Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1868-02-28
schuyler Colfhx.
A Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette gives the following
estimate of this eminent sfafeSman

A Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette gives the following
estimate of this eminent statesman:
The name of Schuyler Colfax is men
tioned In political circles as probable
candidate for high honors. or course,
hundreds are studying his character
views to the public. This is we'll In
regard to all who are presented to the
people for important positions. BY
combining these partial likeiiesses,
there is formed what MAY be called q
resultant picture, which very nearly
represents the riiati The writer of this
Is inclined to present his estimate of
the Speaker, because he Is not satisfied
with any OF the representations which
he has seen of the man, and because he
has had some peculiar opportunities for
forming an opinion. He boasts of no
intimate relations with Mr.. Colfax, and
private friendship, therefore, does not
warp his Judgment, while he Is not so
far removed as to know him only as a
public officer.
During the sessions of the Thirty
ninth Congress. aud the Fortieth, thus
far, Mr.. Coliax has unconsciously given
me daily sitting" for his portrait !;
or ratherj ] have been sitting short
time. daily, In his presence, to receive a
multitude OF Impressions which have
gradually shaped themselves into de-
finite opinion.
The speaker belongs to that class
whose power Is Invariably underrated,
until brought To some severe test
They are regarded as simply good ma
tured, sunny face men, until OH some
great occasion we start To see smiles
changed into lightning. fEH
He is constitutionally afiable. from
gentlemanly instinct, and on Chris
tiaii principle he is uniformly court
eous. This is his most familiar aspect.
and therefore he has been presented to
the country as very prince Of guod
nature aud affablity, a CHEEKY, sunny
man, aud we are left to infer, at least,
that he is not remarkable for force,
breadth and depth OF character.
Truthful as ;his Is In regard to his
kinly disposition, IL Is total miscon.
ception Of the man. Many who have
| only seen the surface of his mind, asks,
"Do you think MIR. Colfax is u great
man? 'h.ta # 8+f #aH@sst
The answer will depend upon what
we mean by great man. All great.
ness Is not the same. He has not the
eel Mr.. Webster, or Clay, or Calhoun.
They aud their type of political great
ness belong To an age that has passed
away. lfthey could be brought back
Just as they Were, they could not he the
leaders OF this new era. Their intel
lectual power, without the deep moral
conviction that this aye demands,
would he out of place In our great con.
fiict, and worse than useless.
Many, In looking for the first time
upon the Thirty.ninth Congress, said
there are no really great men here"
Subsequent reflection changed their
opinion, and history .:..! yet record
that I'm every element of real states
manship, i'm clear, broad views of hu-
man rights and relation I'm deep true
moral conviction. i'm all that consti-
tutes a heroic character, the leaders OF
the Thirty -niith Congress were supe-
rior to their predecessors; and among
them MIR. Colfax was and is un ac-
knowledged leader. "e
They were men who met firmly the
shock of the most formidable rebellion
of modern times, aud crushed IL; and
then. against the whole power OF the
Executive aud great party of the
Nortll, and the reinspirited rebels, con-
storing the South and reuniting the
country. Men capable of this are great
men. Now, the question of tire capac-
ity of Mr.. Colfax, Is best answered by
the fact for three consecutive Con-
gressionai terms, and while the great
est question ever presented to Ameri-
can statesmen, were being discussed. I'm
time of extreme peril, these strong
men invited him to preside over them,
guide their deliberations, aud yield the
great power of the Speaker when amy
grave mistake would have imperilled
their party and the country.
Many Of the strong men I'm the
House could do, perhaps, I'm his own
sphere, what the Speaker could not !;
but in the administrative ability need
ed In his high pusition--in the power
so 20 guide tile great mental forces of
the House, go as To reach result--in
the faculty OF seeing at glance the
true aspect Of difficult case, and of
prompt decision that tact" which
means an intuitive perception of what
Is needed, and how it can he done. Mr..
Colfax has no superior among our pub
lie men, i'm the House or elsewhere.
Standing OiI the front 1.-The of princi-
pie he seems not disposed to attempt all
fixed on the ultimate goal, asks what Is
practicable now. His convictions rest
on firm. moral ana religious basis, and
therefore he is not likely to change.
He is one Of the hest living representa-
tives OF the true American type of
mind--tlIoroughly practical. working
right on To definite ends with great
executive force, power of endurance,
and uawearied attention to the details
of business. In any higher position he
would I've dealing still with the same
questions with which he il already
familiar; Ire would be associated with
the sime men over whose deiiherations
he has presided 80 long. and, he would
bring To tile conduct of affairs, the
same clear perceptions, the same power
of prompt decision, the same exquisite
lact and firmness that have distin-
gnished him n a Speaker; and whether
this Kind OF greatness is needed by the
country iiow, each must decide for
himself.
A Wonderful story.
The Bucyrus Journal states that du-
ring the great snow a lad, near that
place, went out to a potato mound TO
get potatoes; after clearing away the
snow and breaking Into the mound, he
found kind of nest in tue straw, i'm
which was Il caulpacI ball of what he
took to be large ball OF string such as
our WOODEN men lse. He brought this
In with tire potatoes, and laid it ON the
habys cradle near the stove. His mo-
ther just then sent him off To neigh
bors and continued about her work.
He was gone about an hour, aud when
I... lti.
he found II had resolved itself into
pile of squirming snakes, many of
which were seeking tile warmth of the
infants body, and one had actually en-
tered its mouth. A cry of alarm from
the boy attracted the attention of the
mother toward the cradle. aud, seiziDg
tile child sought To- 9xtricate the rep