The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-03-31
Chances At Greatness.
MACK ON coLFAx.

1.-THE proper study of mankind is
man." and there is no place better ad-
apted to the pursuit of that study
than this National Capitol, where all
the intellectual grades and graduations
come together to make the best ex-
hibit they can for their own and the
public welfare, especially the former.
Here we have the man who was born
to greatness, the man who achieved
greatness, and the man who had great
ness thrust upon him--not to mention
that larger class, who have become
great through littleness, and who, look
ing back at the path they have trod,
a
"Sec their work like Jacobs ladder rise,
Its foot in dirt, its summit in the skies"
Converslng on this subject, n few
DAYS ago, a friend asked me chow on
earth Colfix ever got to his present
position in the Republican party"
over the heads OF SO many men OF tal-
ent and ability? 1t is to consider and
solve that very problem that / write
this letter. Did he ever make a great
speech that attracted the attention of
the country, aud fixed him in affection
of his party as a leader? Not, that
anybody ever heard of, certainly. Did
he ever champion a great party meas
ure, or become conspicuous in any of
the bitter party contests of the past
eight years? Not that anybody knows
of. He made a speech once, for the
expulsion of MI. Long, of CINCINNATI,
and I doubt if his best friends would
claim any distinguished honors for him
on that account. But, as my friend
remarked, ''there must be something
in him, you know" Well, there is
"1mprimis," garden seeds. When
the Hon. Schuyler first came to Con
gross, ten or twelve years ago, "a
youth to fortune, and to fame un-
KNOWN" he was the most Industrious
little person, and the most attentive to
the wants and wishes of his constitu-
ents; that ever lived on the. tide of
time. He answered every. letter he
received, and worked like a; bee in a
tar barrel, morning, noon,. and night,
to make himself a popular Represen-
tatixe. His strong point was garden
seeds. With these he literally de-
luged his district, and every little pa
per of them, of course served as q link
to bind him to the affections of his
people. This horticultural chain be-
came strong as steel, when, after a
while, every turnip field and onion
patch in Northern Indiana, seemed to
syllable his name and speak his NUM-
fcence. Other Representatives of the
district had talked politics and filled
the Globe with essays and speeches..
but he was a man who had almost at
tanned that degree of excellence and
sterling worth assigned, as far back
as the Zendavesta, and echoed again
by Dean Swift, to him who made two
blades of grass 1.-TWO onions ought to
claim a still higher need of praise9
grow where but one had grown be-
fore. 70 the frugal Heosiers. of South
Bend and vicinity, this made Schuyler
a man after their own heart.-.As the
election day rolled round, ne who
dared to utter a word against hin, and
thereby place. himself deliberately ON
the record as inimicaI to- Dutch cab
bage or unfriendly to. early radishes,
vas voted an enemy Of the Common-
wealth, and he and his posterityj were
forever accursed. Let other rural
Congressman profit by this example.
If they would reap golden opinions,
let them apply to the Department. OF
Agriculture for the wherewithalsto SOW
the seed. -.
Once firmly rooted into the affcc-
tons of his constituents, the Hon.
Schuyler began to look about him for
the means to make his next step,
which, failing to get the Postmaster
Generalship, under Lincoln, was the
Chair of the Speaker. How he attain
ed that promotion, let the bejcrked
and WORKOUT button-holes of the mann
bers of the Thirty-eighth Congress at
test. Such earnest praying, such; eager
solicitation, such manifold and multi
piled promises, never accompanied a
effort for Office before. He had more
little wires working, more little traps
laid, and more little maheuvers gener-
ally, than the head.of man ever before
conceived, or the heart Of man was
willing to .resoEtto. Through some
instrumentaiity, / know not whaa,
except it be. the, efficacy of smiles and
soft words. it was published through
al the newspapers that the election
of the Hon. schuyler to the Speaker
ship would be a just recognition of the
influence of. the press, etc. All this
In CONSEQUENCE Of the fact HAT The.