Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-07
Evarts and the Hungry Tennessee
Es-Who is He7

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Washington Cor. Nashville Americana
The members Of the cabinet have suf-
fered only less from the clamor of the
place-seekers than Hayes, but, Sehurz
excepted, they have been wiser in their
day aud generation, and very early in
their respective reigus turned all Office
seekers over to their assistants, who, in
their turn, sent them off to the appoint
ment clerks, where they could get the
cold comfort Of registering their names
and learn that their applications would
be considered" if there were any va
c~aucies. What few have eluded the ont.
posts, penetrated to the inner sanctuaries
of the cabinet officers, and escaped being
kicked out by the door keepers, have
found the members of the cabinet much
less amiable than their chief, and not
any more satisfactory. Evarts is the
antipodes Of Hayes in the treatment Of
chronic ofice.seekers, and delights in
extinguishiDg them in a cssk of his sour
sarcssms. A case in point happened
this past week and will serve as a most
excellent illustration. The victim was
a distinguished Tennesseean. II would
be harsh to class him as q chronic office
seeker, but his love of private life is not
80 overwhelming as to make him deaf 10
any call from his countrymen to serve
them in q public Office. For ZONE time
his patriotic heart has been fred with
the firm belief that the country de
manded his services abroad. He is q
man Of persistence as we'll as of pres.
ence. In the incoming of the new ad.
ministration he saw his opportunity. He
laid siege to the State department, and o
few days since procured an audience Of
the animated tomahawk who presides
over it when the demands OF his large
and lucrative pactice will allow. The
scene which followed is thus described
by an eyewitness.
Evarts = with frigid p%oliteness) =
"Well, sir, what is your business2'
Tennesseean-(strikin an attitude,
and in q confident tone)-"I desire, Mr.,
Secretary, to represent the State OF Ten
nesses abroad. | have here a number OIL
papers and creden--"
Evarts (interrupting and ironically
-"Ah, yes. There are several from
your State, l believe, who want to 20
abroad"
Tennesseean (ps~tronizingly and in
terrogatively)-"Yes, but, as | under
stand this administration looks to Ten,
Dessee in the future, in fact regards
Tennessee as a sort of fulcrum on which
rests the lever of the Southern policy
with which it intends to lift into being
another great party, it is of course neces
sary to secure Tennessee by appointing
some Of it's prominent citizens to i'm
portsnt places"
Evarts (thoughtfully, but with q touch
of vinegar in his voice)-"Ahl'
Tsnnesseean (much more confidently
and glibly, and striking a new attitude,
-"Of course the appointment of obscure
persons to small consulships don't coun0
for much, but if the administration ap
points q prominent citizen OF TENNESSEE
to some good mission, the administration
would effect the result which it desires
Evarts (grimly, with a look as if b,
had scanned the situation thoroughly
"Yes2 Well, Mr.. - where do you
want to goT'
Tennesseean confidently and condo
sceDdingly)-"0, most any good mission
will do; say the mission at Constantine
pie, for instance. That is likely to be {
position of a good deal of prominenc,
in the present juncture of affairs, anC
Mr.. Maynard, the present incumbent, il
rather inactive and don't appear to b
doing all that the circumstances require
Evarts (rising and speaking in tina
positive, caustic and this settles it
manner, which is his habit when he get
down to his work. Now, Mr.. - tn,
present policy OF the Republican party
has not been brought into existence foI
the purpose Of demoralizing our toreigr
affairs, but rather To build up ant
strengthen the internal affairs Of thl
whole country. Good morning, Sir,
aud Evarta turned cruelty to the next.
A look OF blank amazsment overspreat
the fine face Of the grandiloquent Ten
nesseean. His lower Jaw dropped AM
he almost forgot to bow in his haste Il
meet another engagement which sudden