The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-09
THE FIELD OF-LITERATURE.
HOLSTERS Life of Schuyler coifax.

AAO @kRcaA @hN0 VA thC iiAO Oh AuiaAs ny W. II.
Hoilister. his half hFother-inlaw. in haHdsome
volume of over Ave hundred pages. is crafty
ing event in our State history Mr. Colfax had,
and still has, myriad of friends in Indiana and
those pages viii awaken thousand pleasant
memories Coming from Mr.. Colfax's family
circle, the volume could not well be otherwise
than partial and one-sided-blnd to his faults
and shortcomings and alive to his many virtues
Notwithstanding this, it is a most profitable
book to read. 1t tells how farmers boy rose,
in twenty-five years, from q desk in county
auditors Office to the second place in the greatest
Republic in al, history, and never made but one
vital political mistake.
Let us notice some points in his life.
l. Colfax started with the inexpressibly great
advantage of being we'll born he came from
good stock on both sides, and blood Will always
tell His parents gave him three iDestlmable
gifts--a sound body, sunny disposition and
aealthy moral nature. His mother, lady of
singular beauty, was only seventeen years old
when he was born. She afterware married Mr..
Matthews, who was only fourteen years older
than his step-son. In fact the relation between
Mr.. Colfaz and his mother and step-father was
like that between q younger and an older brother
and sister. When Colfax was married, at twenty
one, his mother was not yet thirty eight. and his
father lfor Mr.. Matthews was to him more than
father was not yet thirty-hve.
2 Colfax received just the kind of education
he needed. When thirteen years old he moved
from New York city to New Carlisle, in ST.
Joseph county, and for Ave years thereafter kept
store and postofice in that little village. When
ne was seventeen his father-in-law. who was
born politician. was elected county auditor and
moved TO South BEND, and made Schuyler his
deputy, in which capacity Mr.. Colfax served
eight years, purchasing, meantime, half inter
est In the county newspaper when only twenty
one years of age, and from that time being the
leading spirit in county and town politics, which
activity soon expanded into a cierkship in the
State Senate and companionship with all the
leading mon in northern Indiana He was
schooled in politics from his thirteenth year,
and before he was eighteen became a contributor
TO the New York Tribune, and at twenty first
rate stump speaker and capital party worker
and political manipulation.
g. Mr. Colfax was born politician. He never
got angry. He had no nerves or temper. He
was always cheerful happy and hopeful He
had unlimited tact and sociality, and a mind OF
wonderfully quick perceptiveness and clearness.
While he was not a great man, he was next thing
to it. No boy ever rose from a country-store
clerk to the vlce-presidercy of great nation
without mental equipment of the very best.
In addition TO this, Mr.. Cofax was blessed with
all the popular moral qualities. He was gener-
ous sympathetic truthful ard upright. He
loved his felow-man, and Notwithstanding the
storm of calumny at one stage of his life, was,
as we firmly believe, at all times and upon all
occasions an honest man.
f. Mr.. Colfax popular orator, and, while
never profound man, had a strange power of
moving and carrying with him great audiences.
Probably the most memorable debate that ever
occurred in Logansport was in September, 1862,
between Colfax and Judge David Turpie. The
administration had been making. some fearful
blunders Its arms were unsuccessful. It had
no policy, apparently. Mcclellan, whether in
tentionally or otherwise, would not fight Things
were drifting Lincoln was regarded as fail
ure Intellectually. Turpie was greatly the su-
perior of Colfax, and made the most of his adj
vantages. Unfortunately, Turpie had the open-
ing of the argument and Colfax an hour and
half to answer In half an hour Turpie's guns
were turned, although none Of his arguments
were answered. In an hour the audience were
cheering Colfax, and at the end of the hour and
a half Turpie was entirely forgotten, and in his
fifteen minutes close he did not rally. Turpie's
superior and unanswered argument actually lost
blrn votes when put beside Colfax's essentially
superficial but really powerful effort The
dict vas: well, Colfax amt as smart a man as
TuFpie, but we like him the best, and will vote
for him anyhow"
5. A great many attempts have been made to
account for Colfax's marvellous popularity. They
said he kissed all the babies, and petted all the
weak men, and fattered the women. Such
explanations are the best evidences of their own
weakness Mr.. Colfax's popularity was legiti
mate and logical He was whole souled, gem
erous and manly man. He was an optimist. and
used optimistic methods He always addressed
trusted them. He believed in the people, and
the omnipotency Of right and the essential
weakness of wrong. He was always loudly
accused OF demagogry, but the accusation invari-
ably came from demagogues He was for years
dubbed .Smier Colfax," as if it was the duty
Of any public servant to look sour and glum, and
to be eTusty and harsh in their dealings with
their felow-men BY nature he was happy
man. If it was sin to be courteous and polite,
then Colfax was the chiefest of sinners. Envy
and jealousy, however, did most of the fault
finding. The charges of corruption against him
usually came from the venal and INSCRIPTIONS.
contended with him and were unsuccessful.
''Sour grapes was the secret of the bulk Of his
adverse criticism.
g. singular misfortune at last overlook him
tho Credit Mobilier,scandal Had he been a less
man than lee president OF the United States
had he been less uniformly successfully is
likely that the scandal would not have stuck as
ii did and cSouded his retirement from public
life. He was undoubtedly an innocent man. but
never able TO quite satisfy the public of the fact
He was accused of lying as we'll as receiving
bride. Cakes Ames testified that he paid him
81. 200 of Credit Mobilier funds, and produced
check payable to rs. G. or bearer" in proof of it.
Mr.. Ames had no personal recollection of the
matter, but assumed that "S. c." necessarily
meant Schuyler Colfax. Unfortunately, Mr. Col
faxs bank account showed. the next day, deposit
of 200. This was evidence enough to convict
Vice-president and Republican, although any
court IN the civilized world. against Mr.. Col
fax's solemn denial would have hooted at such a
case as evidence of guilt. Mr.. Hollis5er endeav-
ors to show that this $1,000 was paid by Mr.
Ames 20 another man, although the man disap-
peared and never could be found again. The
mistake of Mr.. Colfaxs career was to retire from
public life ut this period. Had he accepted the
nomination for Congress again, which was at all
times after the scandal at his command, he would
easily have been re-e.rcted, and like Garfield and
Kelley have easily lived it down. And it seems
strange that man Of Mr. Colfaxs acuteness
and courage should have tamoly allowed
political malienity and jealousy to triumph
over him. There are some times when an ac-
cused man cannot afford to give mp the fight. or
plead the rights of his family and his health.
The mystery of Mr.. Colfaxs life lies right here.
Why did he not go back TO public life. and com
pei his accusers. as did Blaine and Garfield, to
-. j ~ -, -