New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-16
The Last Of Once.

1t is reported from W0Snl0gGOn LNaL y
former member of Congress from Kentucky
has just been appointed messenger OF tne
House of Representatives, and two other
ex-members have obtained places az labor
ers in the document room, where it ia u part
of their duty to wheel books 10 Q barrow to
the postoffice. 1t has been thought specially
creditable to the social and political lnstitu-
tions of the United States that men here
NAV and do rise from the humblest bagin-
nings to the highest places, as Henry Wilson
did, and many another before hlm. Inc re-
istic Of American life. Men sink from the
rank of legislators to that of laborers and
messengers quite as often as others rise
from the latter place to the former. ls
this also creditable 70 American IN
situations! Official life in Washing
ton seems TO have a strange iaeclE-
alton for some at least of those who
have once experienced its pleasures. To an
able man. doubtless the consciousness that
he is helping to control the affairs OF
great nation, and that in some respects,
more or less important, the destinies Of his
country, and perhaps of the world, would
have been different but for his Efforts in the
national legislature, must be very agree
able; and after some years OF these high
empleyments it is DO wonder that the
smaller and less conspicuous affairs OF pri-
vate and professional business seem in
sip,d. But able men, though hankeriDg tor
public lite, do not become doorkeepers or
laborers in default Of more dign;ti d official
positions.
Small men, however. may be as suscepti-
BILE to the charms Of office as their super,ors
in intellect and energy, perhaps even more
so. Insignificant men are not so rare IN
Congress as might be wished. Probably a
majority of all the members are incapable
Sc c,,1v iv,di
it, They neither take any part in the de-
bates nor in the wO-k of comm,ctees. Their
service, such as 1t is, consists IN voting
when their names are called. drawing their
pay punctually, and getting as many Of
their friends as possible appointed post
masters and clerks. Yet each OF these men
probably hatters himself that ne is of some
consequence. His position, at any rate.
gives him Importance in other eyes than his
own. A: home he is among tie great
men of the neighborhood, and in Wash
ington the possession OF vote, some
thing more than One-three- hundredth OF the
power OF the House of Representatives. pro-
cures him come attention from those who
know where his vote can be Of service to
them. 1t is irksome, OF course for such
man to leave these dIgnities and tee COM
Portable emoluments of office for al undistin-
guished and impecuniOus existence in some
Hon. aid the privilege Of sitting on the
platform on public occasions among the
prominent citizens" are poor substitute
for all that he has lost. His nomination
and election we're, very likely, lucky h:r.
which he could no more repeat than he
could make stone thrown twice into the
air fall each time upon exactly the same
spot. Life at home is fiat and improbable:
in Washington the fact that he has been q
m n (.OnprQEa n Cy i'm
some place If he is not TOO tas.Idious; SO 70
Washington he goes
He hopes to be chosen Clerk Of the
House, or Sergeantat arms, or postmaster:
but more Influential politicians than he
have made sure Of those places. He abates
his pretensions. If he can not have post
which copfers distinction or Influence, he
will take one which is profitable and not
very laborious or failing that. too, he will
gratefully or grumblingly accept even a
lnenial place. That his pay, be it much or
little, sto0ld come from the pabiic treas
Jury. 10 the main thing with him. That fact
in some mysterious way seems to ennoble
occupations which he would otherwise
think degrading. He would think it an in
suit to offer him employment as porter in
a publishing house, but his dignity is not
compromised by truudling a wheelbarrow
about the Capitol. He would spurc the sug-
gestion that he should earn his living by
running errands for lawyer, but he is
ready to intrigue and beg for the oppor-
tuuity to run errands for the 800 gentlemen
who occupy the seats. one of which was
his not long ago. The passion for living
upon the public has became par. of his
nature, and he will never be content else
where than in Washington. The type of
this class Of men is that ex memb Der OF Con
eress who solicited OF one of the early
Presidents the appointmtn. OF minister TO
England. On being refused tha. and sew
eral other re quests, each more modest than
its predecessor. he at last went away mod
era,ely satisfied with the gift of an old
pair of breeches- Worcester Spy.