, 1872-11-09
LONG JOHNS DIPLOMACY.
How Tie Bridged the Chasm Eetvecu
Himself and the Hon. J, Y.
ScammOn.
A Twenty-Four Years ssUnpleas-
antness." Amicably Adjusted.
Mr Scammon's Great Success as an Editor
FlatteringIy Acknowledged.

F!alteIlE9'f AchH0WiEQ9cd
At the beginning Of the late campaign, the
Liberal candidate for President called attention
to the bloody chasm wrought by years Of civil
var, and proposed that both sections should
shake hands across it. During the long contest
which followed, the numerous other chasms
which exist in this country, and even in Chicago,
were lost sight Of. For it is mournful fact
that the field Of life is intersected in all direc-
tions by these chasmB, and it is very rarely that
there is any hand-shaking across them.
Still, it is . pleasure to report the
fact that one Of them, at least, has been filed up
to grade, one which for years has separated two
OF our most prominent citizens.
For twenty-four years there has been chaem
between the Hon. John Wentworth and the
Hon. J. 7. Scammon. OF course, in physical
point OF view, there is chasm between the
head of the former and that Of the Hon. AIr
Scammon, but that is not the one referred to-
The commencement Of this chasm, or gulch, or
gully, dates far back. In 184s John Wentworth
was the Democratic and J. 7. Scammon the
Wing candidate for Congress in the Fourth Dis
trict, which then included Mclean. LaSalle,
and number Of other counties besides Cook.
The unprejudiced freemen OF that district gave
Long John 1857 votes, and Arr. scammon
8,312. Cook County gave the former &, 1888 and
the latter 1, ,92t. It Vas rout for the latter,
who carried but Two counties, and those by small
majorities. This result Was quite unsatisfactory
to Mr. scammon, and naturally did not add to
his affection for his competitor. Az the time ap-
preached for the following election, Long John,
then at Washington, wrote home letter, where
in he stated, probably on account of his easy
victory, that he did not intend to return
home to canvass tho district with Mr.
6cammon, and he would let that gentleman have
the fell all to himself, and what he could do.
This unfortunate letter came to 11r. Scammons
knowledge. Even in those days, he was an ora
tor, having learned the art in Maine school
house, where the pupils were drilled in reciting
Casabianca and Hohenlinden. So he resented
the insinuation that his parts of speech could
not win him the victory, even when Wentworth
was not there to reply. Then A1r. Scammon,
being unable to beat Wentworth, took his re-
venge by cutting him. He would not speak
to the aforesaid Wentworth. He would
not stretch up his arm to shake hands With him.
he would not give Long John the benefit Of lis
financial experience; he would not discount his
notes at the Marine Bank; he would neither
eat, drink, nor sleep with him. And thus has it
been for nearly quarter OF a century.
In view Of this state Of AFFAIRS it will surprise
the citizens Of Chicago to learn that these two
distinguished gentlemen have shaken hands
over the chasm OF 3 long war, and are at peace.
Ordinarily, the fact that two men have shaken
hands is their own affair, hardly fitted for notice
in newspaper. Dub this is no common
matter; it is an event it is like the reconcil-
iation Of CRsar and Pompey, whereat Rome
maryel1ed- When such distinguished men de-
termine to forgst the dead issues Of the past,
why cannot the lesser ones initiate them, and :
general era OF good feeling begin?
week ago hlr. Wentworth, whose soul hank
ers sitter peace, and who is probably willing to
forgive everybody, except h1r. Farwen, hap
looked toward the door he saw Mr. Scammon
Just coming in. lie determined to hold out the
olive branch, indirectly, but yet decidedly. He
would appeal to the most decided points Of Mr..
scammon's character. There is In Alr. Went
worth much of the diplomatical. He would
have shono in q foreign mission.
Affecting entire Ignorance OF Mr. Scammon's
presence, Mr. Wentworth, in that clear, distinct
voice Of his: called to colored boy who Was near
by, and said:
boy, here is dime; go and buy me COPY
Of the Inter- Ocean. / never read any other now
It Is the best paper ever published in Chicago
except the Democrat. Don't you know it, boy?f'
The boy, being aware Of the fact that the Inter-
Ocean supported John Jones, and being unwill-
ing to contradict as tall man as Mr. Wentworth
Very we'll" continued Long John; 'tgo and
get me copy at once. Never mind the change.
You can keep that
Mr. scan1mon heard all this. It is useless to
attempt to paint his feelings. As the serpent
follows the seEpent-charmor, so he drew nearer
and nearer to Mr. Wentworth, who persisted in
not seeing him.
The boy returned with the paper,-Mr. Vent
worth opened it, looked at the editorial page,
read . little, nodded his head, and said, go that
Ill might hear:
Damned smart paper. Some ability here
This man scammon is pretty hard about some
things; I had to fight him in the School Board,
but he knows how tog get up paper. He missed
an judge OF these things for know tho
trade. Political views all wrong, but thew are
stated 1, deTlliah we'll. smartest paper in
Then he returned to it's perusal. Mr.. Scam
mon vent back to his Office, happy but agitated
like girl after her first proposal. He found no
fault with any OF his employees that day. This
fact has been ascerta!ned By inquiry.
The next morning Mr. Wentworth found at his
door copy OF the Inter Ocean, with card
pinned to it-sf Compliments Of J. 7. scammon,"
Mr. Wentworth VAS eatiBded-the fish had
bitten. '~ @'
That afternoon he was in the hall Of the hotel,
and Mr. scammon came in. The latter walked
up to him and said, holding out his hand:
:" How do you do, Mr.. Wentworth 2"
They shook hands. John Drake happened to
see it, and refused to believe his eyes. He still
doubts it.
Now, in order that AIr. Wentworth may be
night on the record it is proper to add what lie
said when asked by some one whether he really
read the Inter Ocean
.'Read the damned thing! No, never opened
it but once"
Then his ears became parentheses at the cor
nerB Of his mouth, the Summit smile.
Now when Mr. Scammon reads this, the
chasm will probably reopen. Still, one must tell
the truth.
MR.. KELLEYs CONGRATULATIONS.
10 the Editor ef The Chteado Tribune.