Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1878-01-04
A Model Speech.

! A Model Speech.
| To appreciate the speech we give below,
made by Hon. Geo. A. Sheridan, of Louis
lana, it must be remembered that he was
one Of the Republicans imported South,
who saw in Hays policy the only way to
peace in the country and was a strong adj
vocate Of it. His delivery, of the remarks
is described by the reporters as the persona
fcation of injured innocence. The re-
marks were addressed to an audience in
New Orleans, after his return from an I'M
successful trip to Washington to secure
the collectorship of that port
II did not see how it was possible land
1 tried very hard to see) for Mr.. Hayes to
| make a success OF his Administration, eS
pecially in his Southern policy, unless [
was appointed Collector OF Customs at
New Orleans. knew there would be a new
Collector appointed, because President
Hayes told me so. He did me the further
honor Of asking who, in my judgement,
would be the best man for the place To
me this was somewhat delicate question,
and / asked time for reflection, which he
is the only thing he has given me up to
date.) [Uproarious laughter.
II knew how important the Collector OF
New Orleans was to the business interests
of the city. l 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. l knew the
Collector should be man and a Republi-
can. spent two or three days in prayer
full elaboration upon the question, and at
last reluctantly came to the confusion
that perhaps, all things considered, came
nearer filing the bill than any other man
in the State who was likely to be appointed.
(Shouts and cheers.) [ 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 moral character as somewhat trop-,
ical man could develOpe in very tropical
country. AS for ability, 1 knew [ possess
ed that upon this point l was unanimous !;
Lmight possibly have had a shadow of
doubt upon some other questions, but
upon this point I was solid. (Great
laughter.) [ knew l was representative
man, for l mad once served in Congress
with great satisfaction to my constituents.
1t is true did not serve long, but that
ing the State yet if the people would have
elected me. CHEERS and laughter was
elected for two years; l had a hard con-
test for my seat: it was finally awarded
me about four hours before the adjourn
ment of the Congress to which had been
accredited. l hadn't much time to make
up record, but worked hard; ] voted
on both sides of every bill that came up;
yelled MIR. Speaker !! every chance had ;
1 called one member liar, and told anoth-
er he was fool put my boots on my
desk, and spit tobacco juice on the floor
ogled the ladies in the galleries, went into
innumerable committee rooms to take a
look at the documents, borrowed some
money and went home. (Long continued
laughter.) Considering the time had, 1
made a pretty good average member rec
ord. Several people told me they actually
took me for an old member. Great
laughter.
considering all things think you will
agree with me that it was but doing my
duty to my country in consenting to take
the Collectorship of New Orleans. l stated
the result of my reflections to the Presi-
: dent. The manner in which he received
my suggestion was happy and cordial (h he
is a very cordial man). He promised to
make out at once the commission of the
Collector at New Orleans, He did so, but
by some strange oversight he commission
ed man had never thought of IN con-
nection with the Office. Loud laughter. ]
Do you blame me for thinking the adj
ministration failure? The solid earth
, seemed to slip from under me. [ felt the
Republic was gone-clean gone. In the
distress of my soul l cried out: is this
what made 127 Republican speeches for
in the last campaign Or, to state it more
correctly, the same speech 127 times. I'm
mense laughter.] Can this Government go
on if am left out? Alpsl poor country,
who will care for you, now that am ban
, ished by the edict of tyrant, and can have
no chance to sustain you, to say nothing
of sustaining myself? | stated something
Of this to Mr.. Hayes; my words moved
him; moved him to console me; moved him
to advise me. He advis me either to
pull down my vest or to go West, Long
, continued ]aughter.] 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 he is known to be a liberal many per-
! haps it was both. My first impulse, after
listening to the conSoling words of the
President. was to go and take--a stroll. ]
did, l took three or four. They braced me
up; [ felt better. Laughter.] Notwith-
standing I am not Collector of Customs in
: New Orleans the government still runs Oh,
tie revenues are collected, and the Re
, publican party lives.
II have reluctantly come to the conclu-
sion that l am not absolutely essential to
the maintenance of republican form of
|
and laughter;] that there are men as well
qualified to administer an Office as [ am;
that the President, being responsible to
the nation for the acts of his appointees,
should be allowed the largest latitude in
their selection, and that true sense and
true patriotism should convince me that
in declining to give me the position l ask
: ed, the President acted for what he felt
and what he believed to be the best in
terests of his country. My fellow citizens,
those Of you who, like myself have beeli
disappointed in your aspirations and am
bitions will, [ think, upon calm reflection,
reach in your cases, the same conclusion l
have reached in mine"
Mr.. and Mrs. Rogers, who had been mar
ried in the county an hour before, and
were on their way to the bridal chamber in
the Arlington Hotel at Lynchburg, were
picked up on the road, mangled and bleed
ing, Thursday at noon, runaway horse
having, smashed the buggy They were car
ried back to the home of the brides father,
DR.. Mayo's, for repairs.
A careless young business man Of Lock
port, N. Y, lost his sweetheart by making
a mistake in forwarding presents for
Christmas. His brothers wife received
from him jewel case and note asking
her to marry him, while the silver-mouthed
feeding bottle went to the girl.
/ The Rev. Jonathan Craul, pastor of the
First Congregational Church, Middleton,
N. Y, was stricken with apoplexy while
preaching in his pulpit on Sunday morn
ing last, and died In the afternoon.