New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-01
GEORGE F. HOAR.

The death of George F. Hoar takes from the
stage of politics a distinguished and venerable
figure. Few men in the public life or our DAY
have reflected so conspicuousl.' as he dld the
ideals and traditions OF an earlier ana more
inspiring political era. He had his training IN
the great period Of uphPaval and transluon IN
national politics which began with Abraham
lincoln and ended with William Mckinley. His
career opened with the revolt against slavery
which stirred the North after the repeal Of the
Missouri Compromise. He lent a hand IN the
organization of the Republican party in Massa-
chusetts, and through the half century Wnlch
followed he ardently devotedly and consistently
maintained the political convictions on winch
that revolt was founded. He entered Congress
as member of the House Of Representatives In
1863 and served thereafter continuously in
either House or Senate. In these thirty-hVe
years he played an influential and absorbing
part in the nations long struggle to readjust it
self TO the results OF the Civil War He became
q party leader first In the House and then in
the Senate, and long continued a force to be
reckoned with both IN constructing legislation
and in shaping party policy To the end he re-
manned faithful to his early enthusiasms and
ideas, discharging his duties with ability. dig
nifty, fearlessness and independence, with
scrupulous regard for intellectual convictions
and a disdain of anything that looked like COM
promise.
What place history will award Mr.. Hoar
among the statesmen Of his day It is now much
too early to decide The Massachusetts Senator
was far from lacking confidence in his own i'm
pulses and judgments. In his Autobiography
of Seventy Years" he thus summarizes his poliu-
cal career:
formed nv opinions carefully in the begin
ming I have adhered to them and acted on
them throughout formed them in many cases
when they were shared by few persons only.
But they have made their way ana prevail.
They the opinions upon which the majority
Of the American people have acteo, and tne rea a
which have controlled that action seem 10
me now, on looking backward. to have been
good reasons. ! have no regret ana no oeslre 20 20
blot out anything I have said or DONE or 10
change any vote have given.
This may seem rather sweeping claim to
political inerrancy The historian of ffty years
hence may feel obliged to dissent from the con-
clusion that every measure or policy advocated
by the Massachusetts statesman was In ltselr
sound or was bound to commend Itself In ume
10 the ripe Judgment of the American people
His attitude on the question of Chinese excIu'
sion. or Of Philippine independence, or even on
some of the questions involved in Reconstruc-
ton legislation is hardly likely to pass muster
at the bar of criticism as unimpeachaole pollu-
cal wisdom. We cannot but think the Sena-
tors confidence a little overbuoyant Yet 1t
e->AN
settlement Of most problems Of legislation and
policy he brought a keen and usually correct
Judgment, vast fund of experience and infor-
nation and an intense and vital moral earnest
ness. AS a statesman the Massachusetts, Sena-
TOR had conscience, and used 1t. and his habit
Of appealing to scruple and 10 reason made him
a helpful and valued force in public life.
AS an orator Mr.. Hoar had few natural gifts.
Yet he made many notable speeches. and never
failed to win attention for what he said. He
was a man Of varied and accurate scholarship,
an eminent lawyer and an invaluable all round
legislator. Hundreds Of measures on our
statute books owe some clarifying phrase or
para graph to his helpful and watchful sugges-
ton. In losing him Massachusetts loses q po-
litical leader who has easily lived up to that
States most exacting standards. and the coun-
Try a counsellor whose fame has been honorably
won and honorabiy maintained through thirty
lve years OF arduous public life.