The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-13

as "Old Bill" Allen had been ten years earlier when he was defeated for re-elec- tion by R. B. Hayes The defeat of Allen made Tilden the nominee, and the defeat of Hoadiey made Cleveland the nominee in 1884 Foraker was reelected. While he was governor MT. Cleveland purposed re- turning certain flags captured in battle to the Southern states. Foraker challenged him on that proposition, and for some weeks there was Il political brain cyclone in Grand Army circles The result was that MT. Cleveland receded. Foraker was actuated by sentiment, pure sentiment, and as evidence that malice had no part in it, he was the first man in the north to spring to the aid of Charleston when that town was visited by the disastrous earth quake of 1886.
 Foraker was forty-three years old when he was nominated for governor for the fourth time in 1889. James E. Campbell was his democratic competitor. IL was an off year; and the Harrison administration was far fom popular. Campbell, next to Foraker, was the best stumper in the state and when the returns came in the Rupert of Ohio was again unhorsed and, most people thought and many people hoped, he was done for. Like Blaine, whom he so much resembles in tempera- ment and especially in audaeity, Foraker has considerable capacity for making bit
 
 making devoted friends.
 But Foraker was not done for The next we hear of him he was more daring than ever, and entered the lists against John Sherman in a contest for United States senator He was defeated; but every man in Ohio knew that he would have been elected if the legislature had been independent enough to slect it's first choice It was the closest shave John Sherman had had in Ohio since he got the senatorship from legislature that want ed to give it to Robert C. Schenck. At the succeeding election for senator, Fora ker was chosen to succeed Calvin $. Brice.
 Meantime new prophet had arisen in that Israel-Mark Hanna-a Warwick, a president-maker. Trained to business, he brought to his new vocation a superior intellect, a forceful Individuality, and capacity for organization rarely equaed He entered upon the work with enthus- iasm, and before the adversary got ready for action he had secured enough pledges to make William Mckinley the republi- can nominee for president In 1896. It was his wish to make it tariff fight-the Me Kinley tariff against the Wilson tariff but by this time the coinage question came on to be heard and would not be de- nied. It was not until the battle was half over that Hanna realized the true point of attack. and the candidate did not see it until within fortnight of the election Foraker saw it from the beginning. With characteristic daring he proclaimed the gold standard, though he was then, and is still, a more inveterate and unreasona- ble protectionist than Mckinley ever was The first time l ever saw Foraker he was forced to stand and compelled to make a speech in the republican national conVen- tion of 1888, and his exodium was, this tl.It 1nltn a tariff for protection, and if revenue should follow incidentally we have no very serious objection" There is no more aggressive standpatter than he, and if the friends of Secretary Taft are disposed to promote interest in the fight let some Of them authorized to speak say something about "revision" anywhere in the Hook ing Valley or in one of the manufacturing towns of the Western Reserve.
 Foraker took his seat in the senate the day Mckinley became president. He did not have to "spell up." He was in the front rank from the beginning, along with 1Ioar, Spooner. Hale Lodge, o. H. Platt' Allison Cushman K. Davis, and the oth- CTS. There was the greatest curiosity to see him, the greatest desire to hear him. Now that Sherman was retired, he was recognized everywhere as the first states man of Ohio, and save Thurman alone, the greatest lawyer Ohio has sent to the Senate since George E. Pugh The Sen ate saw in him the strong man he is and gave him desirable committee assign ments Always an industrious man. he plunged into the drudgery of the position, and after all, that Is what gives man standing In the Senate.
 shall not undertake a review of For akers senatorial labors. Without a su- perior in that body as an orator. or de- batter, he has participated in every dis cusson of general interest and always acquitted himself with credit. He dis cussed the Cuban question, the Spanish war the Philippine question, the tariff, statehood, and numerous other issues. But for him the Senate would have been as craven as the House. and at the order of the President it would have joined Arizona and New Mexico as one mon strosity and admitted it as a state If for no other purpose Mir. ForaBer should be kept in official station to prevent this outrage
 pity the American who can read the following extract from a speech made by Joseph B. Foraker in the last Ohio state convention of the republican party, with out thrill of pride in human nature:
 l have always thought it was a great honor to be a United States senator from Ohio Why? Not because of the salary, not because of the position, but because I have always understood that when my constituency elected me, 1t was because they had the impression, at least that I possessed the qualifications of senator; that l had some ability, and that l had good character. that l would stand hitched, did not need to have somebody overlooking me, and that when a great question arose I would be expected, speaking for this mighty and intelligent constituency, to bring to bear, in the dis cussion of it, all these qualifications. I never understood that somebody was to tell me how to vote. either at that end of the line or this end of the line; espe- cially not about great profound constitu- tional questions that lawyers differ about l thought I was to work that out; that I was to speak for you. l have pursued that policy. If that is not right, if, on the contrary, a man is to be rebuked be- cause he exercises the qualifications with which he is possessed then you take all the honor away from the office, and so far as I am concerned, you can take the office with it. No office has any value, in my opinion. unless it carries with it the right to the man holding 1t to go &C., cording to his own judgment and dis charge according to his sense of duty, free and untrammeled, the official obli- gation to support and maintain the con- stitution of the United States, which he takes when he enters upon his office.
 There is no politics in that. Manhood, noble manhood, breathes In every word No man is fit to be senator who does not feel the sentiment of 1t in every pulsa- tion os his heart. Patrick Henry felt 1t when he exclaimed: Give me liberty or give me death" Sam Adams felt 1t when,