The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-06-04
Death of Senator Quay.

On the afternoon of May 2s Matthew STAG
lev QUAY, senior Z. S. Senator from Pennsyl-
yaaia. died at his home in Beaver, surrounded
BY his family and several personal friends.
In the death of Senator Quay there has
passed unique character. The son Of poor
clergyman, he was endowed with a master
mind, which he thoroughly cultivated, both in
English and foreign languages. In politics
he was successful beyond almost any otaer
man in the country, though several times
thrown down by dissensions IN the Republican
party, vet he arose stronger than ever, aud
held Office for about fifty years, from county
clerk TO United States Senator. He Was
true 70 his friends and never forgot kindness.
The Phissdelphia Ledger, ia speaking Of his
death, says:
The death of Senator Quay ends a personal
reign that in absoluteness as in endurance has
scarcely its parallel in our political history.
There have been many examples OF heroic
political leadership, held through long periods
and amid many vicissltudes BY men OF Inspir'
ing personality; but Quay's masterful control
of Pennsylvania has owed little to those quail
tiles or arts which appeal 20 popular enthu-
siasm. That it was q personal and lntellec-
tual mastery is evident Yet it was never
exercised directly upon public sentiment. He
was the author OF no inspiring measures, the
recognized advocate of no consistent ideals.
There was about his leadership always the
suggestion of secret intrigue, relieved oeca-
sionally by bewildering audacity. But he
brought strong men into subsection or drove
them baff1ed from public life and exalted those
whom he chose. till opposition had long worn
away and, in spite of increasing years and
feebleness, he had become, in the evening OF
his life, the undisputed master of the Com
mouwealth.
l.. l,,rkf ,f o,nb
sonality. Undoubtedly Quays power was
achieved and maintained through his genius
for organization. He wrought it to his own
purposes, and had he survived until the end
of his Senatorial term, it is not unlikely that
he might, ike another Cromwell, have passed
on his Office to his httle-known sou, or TO
Hhomsoever else he should designate. The
organization remains, never so compact and
strong as at his death. 1t is not easy to imag
inc any successor continuing his reign, or any
one of the many who will now dispute for the
leadership maintaining supremacy like
Quay's.
Admitted to the Bar at the age of u, young
QUAY was two years later elected Prothonota-
nv of Beaver county, and from that time was
continuously in politics, and, with brief in
terruptions, continuously in public office until
his death at II. He was not without enthu-
siasms in his youth, which he carried into the
period of the Civil War. His service in the
field, though brief, was brilliant, and he served
Governor Curtain in his arduous military ad-
ministraiion with conspicuous ability and de-
votion. The war over, he went into the Leg
islature and began to build up his power on the
floor, SO that when the inevitable break came
between the Curtin and the Cameron wings of
the party and Cameron was at the head, it
was worth while for him to make terms with
Quay.