Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-03-15
Keiier's PrOfanity-"A bigger
Man Than Old Grant.

~ NAab AAoAntSaA Wt4bOo W hAO Yin
cinnati Commercial Gazette from
Washington as follows:
Speaking of storms, it is apparent
hat the depression OF newspaper row,
Washington, concerning ex-Speaker
Keifer was really the focus of pro-
found atmospherical disturbance.
The agitation is intense, the air super
heated, and the gale net likely to
blow over for some days. The list OF
relatives of Keifer who were placed in
Office during the period of his poten-
TALLY is still paraded, and the most
dreadful significance is attached to
his appointment of two nephews and
his son, and his laborious procure
ment Of an appointment for a brother
in-law Perhaps the most surprising
incident in this connection is his alleg-
edquarrel with that grand Oldham and
friend Of humanity, Mr.. Robson, Of
New Jersey.
Perhaps the boys are OVERRIDING the
warfare upon Keller; it is possible,
as they say, that during the long agony
just before the House passed away, he
may have partaken slightly of those
exhilarating refreshments that when
INDUCED to excess inebriate.
Reporters misuse the English Lam
guage, however, when they declare
that he was drunk. | can testify that
he was able to walk intSlligently.
AS to that extraordinary outrage, in
allowing the reporters gallery to be
filed by the ladies and gentlemen
who had been struggling in vain for
admittance, it is mitigated by the fact,
melancholy in other respects, that
there was nothing going on upon the
floor Of the House worthy the slight
est attention by the recording angels
Of the gallery. The vacancy in the
gallery before the pepulace flowed in
was remarkable, and was testimony
on the spot that the House was not
doing business Clearly, it was a
time not for reporters, but for specta
tors, and the workingmen OF the press
never wanted their seats half so bad
in their lives as when they couldn't
get them.
The worst Of the mistakes Of Keifer
was that he lost his head with indig
nation when accosted by the wrathy
representative Of the outraged press
1t must be said that the representa-.
tive opened with remark that wa.
calculated to irritate great American
statesman, who had partaken in some
slight degree ofrefreshments, and wa.
not pleased, anyhow, with the state o.
the country.
A man who becomes Speaker Of the
American House of Representatives
acquires, as all experienced and com
petent reporters should know, a sense
OF Importance, if not supremacy, anC
1t was not an suspicious opening Of tn,
case for the sble.representative Of tn,
reporters to tell the distinguished
Speaker, the holder Of the third offic,
Of the government, an Ohio man a
that, that il he didn't drive the ladiel
out Of the gallery he would be hanged
and quartered, and distributed through
! the land. But Keller should not
under this provocation, however, seri
Gus as it was, have proceeded to US
language that could by any possibility
. be mistaken for profanity. 1t is i'm
! possible TO say now what he did say
but it is tolerably certain that b
did not repeat the Lords Prayer for
wards.
G There never was a moment in
! great mans life when the indulgenc
D OF his sense Of humor would hav
served more efectually than it woul
e in this case.