New-York tribune., 1872-07-29
JOE md HIS PARTY.

About twenty years ago there lived In back
quarter of one of our large cities young
lumber merchant, whom, for lack of another
name, we will call Joe. A stOut-built, clean
skinned, blue-eyed young fellow, with brlsk
sweet-tempered little wife and baby or two
in wo-stOried brick house not far from his
ward. Nobody knew wood better than Joe:
nobody bought or sod it more fairly. In other
matters than wood, too, his strong common
sense and downrightness made their mark he
was a man whom, in Western slang, "you could
ste to - whether it was a church meeting or
temperance gathering, or mere social affair
among the neighbors, Joe, modest, practical,
fine-natured, was always made referee ana
Judge. In these political and religious ques-
tions he held himself outside of old rules made
by one set Of men, which are so seldom apt
TO suit any other: to bring everything down TO
the broad foundations of common sense and
simple right was his effort, and gave his power
Nobody could doubt that Joe, as q lumber
trader. father, husband, and citizen, had found
precisely, the right niche, and was filling it
thoroughly.
Satan comes to every man, however, once
in his lifetime. One Spring lumber was
dull: there was corner in ash or waste IN
locust which Joe could not master. He went
into the political campaign then in progress
TO keen his mind from the vexatious business.
He had taken up the losing side, because 1T
had Justice with itn and threw himself into
it bravely. Honesty and courage count even
in politics in the long run; the losing side
won; and Joe found himself set on pedes-
| tai as a strong and successful orator. A
II ha
dowed with a snug Office in token of appre-
citation of his party. The income was double
that of the lumber jobbing. Joe began to
look less for the intangible verities called
common sense and right, and to recognize
! that there was such thing as his party; as
pleasing, winning q reality to talk and write
necessarily about as ever bridegroom found a
bride Not that he did not still ground every
act and word on the basis of a sturdy con-
science; but the party was an agreeable
something that he had served and that had
we'll paid the service.
All this was twenty years ago. In one o.
the showiest plaster palaces of the same city
Joe keeps his family now. He has his home
at the hotels. He is a Senator in the State il
which he lives. His party pays better in thai
olatc, nc says, tnah tnty cdh uo III w asnlnS
ton. They pay Joe well-On compulsion. Hc
is big, puffy, white -whiskered, purple faced
man, with diamonds in his shirt front, and al
eye-g glass through which he takes the measur,
of other men, himself unseen. He can tell tc
a penny how much bleeding you will stand
when you take bill to him to pass. No mar
will grind your AK better, but you shall pay
for the grinding. When certain visionary
theorists" unpracticals,' thrust measur,
into the Legislature on the merits of its JUS
tice or philanthropy alone, it is a study tC
observe Joe's fat finger on flabby chin weigl
1t as he might a child's bubble, and ther
crush it in his palm. "Vory pretty
"but theoretical, Sir Theoretical! Tn,
" party cannot afford to indulge such whm
"whamss He gives solid donation to the
Church now and then, but he is seen 10 m0r,