The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1878-03-08
AN UNSELFISH PATRIOT.


| AN UNSELFISH PATRIOT.
Il did expect" said Mr.. Magee to the
Chairman of the State Executive Com
mittee, just before the convention met
TO be the choice of my party for the
Presidency. | want that office. | be-
lleve the office wants me. am sure
my suffering country needs me, and that
my fellow citizens would elect me by an
enormous majority"
But, Magee," said the Chairman.
that's absurd. You have no chance at
an.n
Il know i'll know it," replied Magee.
Il have political enemies who are trying
to crush me, and who viii use the party
machinery to deprive the people of a
chance to take the man of their choice.
That's what's running this great and en-
lightened nation, now mind what I saw.
However, sooner'n not serve my country
at all, l am willing to take the Governor
ship and wait"
And Mr. MAgee crossed his right leg
over the left, kept his feet on the table,
spat aimlessly upon the floor, and had
flr-away look in his eyes, as if he we're
gazing into futurity in search of the
Presidency.
I'm sorry, Magee," said the Chair
man, real sorry; but there's no use
talking about the Governorship; that's
fixed"
Fixed, is it Fixed for some other
man; some man that the people despise
and distrust. Didn't l tell you? The
politicians are destroying the country.
But go on-go on. The people1l have
their way some day. Meantime, as |
have some idle time on my hands, Imay
as well roOst in somewhere, so YOU can
put me upin the convention as the can
didate for Mayor The Office is un-
worthy ofsuch a man as me, but | love
my entire native land too much to re
fuse to answer when she calls IauthOr-
ize you to put me up. III take the job
and do what can to keep the Govern
ment of our fathers from going to rack
and ruin"
And Mr. Magee tilted his chair back,
shifted his quid, and permitted a flush
of pain TO cross his face, such flush as
becomes a martyr ready to sacrifice
himselfin high and holy cause.
I'D like mighty we'll to accommodate
you, Magee,' said the Chairman; Il
want to give you some kind of a chance;
but, my dear sir, be reasonable. The
Mayoraltyl Come, now; you must Ger
taiHly know that Jenl<inson has the writ
ten pledges of a majority of the delegates
that they will give the nomination to him.
Its all fixed for him."
@Humphl All fixed, is it? Well, may
be did know it; but | imagined the
convention would have some little regard
for the popular wish. 1 was wrong,
wrong The more the people yearn af-
ter a man the more the politicians are
down on him. They'll shiYer this old
hulk ola Government to pieces some
day-you mind me, Well, sooner'n be
left clear out in. the cold, with nothing
particular to do, you may nominate me
for Alderman. 1t is beneath me, Of
course; but nothing is humiliaing for a
true patriot. My country is too dear to
me for me to scorn any portion of her
service. Let me see what did you say
the Office was worth?"
about $1,000"
40 well, put me up, Put me up I'll
take it and do what | can to avert the
impending crash. No man shall say
that Archy Magee shirkei his duty to
his country in a grave crisis. Put me
up, III rum"
"I'll see what we can DO" replied the
Chairman, as he walked out.
Upon the afternoon of the day upon
which the convention met, the Chair
man ran across Mr. Magee in the bar
room.
"Well, Magee, they found pl.ce for
you upon the ticket, 1 see. congratu-
late your
@Oh, never mind" said Magee. Il
don't feel 50 glad. What a Constable's
nomination for a man like me- \
Constable. And me a person whose
hand ought to be on the helm Of state,
guiding the old ship through the storm
and the tempest, 4 Constable, In
mortal jefferson It's hard. hard, Bat
I'll take it; I'll take it, sir. I'm not the
man to let private resentment blind me
to public duty. When my country asks
for me | come forward Ny very life
belongs to the land of my birth and NY
love"
Late on election night Mr. Magee
went around to the party headquarters
full Of hopeful anticipation and mixed
beverages The Chairman seized him
by the band:
Halo, Magee, come right in, Well,
we have got you in at last"
Have you the returns"
"Yes. sir; complete
"How many majority have T.
Majority"
"Yes. What are the figures?7
Figures for WHAT"
Why, for Constable
"Oh, don't you know about that"
know about it? How7"
why, Johnson, your antagonist, Is
elected You hardly poIled vote
@Wh-wh wh-what d'you mean. then"
said Magee, breathlessly, "by saying
you'd got me in'?'
%Why, you know Jenkinson has been
elected Mayor and he has made me a
solemn promise to give you steady
job at sweeping out his office. Splendid,
isn't it,"
Magee turned proudly away and
walked down stairs His first thought
was to refuse. But he didn't he was
too proud patriot for that And on
the 1st of January the hand that should
have held the helm Of state was WELD
ing a broom handle in the Mayors
private room.-Ma.r Adler.