The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1890-09-12
to be tempted. He crawlcd back into ex-
ccutive favor at the first sign Of disaster.
This was Mr. Randall's opinion, too, es-
pressed to me on his deathbed.

pressed to me on his deathbed.
".
1t is difficult for any honest man, VINO
knew Mr.. Randall, to mention his name
without adding some tribute to that states
mans worth. With me it is labor OF
love, and I could write a volume i'll his
nraise. I never knew more honest or
drawer heart than his. He utterly de-
spised the tricks, the mean receptions
and petty frauds BY which so many politl-
clans rise to power and maintain it, he
was too courageous to deceive any one
about anything. What he said he SAID
from the shoulder and one might bet
principally that what he said he meant
and would adhere to. If he was against
bill every man in congress or out OF 1t
knew that no power on earth would move
him from his base; and whatever position
he took, those who opposed it recognized
from beginning to end that they had an
adversary whom it was impossible to drive
or coax from his post, and whose force 1t
was most difficult to overcome. There was
no possible chance to bully or bride him.
The consequence was, even when he
became so feeble that he could not walk
the few squares which separated the
Capitol from his house, republicans
as we'll rs his party associates were
always eager to learn his opinion on any
new question that arose.
happened to be in his committee room
one day when Burrows, of Michigan, came
in with IL republican judge from Tonnes
see, whose name have forgotten, but
who was a man of prominence in his
section, and stood high among both
parties.
Randall" said Burrows. "hcrc is
Judge - from Tennessee. ] want to
introduce him to YOU and want YOU to
listen to the account he gives of how the
last election was carried in his district
In the next congress We are going to in
troducc a bill to stop these election frauds
and this intimidation in the South. and ]
want to know if YOU are going to defend
and encourage them by opposing the BILL"
The Judge said that the frauds had
been so fragrant in West Tennessee for IL
long time that the republicans devised Il
plan to prevent them. They had coupons
attached to the ballots, and whenever 4
ballot was put in, the judges, one Of whom
was republican, would retain the coupon
in order to have IL check OH the ballots
and show if the one correspondent with the
other. There was no objection whatever
raised to the plan by the democrats said
the Judge, everything went on smoothly
and large republican majority was
secured. 4 little after shutdown, however,
when the republican judge was gathering
the coupons in IL bundle and congratula
ting himself that one honest count would
he had, Il fellow entered the room wearing
duster. SLOUGH hat IL mustachc and
imperial, pair of boots with spurs, but
no collar. Approaching the republican
Judge he drew from under his buster Il
huge revolver, put it to the judges head,
and bending down rs if to whisper to him,
said:
So Gimme thin kupons,-you Cd ID
radical s-n of IL -.
THE coupons were handed to him, of
course; our 1000 majority WAS overcome,
and the democrat elected by 300"
The Judge depicted the scene so wildly
and with such touches Of humor that all
the party laughed out.
Now, Randall said Burrows, "you
are an honest man, and when these facts
are fully substantiatcd before congress,
want to know if YOU are going to defend
them"
The smile left Randall's face as a
stcrncr expression came over it.
NO" said he, i am not going to
defend any frauds anywhere, and | have
no doubt many have been pcrpctratcd in
the South as thcy have been in the North;
but ! AIN going TO oppose any action of
congress which involves an invasion of
the rights of IL State. The conditions YOU
speak of in the South doubtless prevail to
certain extent, though such evils are
perhaps not rs bad lis yOu republicans
make out but YOU must not undertake to
remedy them Ivy IL greater cvl-by viola
ting the constitution and establishing Il
dangerous precedent which may some day
return to torment our children You
must not undertake to ovcrturn the con-
stitution in order to remedy IL temporary
wrong On that issue We will give YOU
battle, and will make the fight rs hot as
YOU wish it,
The reply showed the sagacity of that
great man. 1t was the best answer and
it was Il conclusive one. Burrows soon
left the room repeating the words:
"Gimmc thin kupons,-you Cd ID
radical Sill of Il -,
After he had gone Mr.. Randall turned
to me and said, You don't know Burrows
well, do you? He's pleasant man
socially, but one of the most radical of
the radicals-hcs terror" and his face
lit up with one of those smiles which
often came to it when talking with Il
friend, but which was far, far from it