The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-12-28
Tom Ochiltree for Speaker.
Courier-Journal.l


WASHINGTON, d. g., Dec. 15.-The
latest boom for speaker in Washing
ton commends to the thoughtful con-
sideration of both parties in the next
house the eligibility of Col. "TOm"
Ochiltree as compromise candidate,
in view of the fact that there are al
ready so many Richmonds in the field
that it may be necessary to find dark
horse. Who better, then, than the
famous Tom, who is absolutely indie
pendent of all political obligations.
elected for purely personal cOnsidera-
tions. for he himself hath said it. He
expects to vote with either party as
seems to him best, so of course
would feel no hesitation in
accepting the highest Office
in the gift of the majority in the
house of representatives. Then, too,
Texas has never had speaker, and
who more distinguished than Col.
tom" to begin upon? He would
bring to the chair the unrivaled pre-
sence," and would WELD with vigor a
gayel shaped like George Washing
ton hatchet. He says he is no dema-
gogue, and to prove it, mentions that
he lis in favor of the Mississippi river
improvements, the river and harbor
bill, and that"-in fact he believes that
he secured last session the passage of
the latter over the presidents veto.
He would also bring to the speakers
chair the Income of royal IA
Vor" which has chung to his garments
since his memorable trip to Europe
during Gen. Grants administration,
when he carried an open letter writ
ten by President Grant, which he still
keeps in his album, commencing him
to all the United States ministers and
consuls as a friend of the president,
whom he delighted to honor, and
wished to be introduced at all the
courts accordingly. Wherefore, as
Col. Tom says, American milliOnaireS
could get no farther than the kitchen
of the palaces in which he
at the same time was
hobnobbing with ''empresses and
things" He was feted by the "Sav-
age" club in London, where his racy
anecdotes were considered the highest
order of wit by the litterati, whose
sense of humor is exalted above that
of the vulgar Americans, who on hear
ing the same have dubbed Col. "Tom"
the champion trifler with truth.
That's the way" says he, 'that l
got my reputation here for lying just
because l tell good stories. Did
Shakespeare, did Dickens, did Thacke-
ray never invent, but give only plain
recitals of factsr p
1t would indeed be well to choose a
speaker who could on such strong
grounds claim fellowship with those
Intellectual giants of the past.
Col. Ochiltree would also bring to
the speakership an extraordinary
amount of philosophy. He says he is
"the greatest philosopher in the
world" for of course he never does
anything = even philosophy = by
halves. He says in proof. this:
Just think of it, the night
Lincoln wss asSassinated l
was brought to Washington
wounded severely, and with other
prisoners taken like myself in the last
battle before Lee surrendered, was
placed in the old capitol prison. We
were in danger of being killed by the
cruel mob during the excitement i'm
mediately after Lincoln's assassina-
ton was known, and l was there suf-
fering with my leg, and expecting
hourly to be killed. Yet four years
later, when Gen. Grant was riding to
the capitol to be inaugurated preSi-
dent, was riding with his daughter
and others of the family in the second
carriage following his in the process
sion. Now, if that is not philosophy,
what is it? / take everything as it
comes" $50 he would, of course,
philosophically take the speakership,)
1t was mildly suggested that instead
of philosophy some might call this
"hedging" as he had mentioned the
pardOns his friends and relatives in
Texas had received from President
Grant, and that he himself received
the best Office in the state-United
States marshal.
He Indignantly denied that he
would hedge or change; so it may be
inferred that President Grant appre-
ciated the philosophy and magnani-
nifty of the ex-C0nfederate, who for
gave him, when he was about to take
the oath as president, for being vic
torious Union general, and publicly
testified to the same by riding with
his family in the Inauguration pro-
cession and proclaiming himself the
friend of the new president.
When / told Senator Vest that, in
view of the fact that there were so
many friends of mine among the can
didates for speaker, most of whom
must necessarily be defeated, l
thought l should advocate the selec-
ton of dark horse, he failed to guess
whom had chosen, and when men