The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-04-30

after Senator Cameronls own retire
n.ent from the War Department,
gave him text for half an hours
sprightlv chat on the politics of 20
years ago, and keen analysis OF the
public men of that day. Chase. be
said. was man of fine presence and
great man. but be made a mistake
/ in antagonizing Lincolns second
nomination, and in clinging to the
dream of the Presidency for himself,
which he did not surrender even al
ter his elevation to the Chief Justice
ship. Caleb Smith "was a great man
in Connersville." Montgomery Blair
was a man of strong parts and abil-
ity. but so radical that he was some
times narrow. Lincoln was greater
than them all, be added. Some OF
the members of hi. cabinet thought
tbev knew more than he did. but
they didn't"
His conversation was rich IN an
ecdotes. which invariably had 3
point to them, marking some charac-
teristic of distinguished man or IL
lustrating the political manners OF
the time. He was careful they
should not be put in print, however,
saying invariably: No, 1t might
annoy him." Or that is war office
secret.
when | was at the head of the
| War Department, he said, 81 could
scarcely see where our generals got
their soldiers from. Everybody
seemed to be staying at home and
trying to speculate off the Govern
ment. Ny office. my house, my
bedroom, my carriage even, were
constantly in a state of siege. All
sorts of persons thronged about me
and pestered me with all sorts OF
schemes. One man, who has since
been a candidate for
PRESIDENT cF TIE UNITED STATES,
came to see me almost every day for
month. He had a patent yeast
powder which he wanted to get
adopted in the Commissary Depart.
ment. | don't know what the in
gradients were, but it was some stuff
to be mixed with the -four in the
barrels. | did, however. recon-
mend it to the Quartermaster, but
he wouldn't try it But | believe it
was a good yeast powder | remen-
Der another instance which is rather
amusing. One day as / was about
to step into my carriage, tive men
seized on me, one at either hand,
each importuning me to get him ap-
pointed to some place or other.
Twenty or thirty years before man
deserted his wife and little baby in
the town where | lived. They were
of respectable stock, but his deser-
ton left them destitute. The towns
people took pity on them and helped
them with various donations. | re-
member | gave the baby pair of
red shoes. The baby grew up to be
young man and | lost sight Of him,
but when | looked at the faces of
these two men who were after office,
| recognized them, and the two lit
tie red shoes came up before my
eyes as if | had just bought them.
The man at my one hand was the
baby that wore the shoes. The man
at the other was the father who had
deserted him. Neither knew the
other, and l didn't introduce them"
CAMERON ON TILDEY.
Occasionally Mr.. Camerons talk
drifted into current politics. His
comments upon public men were all
couched III kindly terms, except
when speaking of ex-President
Hayes, for whom he never professed
any respect. Human nature is
much better than it gets credit for
being" he said. Il have had a
great deal to do with it in my long
lifetime, and | speak from expert
ence. There is much less ingratitude
in the world that your newspapers
would permit us to believe, and
much more disinterestedness. States
are grateful as well as individuals.
One secret of Mr.. Randall's strong
hold upon the people Of this State,
irrespective of party, is that he has
never forgotten that hei a Pennsyl-
vanian, nor neglected to defend her
interests. Hancock's weakness was
that be was withdrawn from Penn
sylvania at an early age, when he
went to the military academy. He
never had any hold in the State. He
had no family connections here, and
his marriage with Southern lady,
did nothing for him in that way.
He was a weak nomination. The
Democrats had only one thing to do
after '76. To re-nominate Tilden in
their party organs Immediately after
Hayes Inauguration and keep in
sisting on it until the election of
1880. Their failure to re-nominate
him was the greatest modern blum
der of the Democratic party"
mo, there is nothing | care to say
on the political situation" he re-
piled, when pressed for few words
of comment, prediction or advice.
Il have no purpose to serve in pol
itics, | am taking no part in any
way in any political movements,
and there is nothing | could say
that / know of which would do any
body any good. | served my turn.
| want to rest now and enjoy N.Y.
self"-Piasburgh Dispatch Of April
u.
Balmy Sleep.
Prominent physicians tell us a