The National tribune., 1904-06-09
DEATH OF SENATOR QUAY.
The Passing Away of a Brave Soldier, and
Probably the Greatest Politician America
Ever Produced.

The Passing Away Of Brave Soldier. and
Probably the Greatest Politician America
Ever Produced. :.
1t has been very rare in the history of
the country that the death of one man has
made so large vacancy in our society as
the demise of Matthew Stanley Quay, Sen
atOr from Pennsylvania. He was prob
ably much the greatest politician that this
country ever produced. He laid no claims
to craftsmanship, though there was much
in his career that belonged to the higher
walks of craftsmanship. AS a politician,
however, he was simply unequaled. He
knew the man that he wanted to do any
work, he never made q mistake in regard
to his personality and powers, he made it
clear what he wanted done, and then did it
with relentless firmness and almost un-
broken success. He owed his mastery first
to his patient, careful study of details and
men; to widespread acquaintance; to
his long experience in the very thick of
things. and finally to commanding mind
and high executive ability. He grasped
things with quckness and comprehensive
ness and decided and executed with bold
ness rare among politicians. He had hosts
of friends, and hosts of the bitterest and
unrelenting enemies. He stood firmly by
his friends, and his loyalty to them was
rewarded by an unflinching loyalty to him
that was proof against the utmost his ene-
mics could do. He died at last, as he
would have wished to die, in the harness,
with all his plans going on and his fights
and friendships being prosecuted to the
end lie was power in the Senate of the
United States. but this was because of his
thorough knowledge Of its business, Of pub
lie affairs, and his method of organizing
for whatever object he desired to accom-
plish, or thought ought to be accomplished.
lie rarely spoke, but when he did comma nd
ed attention by what he said He had a
firm, hgh-pitched voice with no pretentions
to Oratory.
Senator Quay was' born in Dillsburg.
Pa, Sept. 80, 1888, of Scotch-Irish an
cestry. which had been settled in the coun-
try since 1715. His father was a Pres
byterian clergyman, and pastor Of church
at Dillsburg at the time of his sons birth.
The son received a cOmmOn-schoOl educa
ton. graduating before he became of age
from Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, and
going to Texas to teach school. He re-
in 1856 was elected Prothonotary of the
County. but resigned in 1861 to enlist in
the 10th Pa. Reserves, rising to be a First
Lieutenant. He did not remain with that
regiment great while. however, because
the Governor appointed him Lieutenant
Colonel, and Assistant Commissary-Gen-
eral of the State, and afterwards his Pri-
sdtc ocSIctdTy. w ueu the pennsylvania
militia were called out for nine months in
August, 1862, Quay went to the front with
it as Colonel Of the 134th Pa. He was
taken with typhoid fever, which left him
in such an enfeebled condition that he re-
signed Dec Z, 1862, but his regiment be-
ing ordered to take part in the battle of
Fredericksburg. he joined in the assault
on Marye's Hights as volunteer, and be-
haved with great gallantry, for which he
received Medal of Honor. He returned
to his position as Military Secretary to the
Governor of Pennsylvania, and in 1866 was
elected member of the Legislature. From
lS72-7S he served as Secretary Of the Com
monwealth and began to make his mark as
an effective organizer and political man
ager. lie became Chairman of the Republi-
can State Committee, and in 1885 was
elected State Treasurer by the largest vote
ever cast for that Office. His ambition
grew with his success, and at the conclu-
sion of his term as Treasurer, in 1878. he
secured his election to the United States
Senate, to which he was elected three times.
and would have completed his third term
March 3. next, IL he had lived till that
time.
In his youth Senator Quay was identified
with the Curtin faction of the Republican
party in Pennsylvania which was opposed
BY the Senator Cameron faction. When