The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-10-01

|
to with most satisfaction" asked.
ITO my persistent refusal of Office" he an
swered quickly, sand to that, and he
pointed to an old brown document, framed,
hanging on the WALL which on examination,
proved to be Government warrant for 160
acres of land for his services as soldier in
the war of 1872.
Observing that he had not located his war
rant, and that it was still sight draft for |
160 acres of wild land, asked him why he |
didn't use it.
"Ohi don't want to bother with it," he |
said; "I'll put it in my will
"But you said you had held Officer" 1 re- |
minded him
ssOh yes; 1 let the boys send me to the |
Legislature when / was journeyman print
err, 55 years ago. But 1 never had thirst
for office. A great many offices have been
within my reach. Perhaps l am the only
man who ever
DECLINED THREE FIRsT-cLAss FOREIGN MIS-
sIoNs,
offered by three observation-disclosures, Fill
"They say you have been governor good
deal?" suggested.
The old gentleman laughed heartily.
+, Eyes, that's what they say; but was never
elected to that office any how, and never drew
a cent of salary. Yes" he added, after
pause, "of several governors 1 have been the
confidential friend, and perhaps may say
| adviser"
.sYou may. indeed" 1 assented. "No
other American has ever held such iniuen-
tial relations with high officials"
.And the oldest of it is" said he eagerly,
rising and walking the room, as if to walk off
superfluous energy "that have been con-
| fidential friend OF at least two Democratic
governors when 1 was leading Wing. The
first was Silas Wright"
sAnd they took your advice?" l asked.
v"Yes, very often When Marcy was gov
ernor he took me intimately into
his confidence and his counsels;
and, when he was Buchanans
secretary of state, l occupied the same rela-
ton to him.
"You are SO old and have been so active
that you seem to have been part of almost
everything that has happened in this coun-
try L said
up there somewhere he answered, point
ing indefinitely toward the wall, sis a sill
houette of the first railroad in this country
and the first train of cars, running between
Albany and Schenectady He paused and
found 1.-THE black line of coaches drawn by
a queer-looking iron-horse, with copies of
which most people are familiar. About
there that's me- said he, putting his finger
on one of the stove-pipe hats in the rear
coach.
MAY ask" said 1, ..what is
THE GREATEST MISFORTUNE
that ever happened to your"
"The greatest distress / ever suffered?" he
inquired. "Ohl you must know what that
was. Cruel, cruell The vilest SANDER that
ever was framed-that was a monster of
brutality, and had mutilated a corpse, for the
purpose of helping thefortunes of a party"
L don't exactly remember what you
mean," 1 said.
'Why, Morgan! MorganT he exclaimed,
and his face assumed panied expression.
II suffered untold distress, and was more or
less under ban flor 25 years. Old acquaint-
ances avoided me; even my famil, W rs made
to feel the disgrace, as if i were a folon 1t
was cruel!"
"How was it?" said. "Or, perhaps you
, prefer not to talk about it?"
II have no objection. Its an old story
now, and belongs to the past. 1 was living
at Rochester at the time Morgan, who had
exposed masonry, was missing. 1t was be-
} lieved that he had been drowned by members
of the order in Lake Ontario. A body was
found which answered the description of his.
. 1t was exhibited in public, and was recog-
. nized as being him by his family and friends
1t was buried by them. Afterward it was
r claimed by the friends of another man, dis
inferred, and another inquest held. There
was great excitement over the murder OF
Morgan, and I was prominent an anti
mason. When this last inquest was pending
! the lawyer engaged by the masons said to
me, one day: What are you going to do for
a Morgan now? This man is
GOOD ENOUGH MORGAN,
1 retorted, till you produce the man that
was killed?' He went off and reported that
f 1 said the deceased was good enough Nor
| gan till after election. This lie was first
| published by Henery OReilly, editor of the
5 Rochester Daily Advertiser, and it made such
e an excitement that he stuck to it and elabor-
t ated it. Finally, the lie took this form
0 that / had pulled out the beard, cut the hair
!, and otherwise defaced or mutilated the fea-
! lures of the Ontario corpse SO as to make
a them resemble Morgan! This was in the
: winter of 1867
add people believe such thing?'
"Yes, good many did. 1t was a thing
could not disprove to their satisfaction ]
: was abhorred by tens of thousands Old ac-
quaintances cut me. l was pointed at on
I, the street. Strangers would look askance at
me. Isaw them. Friends gave me the cold
shoulder. I received threatening anony-
!, nous letters. / was made to feel every
? where and every hour that was marked
!, man. And my poor family, sir" said he
lifting his hand with pathetic gesture
: "were made to feel the cruel thrusts in ways
that / can not mention
E "How long did this ostracism last?"
l Fifteen or 20 years actively, and in some
directions much longer time"
alt seems strange that injustice should
: thrive so" said l.
: "Wel, it did thrive. OReily became
rich. and that lie was the foundation of hi.
E fortune. 1 drifted to Albany, and at last
LIVED THE SHOCKING cALUMNY DOWN.
, Finally O'Reilly, who might have been wortl
. millions if he had stuck to the telegraphs
. which he manipulated at first, speculatet
+ in other things and lost money. He KEEP
: losing. He lost everything he had at last
+ "Were you glad?"
: 81 was grateful that the Lord didn't allow