Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1877-11-09
HUMoRs OF POLITICS.
George Sheridan's Speech at Toledo.

George Shertdan's Speech at Toledo.
! In discussing the question of civil service
reform, General Sheridan conyulsed the house
| by the following statement of his effort to
secure an Office; al did not see how it was
! possible land tried very hard to see) for Mr.
Hayes to make a success of his administration,
especially IN his Southern policy, unless was
appointed Collector of Customs at New Or
leans. ] knew there would be new Colec-
tor appointed, because President Hayes told
me so. He did me the further honor OF ask
ing who, In my Judgment, would be the best
man for the place. TO me this was somewhat
a delicate question, and asked time for rthec-
ton, which he very cheerfuly gave me land
by the way that is the only thing be has given
me up to date.) [Uproarious laughter
81 knew how important the collector of
New Orleans was 10 the business interests OF
the city felt the government must have a
man of integrity in the place, who should
also be Of good moral character, as well as OF
more Than average ability. ! knew the col
lector should be a man and a Republican |
spent two or three days in prayerful delibera-
ton upon the question, and at last reluct-
antly came TO the conclusion that perhaps, all
things considered came nearer filing the bill
than any other man in the State who was
was deeply anxious for the business interests
Of the city. had no doubt of my integrity.
Laughter My moral character was-well,
it was as fair a moral character as a some
what tropical man could develop in a very
tropical country. As for ability, knew |
possessed that upon this point was unani-
nous. might possibly have had a shadow
of doubt upon some other questions, but upon
this point ! was solid Great laughter. !
1
once served in Congress with great satisfaction
to my constituents. 1t is true did not serve
long, but that was not my fault. | would
have been serving the State yet if the people
would have elected me. Cheers and laugh
ter. | was elected for two years ] had a
hard contest for my seat; it was finally
awarded me about four hours before the ad-
journment of Congress to which ! had been
accredited. hadn't much time to make up
my record, but worked hard voted on both
sides of every bill that came up; yelled Mr.
SpeakerP every chance had | called one
member liar, and told another he was a fool ;
put my boots on my desk, spit tobacco juice
on the floor, ogcd the ladies in the galleries.
went into inuumerable committee rooms to
take a look at the documents, borrowed some
money aud went home. Long continued
laughter. Considering the time had | made
a pretty good average member record. =
Several people told me they actually took me
for an old member. Great laughter
considering all things, think you will |
agree with me that was but doing my duty |
to my country in consenting to take the col
lecto.ship of New Orleans. ! stated the re-
suit of my reflection TO the President The
manner in which he received my suggestions |
was happy and cordial, (he is a very cordial |
man. lie did so, but by some strange over
sight he commissioned a man | had never |
thought of in connection with the Office. |
Loud laughter. Do you blame me for think
ing the administration failure2 The solid |
earth seemed TO slip from under me. | felt |
the Republic was gone-clean gone. In the
distress of my soul | cred out, is this what |
made l27 Republican speeches for in the last |
campaign Or 10 state it more correctly, |
the same speech l27 times. Immense laugh |
ter Can this government go on if am left |
out. Alas poor country who will care for
you now that ! am banished by the edict of a
tyrani, and can have no chance TO sustain
you, to say nothing of sustaining myself.
stated something Of this kind to Mr.. Hayes
my words moved him to advise me. lie adj |
vised me either TO pull down my vest or to
go west long continued laughter, I which, |
owing to the excitement | was laboring under
at the time of the interview, ! cannot certainly
remember, but it is one or the other, and las
ne Is known 10 be n liOeral man perhaps 1t
was both. My first impulse, after listening to
the consolng words of the President, was to
go and take--a stroll. | did took three
or four, They braced me up; | felt better
Laughter Notwithstanding am not col
lector Of customs in New Orleans the govern
ment still, runs on, the revenues are collected
and the Republican party lives. | have re-
luctantly come to the conclusion that | am
not absolutely essential io.ihe maintenance
of a Republican form of government upon
this continent cheers and laughter that there
are men as well qualified to administer an
Office as ! ann that the President, being re-
sponsible TO the nation for the acts Of the APP
pointees should be allowed the largest lati-
tude in their selections, and that true sense
and true patriotism should convince me that
in declining to give me the position asked,
the President acted for what he felt and be-
lieved to be the best interests of his country.
My fellow-citzens, those of you, who, like
myself, have been disappointed in your aspi-
rations and ambitions will, | think, upon
calm reflection, reach in your cases the same
conclusion have reached in mine.''
We have never seen an audience more
thoroughly convulsed with merriment than
during the delivery of the above. Sheridan
looked, while he was talking. like the per-
sonifcation OF injured innocence, and seemed
TO think il strange that the audience found
anything to laugh at in what he was saying
To him, losing the office was evidently a
serious thing.