The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-11
''The Evil That Men Do Lives After
Them

The chief use of biography and history, we
are repeatedly told by the most respectable
and eminent authority consists in the noble
models which they afford to future genera
tons. Our great men ''lift up and hallown
their own times and furnish inspiring examples
to the youth who in turn are to carry on the
work of the world Show us, say the philos-
ophers, the kind of men you make heroes of
and we will tell you who and what you are.
Tried by this test, we should be compelled TO
admit that Pennsylvania has been unhappy in
the late Senator Quay's life and career aud
influence. For fifty years Quay was power
in the great Commonwealth; for almost a
quarter century he was clothed with the
powers of a dictator, and for a time he was
the supreme power in this great State and
mighty influence in national councils and
affairs. The first man thought Of by Cali.
fornian or Texan when Pennsylvania was
mentioned was Quay; be was our leader. our
master and controller of destinies; our type of
the successful man.
And this success WAS Of a pretty substantial
kind. Without doing any kind of work and
without having any sort of palernal fortune on
which TO rely, he lived and spent money like
a prince all his life. Palatial mansions in fair
cities were his; broad farms awaited his visits,
with cattle on many hills; pleasing lodges in
the wilderness furnished him retreats from the
carking cares of life; he filled his libraries with
fine books; he left great fortune, aud during
bis life ten thousand men waited on his nod.
Powerful, rich, able men respected or feared
him and did his bidding. He occupied an
extraordinary position; possessed amazing
power and prestige; his word was law What
were this power and position founded on. and
what lesson DO they teach 10 the rising gen.
Grafton? Well, in word. il may be said that
Il =
and soiled this Republic. A corrapt alliance
with powerful corporations supplied him With
untold funds with which to hire myrisds Of
men to do his bidding; be was a violent specu.
laIor and gambler; juggler with Legislation
and a juggler of State funds; cynical ma
terialist of low associations and sordid rules Of
conduct, who pleaded the techniealiiies Of
the law to avert the penalties Of his wrougdo.
ings.
It is always essential to keep public opinion
on the side of virtue, and it is instructive TO
note how Quay's power was exeried. For
years and years not an aspiring youth, no mat.
ter what his ability and fitness, could ever hope
to be District Attorney 10 any county in this
Commonwealth unless be deliberately made
up his mind to sell his self.respecl aud bow
down TO do the INSCRIPTIONS work Of Quay's
machine; no man could hope, save in isolated
instances, TO become II Consul or attain to any
position in city, State or nation unless be made
his peace with the evil forces and soiled him.
self BY contact with organized political fraud.
That man and the system for which be stood
not only closed the door of hope TO the decent
and honorable young men Of this State bat
deprived the nation aud the State of those
who we're the best fitted to serve their coun-
Try, because men Of conscience and honor
were the very ones who would not bow down
to Baal.
Standing as the apex of the system. he never
suggested to any rational being any thoughts
of such things as patriotism, honor, devotion
TO country, or any Of the traits or qualities
which make civilization, build republics and
hold society together; but, on the other hand.
his whole career. lift bears any lesson at all,
says, as plainly as results in this world can,
that If one is cunning enough to upset all pre-
conceived notions Of self government, to disre-
gard utterly all ideals held by honest and good
men, and TO make Of constitutional govern
ment a mere hollow form, existing only in
books, all the earth shall lie at his feet and
most Of the citizens Of the earth will bow down
and worship him.
This IS a world of rewards and punshments.
Many are called, but few are chosen. Repa-
tation, position and power come 10 the meri-
torious few, and then the multitude are held
in the path of rectitude and of ambition by the
spectacle of the splendid triumphs Of the
worthy and good who achieve their honors by
merit. That is the theory, and in accordance
with the reasonable approximation to justice
with which the prizes are distributed, the State
and the nation and society will appeal to Just
men and win their support and fealty.
What is the lesson of Quay's career 10 the
young men of the time? Il is this: if obliquity
and low craft and Gnfaithfulness to the State
and to humanity. may but be practiced skill.
fully enough there will be no bounds to the
rewards. Quay aud his system are the reyer.
sal of all tbs doctrines taught in the books;
they are examples of topsyturvydom, and bis
career is dark, painful. disgraeeful episode
in a great nations annals.