The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-04
Only Good of the Dead--A Severe
Rebuke to Ministers.

From Philadelphia Ledger, Republican, June 2.
He is unfortunate indeed who, however evil
in life, cannot in death find a clerical apollo
gist The ground. however, upon which the
Reverend Mr.. Ramsey, of Beaver, based the
encomium which he pronounced over the
ashes of the late junior Senator from Pennsyl-
yania reveals such originality and resourceful-
ness in the orator as TO suggest wonder why
the unusual gifts OF this divine have not before
now won general recognition.
To what other Christian minister, set apart
for the preaching Of the gospel, would it have
occurred to applaud, with all the devices of
rhetoric, the fertility in expedients, the ability
to disguise real intentions, the skill in disci.
plining followers which the Reverend Mr..
Ramsey named as signal virtues of the politi-
clan whom he pictured as dying ''faultless at
the head Of the column, sword in hand, the
undisputed master Of the situation?
What other orator but would have fallen
into the pit OF seeking to point a sentence so
incisive of itself with some hint of the cause
in which that sword flashed, some suggestion
Of the character of the mastery which It had
won?
What other minister of religion. familiar
with the degradation aud contempt which has
beiallen the citizenship of Pennsylvania, alb
iect before the ambitions of politician whom
no unsehsh nor personally improbable
thought ever visited; who was an utter, life
long stranger to every idea except that of his
own individual gain-what other man of God
would have thought of describing the righteous
efforts against this leader as fractional con.
flict, detraetioa and the insidious undermining
Of euyy'2
The patriotism Of Beecher, the wide and
eloquent enthusiasm of Brooks, the golden
Tipped goodness of Chrysostom, could not,
eonspiFiug have hit upon so triumphant a
eulogy Us a Ramsey crowded into the noble
sentences:
The great flank movement he executed in
the Harrison campaign in New York aroused
the wonder of politicians in that great city. ]
was living there at the time, and helped
through the campaign. They were astounded,
especially when they saw that the great pub.
Gcity Of his flank movement was its great dis.
guise.
Bu, the story of the public services of the
Senator bv no means exhausted the skill of
his eulogist. Mr.. Quay's private virtues,
which have not perhaps been enough appre-
ciated, stand revealed by the Beaver sermon
in a light that must surprise and delight all
who, as his most familiar companions, had
been ignorant of them. With what emotions
must the Senator's cronies have heard their
friend described as a patron of piety because
of his solieitude for the Boxer victims, the
holy zeal with which he advocated the closing
Of the Chicago Fair on the Lords day, and
| the beautiful earnestness with which he la
| bored TO withhold Intoxicating liquor from the
| ludiansi
/ Mr. Quay as the opponent of intemper-
1 anee = The man who stood his ground for
/ Gods day, aud Tough, and won, and who
was always on the right side of all great
moral questions, is figure new TO the con-
/ sciousness of Penusyvanans. Ii is with a
fresh appreciation of the sense of responsible
| ity which must rest upon one who stands in the
/ sacred desk that We peruse the well considered
eloqueuce of the pulpit which thus described
him.