Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-13
From the New York Times.
A Brief Presidency.

1t was not cheerful and confident party which
assembled at the Tilden mansion on Wednes-
day night. The feast was like Belshazzars.
To be sure, the guests did not see the Handwriting
on the wall. They were continually looking for
it. The magnates great and small, had met to
give their allegiance and congratulations to "the
President-elect" The fireworks were provided.
The band was under waiting orders-around the
corner. The President of night sat at the head
of the hospitable board, and cried, "What no,
mental beaker of red wine!" But as he poured,
his hand trembled. From guest to guest the panic
spread. Confusion sat every countensnce
when the head nincompoop burst in, with pallor
on his brow and telegram in his hand. "IIayes
is ahead" This was all his message, and he sank
into one of Potter & Stymus' chairs, (paid for by
the Statute Of Limitatons) and huskily whispered,
"Give me drink, Hewitt, like sick girl. The
banquet broke up in most admired disorder. The
fireworks were hidden away in the cellar. The
impromptu serenade was snutfed out, and the i'm
promptu speech was put away in lavender The
banqueters gloomily dispersed tossing off the
"heel taps as they left the board. The jolfca-
ton indefinitely postponed account of
sickness in the family.
1t was brief Observation-Disclosures than Pope
Josn's, or Abbou Hsssans. Nevertheless, it was
jolly while it lasted. When Mr.. Tlden nominal
ed himself at st. Louis, he solemnly drew togeth-
er the heads of five of his confidential friends
and a, solemnly said that he saw in this unex-
pected result the hand of the people. When
Duke Gwn, the Mephisto of this unhappy poll
tician, told him that he was elected President, he
said that he was very much obliged indeed, and he
should not announce his Cabinet and policy until
next day. But, in the gush of the hour, he sent
written speech to Tammany Hall, where fra
grant crowd was yelling beneath the gaslights
"The President elect" informed the great un.
washed that they had covered themselves with
FASTING renown." Whereupon the crowd, think
ing that this meant something complimentary and
promising, yelled again and went over to Irving
Hall, where professional hunorist cracked jokes
by the hour. This funny fellow said 81 think
you may take my word for it that Samuel J. Til
den has over two hundred electoral votes" The
king cohort cheers again. They were will
ing TO forget that this the same authority who
had given his word for it in the newspapers) that
Seymour had accepted the Saratoga nomination,
when he had done nothing of the X ind. They
forgivingly took his word for it again, and went
home to dream of fat places in public offices, and
to wake up betmes to learn that Hayes was elected
Nevertheless, 1t was happy reign while it en-.
dured. The World grew Historically funny as it
cracked its ponderous jokes about republicans
| who had lost bets and democrats who had won
1t INDUCED in a wild rigadoon over "the grave of
the republican party; magnanmously complI-
mented Hayes AS q defeated candidate; then
having relieved its pent-up feelings calmly re-
turned to its lenses of Latin verbs and calls
head a la Anglase And the Tribuue by turns
II wept and smiled, as it hailed "Mr. Tilden the
President" and said, 1--WE may as well turn our
selves about All that day the kilograms came
in with gloom for the democrats. The Evening
Express cheered the dropping spirits of the faith
full with windy extras," which had startling tele.
grams, but no news. The gentlemen who had |
cheered themselves hosrse and had foreign mis- |
| sions in their minds eye as they cheered, grew
weak about the knees as the day wore on; they
suddenly reflected that they hal engagements in |
Westchester and Cattaraugus. Now and then a |
preposterous dispatch came to say that Ohio and
Massachusetts, had gone for Tilden. These were
desperately believed in, and some romantic demo-
Gratis even circulated the tale that Illinois and Ne
brssks were for New Yorks favorite SON." I'm
der the stimulus OF such deusions the banqueters
assembled to wait for the handwriting on the
wall. They were resolved to die game. Perhaps
they thought that brag and buster would make
falsehood forever seem like truth.
1t was q good administration. "Mr Tden, |
President, dispensed promises and cheer with |
liberal hand. Ten men were appointed Ministers |
to England, and seven more had begun to study |
French as preliminary to accepting a commits |
sion to represent the United States at the French
republican court. One half of the grown men
who were in the last democratic torchight pro.
| cession had gone down to take look at the Gus
tom-house, and pick out the office which had been
engaged to them. John Kelly had begun to write
his protest against Charles Francis Adams as Sec
Rotary. of State. The President for day en-.
joyed himself very much. He even forgave the
World, and sent word to that eccentric organ
that he considered it a truly great newspaper.
All was happiness, forgiveness, brotherly love,
and jollity. For twelve hours the dream was un-
broken For twelve hours the long famished de-
| mocracy fed beautifully on phantom pap and
ghostly plumber. But the time came when the
play was played out. The curtain went down on
| the Tilden administration. The banners of VIC
tory, were folded up and put away The fire
works were not lighted, and the music was
hushed. Probably the actors felt Just as good
over their one day of playing at victory as they
would if the day had been longer and they had
| begun to quarrel over the distribution OF the
spoils As it is, they have avoided inevitable
| heart-burnngs and internecine feuds. Their ad-
ministration is over. and by and by Mr.. Abram S.
Hewitt will issue another general order and tells
| us what he thinks about it..
| 4 LIS