Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-19

This is. on the whole the most sim
gular phenomenon of our political and
social life.
THE qualities by which this strange
success was achieved came to be very
fully acknowledged in the election last
Autumn when his competitor for the
suffrage of wealthy district was a
we'll known citizen of the highest
standing. His signal victory over such
an opponent in such a district proved
that Mr.. Morrissey was no ordinary
and vulgar keeper of places for max
ing or losing money on games OF
chance. 1t may seem paradoxical u
mention honesty as the strongest at
tribute of such a man. but we think
it would be the general Verdlct OF
those who knew him best that con-
fidence in his honesty was the chief
ground of his political success. Mr..
Morrissey was man VINO never LOT
feited his word. who never SOLO MS
vote, who never trafficked in !eglsia-
ton, who was unapproachaDle not
merely by bride but by any Klno vi
improper influence.
considering his education and as
ISOLATION, that is saying a great zeal.
1t implies that he was a man or stroIs
character as well as honorable I'M
possessed of sense and penetration,
which made it impossible for the
shrewdest minds to practice upon
him and use him without his knowing
il. He was pre.em!reutlT endowed
with the quality which IS called
horse sense and as penetrating
Judge of character an" motives
he had few equals. 1t must nave
been priceless solace TO him dur
ing the trying Wln;ac and Spring,
when he has so ct;eD Felt himself TO %
at the point of death, tuat MS lie
was spared until his real character
was appreciated by one of the most
select constitute ncies OF this metro
politan city. Mr.. Morrissey was re.
markable character and take him all
in all we shall not look upon his like
again."
NOV, I want you to read an edl'
~ torial on Morrissey in the New
York Tribune, May 2. 1873. 1t is with
in few lines of a columns length and
7 have made extracts which show the
tenor of the whole. You may read:
There are many men like Jonn
Morrissey in the lower ranks OF Amer
lean life, but SO few have stood IKE
him in the strong light of public once
and political notoriety that New York
came to regard him as a phenomenon.
He was not that: his character was
rather ordinary: his faults and vices
were of a common kind: his ambitions
were not high nor stra nSe; his virtues
were coarse and cheap. There was
nothing in his politics except honesty as
tn money matters nd q crude idea that
workingmen-with whom he had noth-
ing whatever in common-Oueht
somehow to get a living out OF the
public treasury. AS member OF Con
gress-though he was surely not thf
only unlearned man IN the National
Lecislature-he was mere clpher
He exercised no influence. joined IN NJ
debates. had no views and senslDIy
tried to present none. Ht
had a rough common sense, which
was often better than the sasaclty o.
better trained men. in estimating pop
ular tendencies and judging how 20
litical plans would work. He
was above petty grudges in politics OF
in life. Where his friendship was
given it could always be counted on
and in any ordinary matter the kind
ness of his disposition could be trusted
for fair and even generous action. FL
would always go n long distance ans
out of his way to do a good deed.
These are qualities which all
classes appreciate and in spite of the
fearful odds which his past career
laid upon him they gave him a GER
tain popularity and very considerable
influence. even among the better
classes of the city. More than once
he had the active support of doctors
Of divinity. Yet, after all, his politics