The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1877-11-22
HUMORS OF POLITICS.
Sheridan Rivals Nasty in Telling
How he Played for an Office
and Lost.

and Lost.
In discussing the question of civil
service reform in Toledo during the
recent Ohio canvass, George \. Sheri-
"a convulSed the house by the fol-
lowing statement of his efforts to Sc
cure an office i did not see how it
was possible (and | tried very hard to
see for Mr.. Hayes to make a success
of his administration, especially in his
Southern policy, unless | was appoint
ed collector of customs at New Orl-
cans. l knew there would be a new
collector appointed, because President
Hayes told me so. He did me the fur
ther honor of asking who, in my judg-
ment, would be the best man for the
place. To me this was a somewhat
delicate question, and | asked time for
reflection, which he very cheerfully
gave me (and by the way that is the
only thing he has given me up to date).
[Uproarious laughterl. l knew now
important the collector of New Orl-
cans was to the business interests of
have a man OF integrity in the place,
who should also be of good moral
character, as well as of more h
average ability. 1 knew the COL
lectOr should be a man and a republi-
can. l spent wv or three days in
%prayerful Elaboration upon the ques-
ton, and at last reluctantly came to
the conclusion that perhaps, all things
considered, l came nearear filling the
bill than any other man in the State
who was likely to be appointed.
[Shouts and cheersl. l was deeply
anxious for the business interests of
the city. | had no doubt of my integ-
rity. Laughter. My moral charac-
ter was-well, it was as fair a moral
character as a somewhat tropical man
could develop in a very tropical
try. As for ability, | knew | possessed
that !: upon this point l was unanl-
nous l might possibly have had a
shadow of doubt upon some other
questions, but upon this point was
solid. IGreat laughter. | knew |
was a representative man, for | had
once served in Congress with great
satisfaction to my constituents. 1t is
true | did not serve long. but that was
not my fault l would have been serv-
ing the State yet if the people would
nave elected me. [Cheers and laugh
ter. | was elected for W. years |
had a hard contest for my seat 1T was
finally awarded me about four hours
before the adjournment of the ON
gress to which | had been accredited.
| hadn't much time to make a record,
but | worked hard [ voted on both
sides of every bill that came up: |
yelled Mr.. Speaker. every chance |
had l called one member a liar. and
told another he was a fool | put my
boots on my desk, spit tobacco juice
on the floor, ogled the ladies IN the
galleries. went into innumerable com
mittee rooms to take a look at the do
cuments. borrowed some money and
went home. Long continued laugh
ter. Considering the time | had L
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 l was but do
ing my duty to my country / II consent
ing to take the collectorship of New
Orleans. | stated the result of my re-
Elections to the President. The a
ner i'm which he received my sugges-
tions was happy and cordial (he Is a
very cordial man. He promised To
make out at once the commission. Tie
did SO. u by some strange oversight
he commissioned a man | had never
thought of in connection with the of
flee. Loud laughter. Do YOU blame
me for thinking the administration a
failure? The solid earth seemed TO
slip from under me. | felt the repub-
lie was gone-clean gone. In the dis
tress of my soul | cried out, Is this
what | made l27 republican speeches
for in the last campaign: Or, TO state
it more correctly. the same speech 121
times. Immense laughter. Can this
government so n if | am left out
Alas. poor country. who will care fol
YOU now that l am banished by the
edict of a tyrant. and can have nc
chance to sustain YOU, TO say nothing
of sustaining myself | stated some
thing of this kind to Mr.. Hayes my
words moved him. moved him TO con
sole me. moved him TO advise me. he
advised me either TO pull down my
vest or to go west, Llong continued
laughter, which, owing to the excite
ment | was laboring under al the time
of the interview, l II IL certainly re
: member /; but it is one or h other