262 GEORGE STOW ELL
test was over, that thus far in his career he had been able to "withstand the world, the flesh and the Devil, but I find now that the Methodist Church is a little too much for me."
After this event he ceased to affiliate with the Republican party, and soon entered the fold of Populism. The reserva- tion episode and its result was probably the occasion and not the cause of his leaving the Republican party and casting in his lot with the Populists, for even when a nominal Republican he was in sympathy with some of their cherished doctrines. In the days when resumption of specie payment was an issue he vigorously opposed it and was what was termed a "Green- backer," and as a logical sequence, was an advocate of the free coinage of silver at a ratio of 16 to 1 when that question be- came an issue.
In the campaign of 1892 he was strenuous in his opposition to the re-election of General Harrison, and rejoiced over his defeat. Notwithstanding his defection from its ranks, he still retained a warm spot in his heart for the old party which he had helped to organize and build up, and which had been the pride of his youth, and when his new political associates were exulting over its tremendous defeat, he manifested but little elation remarking to a friend that an exhibition of hilarity over it would savor too much of merry making at the funeral of an old friend, although he was gratified at the downfall of Harrison. With this campaign his active participation in poli- tics ceased, although he continued loyal to his later political affinity until his death, which occurred at Ashland in the autumn of 1895.
The announcement of his passing quickened a train of sad reflections in the minds of his friends of earlier years. Their thoughts went back to the days of his young manhood, when the possibilities of the future for him seemed almost boundless, and the pathway to a glorious fame appeared unobstructed; and then traced his career, with its ever diminishing promise, until it ended in disappointment and comparative failure, and their hearts were made heavy by the thought of what he might but did not attain. Indeed, this blight of a bright promise was
