Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-03
THE TOPICAL TALKER.
The Inconsiderafe Pigott-Cheer for the
Timid-The Eishtsenth's Pioneers-A Biz
of "Reminiscences = Democrats Never Say

| gusted by blowing out his brains IN Maprlu arc
the editorial writers who had prepared 70
scarify him at length to-day.
@x~
| NOBODY should be discouraged or downcast
at the prospect for the Inauguration II 1t
should rain to-day, for there is venerable dis
itch to which the good country folk of Western
England tie their faith which says:
| '.If it rains Sunday,
Twill be fair Monday
Beside, too many travellers to Washington have
borne thither their umbrellas and rubber coats
to tempt the envious clouds to weep. The rain OF
yesterday made many o man buckle on his bad
weather armor who would otherwise have gone
to Washington without even an umbrella
And, still further, General Greedy has solemn
ly whispered that he sees in the far, far dis
tance storm approaching to make christen-
ing of the Inauguration. Monday ought GER
tainly to be fair.
THE Eighteenth Regiment looked rather too
soldierly last night for comfort. Their rigging
suggested a campaign of no little stress ahead,
as they tramped down to the cars through the
drizzle and over swampy streets last night.
For the first time the Eighteenth Regiment
had pioneer corps just behind the band, and
the men detailed for this honorable duty with
| their axes and pick and shovel stepped out
bravely enough. Before they get home the
pioneers may wish themselves back in the
ranks carrying the musket. But they will be
handy If the streets of Washington suffer very
much from the weather-they can dig out the
band if it falls into a mud hole, for instance.
The streets of Washington however, are not
the streets of Pittsburg, and such an emergency
is hardly likely to confront the pioneers.
80
STILL another reader of this column con-
tributes bit of Renaissance concerning the
/ visits of General W. H. Harrison to this city.
Says the gentleman, who is by the way, one of
our NEST respected merchants: 81 remember
very vividly the first visit of the elder Harrison
to this city, which was made IN 1885, at the time
he first ran for the Presidency. was only
boy then, but can distinctly remember watch
ing the PROCESSION of horsemen and carriages.
his escort from out beyond East Liberty. as
they passed along Penn street and over the old
canal bridge. A number of the boys on that
occasion procured quite large toy cannon and
fired salute in his honor from the hillside
where the lower Bedford street basin is now
located. That must have been the occasion
Mr.. Collingwood alludes to when he says he
rode out on horseback to Williamsburg to
escort him to the city.
General Harrison did not again visit the
city until after his election in November, 1910.
This visit was in the latter part of January,
1S4l, and when on his way to be inaugurated.
He was brought to the city by the steamer Ben
Franklin, one of the fastest steamboats,, at that
time, on the Ohio river AS the boat landed he
stood on the hurricane deck of the boat and
bowed to the immense throng of citizens who
gave him such hearty welcome. He wore
long cloth cloak, and 20 my eyes looked superb
ly grand and noble. He was escorted to the
Irons Hotel, where the st. Charles now stands,
and it was there he received the hand-shaking
of the citizens am sure of this for /, though
only boy, was honored by a grasp of his
hand. He stayed two or three days here and
on his departure he made quite thrilling
speech to the military and citizens who were
present to escort him to the steamer which was
to take him to Brownsville.
Colonel Elijah Trovillo, who had been with
him in his campaigns of 1872, was in command
of the military and all our local military COM
panies turned out to do him honor on that oc-
cason,
'1"His body was brought to the city in the fall
of 184l. 1t came by canal boat and was accom-
panied by small guard of United States sol
diers Quite large funeral procession followed
the remains from the Leech canal basin to
the Water street wharf. remember that the
escort of honor was composed of old surviving
soldiers of the war of 1872, the most prominent
of whom was Captain E. F. Pratt, gentleman
well remembered by most of the older cit
izens."
SOMEBODY said in my hearing yesterday
that he could not understand how certain
Democrat. who in the last campaign was very
active opponent of General Harrison in his
own State. could have the face to make up a
party of friends of his own political color, to
have jollifcation at Washington this week.
Evidently my friend has not proper acquaint-
ance with the elasticity and abounding re-
source for cheerfulr ess that is to be found in
the makeup of the average Democrat
Below is true history that may enlighten
my friend.
IN certain city of the first class, which is
even more thoroughly Republican in its poll
tics than Pittsburg, there was at the time the
campaign of 1880 started Democratic news
paper, which enjoyed to the extent OF its abil-
ity, monopoly of the Democratic readers in
the place. The chief editor of this paper was
Democrat to the very core; his principles in
politics were blazoned on every word he wrote,
and in his daily walk he never allowed his 10y
atty to his party to be hid for moment. Incl
dentally, it may be remarked, that he took his
whisky straight
1t was warm night when the news that
Hancock had been nominated on the Demo-
cratic ticket reached that city AS
soon as the editor of the Demo-
cratic paper heard the news, he took
up his hat and went out to view for him
self the enthusiasm which Hancock's nomina-
tion he felt ought to evoke. But nary shred
of enthusiasm could he find The fact was
that Garfield for good and sufficient reasons
was immensely popular with men of both
parties in that city. After wandering about
trying to find inspiration for double-leaded
editorial yawp. and encountering none, the
editor returned to his lair
-
HE WAS still resolved to have enthusiasm.
He sent for the foreman of the composing
room, and the editors of the departments, and
told them to HE them with every man under
them to saloon across the street. Presently
the entire force was gathered at the bar.
Gentlemen, name your beverage; the drinks
are on me; hurrah for Hancock" shouted the
editor-in-chief to the crowd. Not man; not
even proof-reader, refused. AS soon as the
first round had moistened the dry throats-it
was very warm night-another was ordered,
and another and another.
Enthusiasm came quickly. 1t might have
stayed longer If the liquids had not poured over
the bar so fast. But for an hour or two the
police were within an ace OF arresting every
body in the meeting. The bar-room gave way
to the street at last. The editor mounted on a
beer-barrel, delivered a terrific Grafton to the
crowd. Then he fell into the gutter, and the
audience for the most part did the same.
Everybody but the foreman of the composing
room was uneonscious-he was crazy.
The paper came out next day about half its
usual size--ali that had been set before the
era of enthusiasm set in. But the entire popu-
lation knew that Hancock's nomination had |
been celebrated in tremendous style, without
an editorial on the subject.
HEPBURN JOHNS