ruddy face. He is a good He is a lover of books and appearance, dark hair, dark eyes, and David Bennett Hill United States Senator from New York David Bennett HILL, the youngest of five children, was born in 1843, in the town of Havana, Schuyler County, New York. His father died while he was a lad, and his mother eked out a living as best she could from the heavily mortgaged farm. David contributed all the help he could, selling papers and candies on the New York Central Railway before he had entered his teens. Having passed through the High School, he now entered a law office in Elmira and began the study of law. He was a hard student, and did two years' work in one, being admitted to the bar when he had barely reached the age of twenty-one. Two months later he was appointed city attorney, and was thus fairly launched upon the sea of politics, where he has made a brilliant reputation. He was selected as a delegate to the Democratic state convention in 1868. Two years later he was elected to the Legislature. In 1882 he was elected Lieutenant-Governor on the ticket which placed Grover Cleveland in the gubernatorial chair. In 1885 he was chosen Governor by a large majority, being re-elected and holding the office until 1891. In the latter year he was chosen United States Senator, for the term expiring in 1897. The Republicans gaining the supremacy in the state, he did not gain another term. In the campaign of 1896 he opposed the free silver platform of his party, by which he lost a great deal influence. He represented his party in the Kansas City convention, and again is in harmony. The Hero of the Battle of Manila. GEORGE DEWEY was born in Montpelier, Vermont, on December 26, 1837. His father was Dr. Julius Y. Dewey, a prominent life insurance authority, an estimable business man, and also a physician. The Dewey family belongs to New England's best stock, and dates its ancestry back to colonial times. After a preparatory course in the Northfield Military School of Massachusetts, George Dewey was appointed, at the age of seventeen, as a cadet to Annapolis, where he graduated in 1858. When the Civil War broke out, young Dewey was made a lieutenant and assigned to duty on the seventeenth-gun steam-sloop Mississippi. His ship was in Farragut's squadron, which forced a passage up the Mississippi River in 1862. This was Dewey's first experience in real war. Dewey was also on one of the gunboats at the engagement at Donaldsonville in 1863. In 1864 and 1865 he was an officer on the Agawam, which was engaged in battle at Fort Fisher. In March, 1865, he received his commission as Lieutenant-Commander. He was made Commodore in 1896, and was placed at the head of the Inspection Board. In January, 1898, he was given command of the Asiatic squadron, stationed then at Hong Kong, China. He had been but a few weeks in his new position when the declaration of war with Spain gave him the chance of his life for distinction, which he so brilliantly improved by falling upon and annihilating the Spanish fleet and forts at Manila, Philippine Islands, May 1st, just six days after the declaration of war. This story is told in another chapter. The battle of Manila must ever remain a monument to the daring and courage of Admiral Dewey. However unevenly matched the two fleets may have been, we must agree with the naval critic who declared: "This complete victory was the product of forethought, cool, well-balanced judgment, discipline, and brav ery." Dewey entered with his squadron an unknown harbor, supposed to be strewn with deadly mines, and blew up the Spanish navy that was protected by the heavy guns of the shore batteries; and not only did he sink the vessels, but he silenced those batteries. It was magnificent; and Dewey will go down in history, ranking with Paul Jones and Lord Nelson as a naval hero. Congress has again created the rank of Admiral of the navy to which he was nominated by the President and promptly confirmed by the United States Senate. William C. Whitney President Cleveland's Secretary of the Navy WILLIAM C. WHITNEY was born in Conway, Mass., July 15, 1841. He was graduated with honors from Yale University in 1863, and afterwards took up the study of law, completing the Harvard law course in 1865. He removed to New York and was admitted to the bar, beginning the practice of his profession in the city of New York. He early became connected with the Young Men's Democratic Club, and was prominently identified in its campaigns. When the famous fight took place against the Tweed ring he came prominently forward as one of the active participants. He became connected with the education of the city, becoming inspector of public schools in 1872. He took an active part in the campaign of 1876, favoring the election of Samuel J. Tilden. He has always been identified with every movement which looks forward to the betterment of politics, never being identified with any of the famous rings. Grover Cleveland, upon his election to the Presidency invited Mr. Whitney to become his Secretary of the Navy. His administration was marked for businesslike methods and important improvements in the naval regulations and the high efficiency of the Navy. He has held no office since, but has been frequently mentioned for many places of honor and trust in his party. Like his chief, he has always favored a sound money policy and been unwilling to accept the programme of the silver wing of his party. Secretary of the Navy JOHN D. LONG, the able Secretary of the Navy under President McKinley, is a native of Maine, and was born in the year 1838. He was educated at Harvard University, graduating at 19 years of age with honors, and as a class poet. He was elected master of one of the excellent Massachusetts academies for two years, and then spent two years in the Harvard Law School, being admitted to the bar in 1861. He began practicing in Maine, but changed his plans in 1862, and returned to Boston, there to make his professional career. Having rare gifts as a platform speaker, he took his part in political campaigns; but it was not until 1874, at the age of thirtysix, that he entered official life. He was elected to the State Legislature and immediately attained influence and popularity. The next year he was re-elected and made Speaker of the House,—an experience which was repeated for three succesive years, when he was universally looked upon as the most promising young Republican leader in the state, and was elected Lieutenant-Governor. In the three years that followed he was elected to three successive annual terms as Governor of the State of Massachusetts. In one of these elections his opponent was no less dangerous an adversary than the late General Benjamin F. Butler. He declined further service in the Governorship, and accepted an election to Congress, where he remained for three terms. He then became a candidate for the United States Senate; but Senator Dawes secured re-electtion for his final term, to be succeeded later by Mr. Lodge. Mr. Long retired to the practice of his profession, and for eight or ten years did not hold public office. His very exceptional ability is recognized by all who have followed his career. His scholarly tastes and associations have never been forsaken, and he stands pre-eminently in Mr. McKinley's administration as the representative of American scholarship. He claimed no especial fitness for the Navy portfolio, but has demonstrated his ability to master his task rapidly and to utilize intelligently the services of a permanent oganization that is full of technical experts. Mr. Long most worthily represents the character, capacity, intelligence, culture and high ideals that belong to New England in her best estate. He has the energy and strength that characterize the sons of Maine, and he has the mental and ethical culture that belongs to the best type of Harvard's graduates. He has paved the way for the later "Harvard men in politics" who have served their state so creditably and have set so good an example to college-bred men the whole country over. John T. Morgan Democratic Statesman from Alabama Probably the most distinguished member of the Democratic side in the United States Senate, and one who has fought most fearlessly for the principles of the Democratic party, and at the same time gained the sincere respect and admiration of the men of all parties, is John T. Morgan, who represents the State of Alabama in the United States Senate. He was born at Athens, Tennessee, June 20, 1824, but at 9 years of age his parents removed to Alabama, where he received an academic education and has since resided. Being admitted to the bar in 1845, he gained the foremost rank in the practice of his profession. With his state, he seceded from the Union and served in the Confederate army, and arose to the rank of Brigadier-General. In 1876 he was chosen a Presidential elector and voted for Tilden and Hendricks. He entered the United States Senate in 1877, having served continuously since. that date. He has served on the most important committees of the Senate, and on several commissions, among which was the com mission for drafting the tariff laws for the Hawaiian Islands. He has been an advocate of the building of the canal across the Isthmus of Panama, but insists that it shall be truly and only American and under the American auspices. |