
ingrattude but in striking the final bal
lance he is on the right side of the books
in the public estimation.
Nowhere does the Senator stand higher
as an "all-round' able and"humane" man
than among those close critics of public
character-those pessimists who are re-
luctant to admit that there is any great
man or superlative achievement in pub
lie life-the Washington correspondents.
It is no mark of studied accomplishment
that he has them for his friends. He has
captured them simply by being natural
gentleman, so completely devoid of affec-
tation that they are obliged to resort to
partisanship purely when they want to
say anything against him. OF course,
this does not include few chronic SLAM
derers of the press in the home offices,
who never having met the Senator from
Maryland, have fallen into the rut of
abusing him. The surprise of some of
their pupils when they actually met Mr..
German is something beautiful to be-
hold.
Fidelity is the word which has ever
been emblazoned on the German banner
in the brightest letters. His party has
usually been the proudest in its perform
ance when his advice has been taken
when he has been at the elbow and ear of
the hclmsman- but he has never been found
sulking. He has always found the abid-
ing place of his party associates pleas
anter than the camp of the enemy. He
has been loyal to his party and loyal to
his friends. His promise has been an
act, and his friendship an enduring obi
CATION. The country needs broad, able,
experienced and faithful men like Arthur
P. German, and Maryland's mistake, now
so generally recognized and admitted,
cannot more than make short hiatus in
his public life, though he can we'll afford
to retire at moment when he is in the
highest enjoyment of the confidence of
his countrymen. Whatever may be his
future, there is now no one who is more
actively in public harness than he, setting
pace which his successor, though an
excellent gentleman, cannot hope to main
tain.