Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-14

last half of the ffties such nlinoisans as
Abraham Lincoln, E. B. Washburne, Rich
ard Yates, N. b. Judd, Stephen A. Hurl-
burt and my own father, had custom Of
frequently coming together at the old Ire
political consultation. MY father had an
odd habit of taking me with him to these
meetings; seating me in huge arm chair
and becoming utterly oblivious of my pres.
ence, while the political wisdom and cigar
smoke of these affairs regularly forced me
into half seasick, sodden sleep.
On one occasion, think it was in the
summer of 1858, when I had attained the
advanced age of 10 years, 1 was in this usual
comatose condition, when awoke and found
myself in Mr.. Lincoln's arms. He held one
of my hands with his left hand, and, while
discussing certain plans which were about
concluded, with his right hand was stroking
nv head in gentle, fatherly way. Startled
at engrossing so much attention from so
great parsonage, and blushing confusion
at being found asleep, made effort to es-
cape, nv father meanwhile offering ample
irrelevant excuses for my somnolent con-
dition, Mr.. Lincoln held me closely, and
at once quieted me with his simple, tender
words. Among his resssuring expressions
were these: "Don't be ashamed to sleep any
where, my boy. Sleepy boys make the
greatest men. Why. now, we've got a boy
down home, about your age. That boy of
mine just sleeps all the time. We call him
"Sleepy Bob, to fun him little. But /
often tell him, Bob, sleep all you like. If
you'll sleep hard enough, you're bound to
be President of the United States some dsyl
Who knows, Bob?'"
stopped my story to the French Cabinet
officer right there where Lincoln stopped his
kindly prattle to me; but have thought of
what he said to me million times since;
and told the curious Frenchman that it
was possible, as the West must hereafter set
the pace In these things, and would doubt
less insist on controlling nominating con-
ventions, that there could be many less
available Republican tickets named than
Robert T. Lincoln, of Illinois, for first
place, and Chauncey M. Depew, of New
York, for second. Then as to the possible
Democratic nominees, told him 1 thought
there was just one man in that party in the
West, impregnable from any previous
doubtful associations; man who would, if
any Democrat could, secure large and
sympathetic following from among the vet
eran war organizations; and who was as
nearly as possible the one man the Demo-
cratic party could regard as an invincible
leader. That man was ex-Postmaster Gen
eral William F. Villas, of Wisconsin. With
him a wise political management would
mate Governor Hill, of New York. While
the friends of Mr.. Cleveland would never
permit either the nomination or election of
Governor Hill at the head of the ticket at
this time, they would be easily reconciled to
giving Governor Hill second place; and
with such ticket tremendous Western
and Eastern enthusiasm, efecting united
Democracy" in reality, would result; while
the South, as usual, could be relied ulon to
take care of itself.
True this is but quick conjecture, i'm
pelled by foreign curiosity in high place,
making obligatory the best answer possible
from an American. But it will do no harm
to put these conjectural tickets into Small
caps" and let the people look at, and think
about, them little:
PRESIDENTIAL TICKETS FOR 1891
REPUBLICAN.
For President,
ROBERT TODD LINCOLN, of Illinois.
For Vice President
CHAUNCEY MITCHELL DEPEw, of New York.
DEMOCRATIC.
For President,
WILLIAM FREMONT Villas, of Wisconsin.
For Vice President
DAVID BENNETT HILL, of New York.