Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1873-03-08
PIRACY AND POLITICS.
A Story for Youth-Little Tommy Didn't
Want to be an Angel-Would Rather be
a Pirats-His Father Shows Him a
Better Way.


Tommy who read the New York Ledger
till his mind became filled with all kinds
Of fine stories about the sea. So he told
his father that he wanted to be pirate
But his father told him 1t was Just as
good to be politician. Then Tommy
cried, and said, No, he would be pirate
or nothing.
His kind father took him on his knee
and said, "My dear boy, you have noble
character, but why do you want to be
plrate1 Is 1t not to sill In a ship on the
sea, with big cutlass In your belt, and
TO kill other people and get lots of money,
and live in cave In some lovely island
That Is the way that Captain Kidd did,
and many other bold sailors in the good
old times now gone. But Tommy, 1t is
not the fashion to do those things now,
and If you tried IL you would soon be
caught aud banged, Tommy, and how
would you like that Papa don't want
his little son 10 be hung. 30 let us hear
no more of piracy your education shall
hereafter be conducted with a view to
politics. 60 run away, paDa's busy now"
"No, father" said Tommy, 81 want 10
know what is a politician 2"
| ga politician" said his father, els a
kind Of a pirate-a land pirate-who does
In genteel ard easy way what Captain
Kidd and Black Buccaneer, Of the Gulf,
did so clumsily aud at such great risk.
Those pirates plundered individuals; the
politician plundels the whole community,
city, a State, aud sometimes a nation.
He makes much money, aud becomes
great man. Father is trying to be poll
tlcian himself"
Little Tommy's eyes sparkled with de.
light he clapped his hands aud cried, go,
daddv I tUauf n bn a polfTfpiun n,.iI ma
aboat some of them. Did you ever see
onel"
'"Yes and you can read of them In the
papers, in which the criminal stories are
much more wonderful than the New York
Ledger tales. You should read the debates
in Congress, in the Legislature, and in
Councils, Tommy. They will fire your
youthful ambition"
"Tell me some of those stories, please"
said Tommy.
"Well, once upon a time," said his
father, "there was an old pirate named
Ames, who had a band of other pirates
who called themselves the Credit Mo
bllers. There Was a great railroad worth
lets of money, and In the treasury of the
people there was lots more. SO Ames and
his band made raid upon the road and
the treasury and stole millions of dollars.
After awhile they were caught, and the
Congress of the United States pretended
to Try them. But see, Tommy, how nice
il is to be a politician. Had they ben pi
rates they would have been put in prison
but as they were only politicians Congress
let them of and said they did nothing
wrong"
''Tell me another story, please, father,
said Tommy.
, "Well, another time there was a pirat
, Il mean politician, who went around a
: election time cheating, and he cheated
and he cheated, and he cheated, just a
Capt Kidd sailed, and sailed, and sailed
Well, he was caught and put in prison
Yes, Tommy, the naughty judges sen
him to prison for three years. But, be
= cause he was politician the Presidcn
pardoned him in three weeks. Now,
k he had been pirate they would have keT
n him in jail"
'Just one more story, papa" said Ton
, my, 81 like these stories much better tha
" the others, for they are true"
s'rhc Evans case" said his father
n. himself in a musing way, the pardon
Yrrkes, water department, convicted leloI
N in office, Caldwell, Pomeroy, Patters0l
Colfax-hum hunt highway commi
g. tee, Siner, Philadelphia Roosters-the
'n are such lot of good stories, Tomm
that don't know which to tell you. We
IN, think over 1t some other time. But,
you really intend to be a politician the
is a great deal to learn, and you mu
IN study now when you are young.
-, eyes, father, will" said Tommy.
=" "When ! was boy" continued h
father, 81 did not have your advantage
m. My parents seut me to Sunday school, al
whipped me when | stole apples or to
oy lbs. was afraid TO develop my natur
IS. talents. They taught me that it "
wrong 10 look man in the face and ST
on one thing, ana even swear to It, and tn
on 20 and do another. So all my Doyho
was wasted in the pursuit of virtue, a.
,w when l became a man | was as green
yoa are now. But you, my boy, shi
. have the benefit of the education viii
n was refused to your old daddy. o
IN. Tommy, if my parents had brought me
IDS right-that is, | mean, wrOng-I mig
have been much more snccessful man.
ION might have been a Credit Mobllier.
l. might have stolen Il million o. dollars.
+ might have kept n keno shop. l mig
IAN have been in a cau-caucus-and tried -
k-kick somebody out-for yO-yOiing righ
we and the old man, overcome by his gri
is burst into tears.
he Don't cry, father" sobbed Tomn
ed too, ''when get TO be man I'll make
as all right"
si- eyes, my son, said his father, calmi
5. himself, that is my fondest hope. Y
be may fulfil the destiny refused to me. II
lu- my ardent prayer that may live to see
. day when you will be gloriously pardon
ION by some future governor, or triumphan
wo acquitted by some investigating commit
md now unborn, Of some offence of VIII
the you will be VIGOROUSLY guilty"
Be "But, father" said his son, sis tn
'n- no school where | can learn to be pol
ert, clan :"
ae; "Yes, my child the streets. You (
ner learn great deal there if you are att
ars tive. You can learn the latest slang 6
ire how to swear. By the way, do you C
mis-, swearl"
of 81 say doggon It and dod rot it, 4
lily, such things" replied Tommy.
ne "You might begin on some more forci
erl- VERBS" said his father; Sc l will have
Test give you some lessons. Can you coniug
are the verb to damn 2"
'ar- 81 think so," said Tommy, and he 1
Wis, ceeded to say;
rry, / damn, We damn,
Ills, Thou damnest, You damn,
ION, He damns. They damn.
rue, every good 20 said his fond fail
and "you are clever little boy. Here
srs. counterfeit quarter, which you can get
old blind cake woman TO change for y
as Now run away, and don't forget y
Tell, grammar, and what have told you.
Pat stop don't let me hear any more Il
! in sense about wanting to be pirate"
gan, "No, papa !" said little Tommy, a
nan skipped away with merry laugh, Z"
lerl, great deal rather be politician"