The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1906-10-03

Wllcn ne gave nlmSelI was largely Ll6
result of what he read at Leary's in
Epare moments, or in his winter even
ing hours at home. But he was EN-.
phatically a specimen of what we
sometimes call good mothers sons
and the moral stamina and Scotch
Irish sense in the man came to him
through her, In domestic atmosphere
of frugality, thrift and those simple
virtues that are chastened by patient
toll in the face of suffering or sorrow.
A Character That Told.
at is to the character which was
,hus formed in Stuart that the Offices
him in Philadelphia are primarily due.
His nomination for governor of Penn
rylvania like his election to the presi-
dency Of the Young Republicans when,
quarter of a century ago it became
stepping-stone of his career, his cleo
ton to select council, his election to
the mayoralty, his election to the presi-
dency of the Union League, his ap-
pointment to the board of city trusts,
and his appointment, which he de-
clined, some months ago, to the re-
constructed board of education, not to
speak of the proffers which have been
made to him at various times of other
Offices, have almost invariably been
the outcome of respect for, or conf
dence in, his character That the favor
able impression which a man of his
unusually large and forceful physique
makes upon the public mind enters to
some extent into this disposition to
recognize him is not to be doubted, for
Stuart has an external appearance
which ambitious men may envy. But
this is a comparative trifie when COM
pared with that sort of impression
which Is made year in and year out, in
little things as well as in big things,
by sobriety, and steadiness, and dig
nifty yet simplicity of conduct, and i'm
munity from scandal, and square deal
ing, and charity of thought, and truth
fulness of speech. Thus there is not a
division of the humblest citizens of the
Goth ward in which the name of Edwin
s. Stuart is not trusted today as a
household word, and often it has been
known to be commended by working
men as a model to their boys; on the
| other hand, there is not a member Of
the Union League who feels that its
honor before the nation will ever be
tarnshed by any act of his while he is
in its presidency Nor is there any SEM
blance of moral ostentation in his char
consciousness or preachiness which
! sometimes imparts smugness or dis
agreeable stiffness to the intrinsic
| quality Of good man. The instinct of
rational fellowship in him is strong;
no other public man in Philadelphia
| probably has more friends or acquaint-
ances to salute him when he comes
down Chestnut street, and in HIS inter-
course there is that abundance of heart
lness which comes from seemingly
| perfect health, a kindly disposition
| and the frankness of clean nature.
| There Is no discrimination in his con-
| duct, whether he meets a millionaire
| or a coal HEAVIER, and there is no trace
of sign in his manner or his manners
that the recognition which has come
| to him in securing some of the most
coveted prizes of ambition has spoiled
| him in the sense of making him for
getful of his struggling days or of turn
| ing his head. In fact, it would be hard
to find among the noted characters of
Philadelphia man less suggestive Of
anything like vanity or self-approba-
ton.
Temperate in Word and Deed.
"The chief weaknesses attributed to
Stuart are want OF positiveness, slow
ness in reaching conclusions, and ex-
cess of amiability. They are the same
weaknesses that McKinley's critics
| passed upon him up to the time he
went into the presidency, and the Stu
art temperament is undoubtedly a
kindred one to the Mckinley tempera-
ment in both its personal and politi-
| cal aspect. In all his career in Phila-
delphia | do not recall that he ever
felt himself publicly moved to abuse
man or to speak harshly of one,
however much he might condemn a
vice or a wrong and in his private
conversation there is the same absti-
nence from merely personal reproba-
ton. He is a believer in the wisdom
of the motto that haste makes waste,
| but if he is slow to reach his con-
clusions he sticks to them when he
gets there. From his point of view a
man in Office is not so much the leader
of the people as he is the instrument
of the people, and it is less his busi-
ness to form public opinion than to
obey public opinion. The real test of
the usefulness of public man con-
sists in the substantial and lasting
betterment which he produces for his
community, and yet there are in Phil
adelphia some men who with notable
regulations for being positive could
not stand that test and whose vigor
of affirmation is sometimes hardly
more than windy, worthless ver-
bosity
An EventfuI Term.
"Thus Stuart, when he became
mayor of Philadelphia. made few
promises, and, such as they were,
they were simply and carefully ex-
pressed But the city and its material
improvements advanced during the
four years of his term; the average
of the personnel of his administration