A Formidable Political Career

      Although generally regarded as a staunch Republican other than the six years he

became a member of the Silver Party, Stewart changed political parties several times

during his career. The list included Whigs, Know-Nothings, Democrats, Republicans,

Silver Party/Populists and a return to the Republicans. His beliefs changed from time to

time, but Stewart tended to be pragmatic. Even as a child Stewart loved political

excitement. In New York and Ohio the Stewart family appreciated Andrew Jackson and

Federalism. They attended July 4th events in downtown Lyons, New York cheering for

Jackson. At the age of nine, Stewart heard a speech by Joshua Giddings that proved to be

a lifelong inspiration. Giddings, a teacher turned lawyer in Ashtabula County, Ohio

championed abolitionist causes with his speeches. Joshua Giddings helped found the

Republican Party in Ohio. This was the type of personality that fired up the political

ambitions of young Stewart. Some historians call Stewart a party hopper because of his

multiple affiliations. In 1850 when he studied law with John McConnell in California, he

associated with Southern Democrats. McConnell’s office had become their local 

gathering place.

      Stewart refused to participate in duels, a popular activity for the Southern

Democrats. Stewart disagreed with future father-in law Henry Foote on this point. He did

not refrain from dueling out of fear, but he thought the practice to be a foolish waste of

time. Stewart embraced the Know-Nothing party briefly, a group known for being against 

aliens. Stewart’s father-in-law joined the Know-Nothings. Foote influenced Stewart with

a dynamic speech he gave in Nevada City shortly after Annie and Bill married. After

Stewart joined the Republican Party in 1856, some accused him of siding with southern

sympathizers.

      With the exception of the years from 1892-1898 when Stewart affiliated

himself with the Silver Party, he was a Republican during his senatorial career.

Stewart rejoined the Republicans when he finally realized the silver issue was over.

During his last bid for a Senate seat he ran as a Silver Party candidate, but shortly after
 
the election he was back in the Republican camp. A newspaper article in 1897 hinted that

was what he planned to do all along. He won the election despite bad press, old age and

some skullduggery. This final election was the most contentious.

     At this time the State Legislatures elected the senators.  Stewart became friends

with Francis Newlands when they both joined the Silver party. Stewart, twenty-one

years older than Newlands, acted as a mentor for Newlands and his political aspirations.
 
His first wife Clara was the daughter of Senator William Sharon. He took Stewart’s

Senate position in 1878. This friendship came to an end during the nasty Senate campaign

of 1898. Stewart astutely realized Francis Newlands wanted a Nevada Senate job –

possibly his. There were not big issues during the 1898 campaign other than silver.

Stewart managed to get Newlands kicked out of the Silver Party shortly before the

election. That did not solve all his problems. Stewart kept making speeches over and over

denying charges that he was responsible for the “Crime of “73”.

     Stewart had two bodyguards during the 1898 campaign.  Jack Chinn, known as a

tough guy, who always had a Bowie knife handy and David Neagle, a U.S. Marshall who

killed Judge Terry in California ten years earlier were the men who influenced the

election by either kidnapping or bribing Assemblyman William Gillespie so as not to be

present for the crucial vote for senator. That vote was fifteen to fourteen in Stewart’s

favor – thus avoiding a runoff election that Stewart might have lost. A couple months

later the absent Gillespie had a new job working for the Southern Pacific. This railroad

had great interest in Stewart’s election to keep legislation going to their benefit.

     The United States was on the gold standard in 1900. The forgone conclusion became

law despite the countless speeches and tremendous effort Stewart made to avoid this.

Stewart rejoined the Republicans and turned his focus to expansionism. He considered

development of the Philippines not imperialism, but rather a way to help the people to get

established. Stewart even pushed for railroads in the Philippines. Stewart received bad

press for being a  tool of the Southern Pacific and Central Pacific Railroads and

railroads in general. Stewart was not up for reelection in 1902, but he had a special

interest in the senatorial campaign. Unfortunately for him, Senator John Jones retired.

Francis Newlands wanted the job. Stewart no longer liked Newlands and hoped to force

him out of politics for good. The Southern Pacific Railroad withdrew support for Stewart

and backed Newlands. He became a senator and remained in the office until his death

in 1917. With Newlands as the junior senator, Stewart had to work with him.

     Stewart did legal work on the Pious Fund Case at The Hague. California and

Mexico had been fighting over money left from the missions. Unfortunately, when he was

at The Hague his wife Annie had a fatal automobile accident in California. Although

Stewart remarried, losing Annie hit him hard. Popularity ebbed in his home state. Even

influential Republicans started to turn against him. George Nixon left the Silver Party and

rejoined the Republicans and became Stewart’s competition for the 1905 election. After

controlling Nevada politics for decades Stewart was out. He did not even participate in

the convention that could have at least paid tribute to him for his lengthy political career.