The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1875-03-06
THE PACIFIC
Commercial bbertiser
SATURDAY,. r 8.
Daniel Webster.

Sow R-ESnSEcEScEs OF THE GREAT STATESEAS-
Hrs INDHFERESCE TO DEBT.
Daniel Webster made his home at the Astor
House while he tarried on this planet and IN New
York, of which he was very fond. The commo-
dious room on Vesey street, aiterward converted
into the ladies' breakfast-room was appropriated
to his use. His arrival was always announced,
and the announcement was the signal foT q gath
ering Of the political lights, the choice wits, the
cultured bon rirdnfs Of the metropolis. There
cious apartment. Much Of Webster's converse
ton there, il is said, was more eloquent than any
Of his printed o~rAtions. He held high court and
carnival dwelt, as In truth be always did, in an
atmosphere Of adulation. As he Was always op-
posed in practice to discharging his bills, /
strongly suspect the liberal accommodations he
enjoyed were never paid for. The probability is
that Colonel Stetson, his intimate friend, never
wanted, would never have TAKEN, any eompensa-
ton for entertaining 50 royal an intellect, so
princely a good fellow.
1t appears singular now that the great exPoun-
der Of The American Constitution should have
gone through life sublimely reckless in respect to
any and all his debts. He made no account of
money, particularly when be happened to owe it.
He was a gifted pensioner upon his constituents.
For thirty years or more they supplied all his
financial wants, and those were, by no means,
either few or small. 1t is estimated that he re-
ceived, during his public career, not far from
81, 0O0, 0OO-not given to him in a roundabout,
delicate manner, but blankly presented, in the
shape of gold-notes, checks and drafts.
This mode Of contribution began with his cleo
ton to Congress in 1872, when, his legal practice
having already become very lucrative, it was
deemed proper for leading members of the FEEDER
al party, especially of Massachusetts, and Boston,
to make mp to him what he would necessarily
lose by accepting Office. From that date there
was never any lack Of wealthy admirers to fur
nish him with material means.
Chow are you of for money, WebsterF was
a common question with bis acquaintance, on
meeting him. OF course, he never knew but
he was always willing to accept gratuities, how
ever large, from his host Of friends. In Boston,
it was won't to be regarded as a social distinction
to contribute to Webster's support, though the
custom grew to be so widespread after a while
that most of the distinction was lost.
1t was at the Astor that Webster, wishing to
buy q newspaper one morning, put his hand in
bis pocket only to find it empty. he declared he
had not a penny, whereupon one of his satellites
said Z" You must be mistaken, Webster; / saw
you have q 800 bill just as you went to bed,
and as you haven't been up half an hour you
could hardly have spent It,"
81 rather think that's so" answered the god
like Daniel, rehectively. "I did have a 800
bill, 1 am sure. 1 wonder what 1 could have
done with it. By Jupiter, I must have given it
to the boy who blaosed my boots, five minutes
ago" M ..34 -a
And that was the fact.