The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-10-06
A Christian Statesman.


there was n few years ago q man of some
note named SCHUYLER CoLFAx. lie was
fine hand at n Sunday school address for
small children. and when the party of great
moral ideas was at its zenith, and when
everybody at Washington was praying and
plundcring and canting and stealing,
SCHUYLER was at the height Of his glory.
But one day Mr. OAKTss AMEs, n member of
the House, and n rude, blur shoVel-makcr
from Massachusetts,, stood up before u
committee of Investigation. and stated that
he had at one time and another bought up n
fine drove Of his follow Congressman with
shares of the Credit Mobilier of America.
and that when he came to look over his
purchase he found SCHUYLER in the lot.
They ALL with one accord, denied the bold
shovcl-makcrs statement, and cssaycd by
the great Joint oath Of many against one t.
lie him down. But he had taken the pre-
caution to enter each purchase as he made
1t in little memorandum book; and he was
also able to produce other papers, which
rendered the pcrjuries Of the statesmen of
great moral ideas entirely unaVailing.
SCHUYLER COLFAX had been very emphatic
in his denial: and when a check was pro-
duccd endorsed with his initials and cor
responding TO the date and amount Of the
entry in the little memorandum book. il
looked bad for SCHUYLER, and his habitual
smile became trillc less serene. But when
this precise amount was traced into his bank
account with those Christian bankers, JAY
COOKE & Co, the smile disappeared alto
gether. and he took day to think about it.
Then he appeared again and sworc, with
10 hot la.
sum in question had been received, not from
AMEs the Union Pacific contractor, who had
bribed the rest OF Them" but from Post
Office contractor. who was In the habit Of
sending him (SCHUyLER) letters. containing
$1,000 bills in token OF the contractors APP
probation of his many Christian virtues.
This oath seems o have put period to
ScuUYLER's public usefulness; sweet as
was that holy smile, 1t was generally con-
cluded that SCHUYLlR was entitled to a long
rest from his official labors and so the
places that had known him for so many
bountful years, and had yielded him n rich
harvest in bonds and checks, and similar
vanitics Of the world, knew him no more
The Washington police, inspired we pre-
sumo by SCHUYLER's winning ways, recov-
cred his box Of land-grant railway securi-
ties from another gentleman Of the light
fingered fraternity, who had appropriated
them on the grounds that his title TO them
was, at least, as good as SCHUyLIRs; and
with this comfortable stake he retired to
South Bend to await the further disposition
of n kind Providence.
But inasmuch as the race Of Christian
statesmen may bc said To have passed away
with SCHUYLER and Subsidy Pom" and
the rest Of them" as the rrevercnt Mr.
ASrEs would have said, and but a few bat
tered specimens like Brother GARFIELD and
Brother DAWES remain. We have thought it
might be well TO revive as far as possible, the
memory Of this perfect type, in imitation Of
the naturalist who, from chance remains
will reconstruct the skeleton Of prc-Adamic
creature for the enlightenment Of the pres
ent age And in looking about for available
remains Of SCHUYLER, we have discovered
nothing 50 eXqulsitcly adapted TO the pur-
pose as a dainty little pamphlet, which a
friend Of antiquarian tastes has flshed out
from heap Of similar treasures, and laid
upon our table as relic above price. 1t is
entitled: