New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-06
SUNBE1YS FROM CUCUMBERS.

SUNBEANS FROM CUCUMBERS.
In the extraction of sunbeams from cuc'im-
bers, whether by corkscrew, clawhammer, chem
ical process or a persuasive manner, it is not
likely that any living statesman can compete
successfully with the Hon Amos ]. Cummings,
Of the IXth Congressional District of this state.
The present campaign furnishes such an I'M
common opportunity for the exercise OF his par
ticular gift in this direction that we are not
surprised to learn that he is daily importuheu
for facts about Mr.. Flowers record IN the
House, Ordinarily one would loo to the
printed debates, "The Congressional Record"
for "facts" of this sort. Indeed, there nave
been instances within the memory OF men now
living when it was not necessary to go even so
far as that for " facts about the record" OF can
didates for high Office who had served two
terms in Congress. The public was familiar
with Thorn; had them at it's tongues end. were
Mr.. Cummings himself candidate for Gov
ernor-and his party might go further and fare
a great deal worse-it is hardly supposable that
any of his colleagues would be daily impor-
tuned for facts about his record. Nor if. Mr.
Bourle Cochran, the immediate predecessor OF
Mr.. Flower were running for Governor-which
he is not, for the reason doubtless that ne pre-
fers pulling the wires to being the puppet-is Ii
likely that Mr. Cummings would be "daily I'M
portuned for factsn about his record? But the
case of Mr.. Flower seems somehow different
During his two Congressional terms he " biusheu
unseen to such an extent that only slight trace
of him is found in "The Congressional Record, ="
and the public nostril knoweth not his fragrance
And so Mr.. Cummings who sat near him has
been "daily importuned for facts about MS
record" 1t was on Saturday last, as we arc
told that "he had quite an audlence"-no'
stated where" when a questiOner started him
on this theme" Manifesty, this was MIR. Cum
mingss opportunity. Mr.. Flower was, speak
ing botanically, his cucumber. Not cucumber
radiant with sunbeams by any means; on the
contrary, a rather unpromsing and refractory
cucumber, but nothing daunted, the Hon. Amos
proceeded to put him to pressure with the fol-
lowing resulting sunbeam. " Mr.. Flower" SAID
he. ais no mans man. He belongs to the peo-
ple." This as exordum. Now, them the
facts about the record" They are not volum-
nous They are, in short this committee
representing 500 New-York merchants urged
him to draw the New Custom House and APP
praiser's Stores BILL and he sat right down and
drew it. This bill was referred to committee
the chairman of which chad just signed the
temperance pledge" Mr. Flower had "inde-
pendence and strength of character to such
degree that he did not object to its going to
that kind of a committee. Not only that, but
when the measure was opposed by some of the
Democratic members from NewYOrk son the
ground that the scheme was of Republican in
ception and that the passage of the bill would
nure to the political benefit of that party" that
Republicans would have control Of the patron
age, the giving-out of the contracts, the ap-
pointment of the laborers" he rose above party
and when one of his colleagues opposed the
bill before the committee for this reason, he
appeared in it's favor and made set speech"
OF the effect of that "set speech" Mr. Cum
mings said nothing. Perhaps we shall have
that later when he has "quite an audience" and
some other questioner "starts him on this
theme" One sunbeam at time will do. Mean
time we understand the present position OF
facts about Mr. Flowers record" to be about
this: He drew the New Custom House and
Appraisers Stores bill probably out of his own
head. as the boy did who made the wheelbar-
row. and had room enough left &c make an
other" and he did not object to it's being re-
ferred to a committee whose chairman had
signed the temperance pledge, and when there
was danger that Republican committee of a
Republican House would report against the bill
because a Democratic member from New-York
told them it would inure to the benefit of the
Republican party he saved it by :" set speech
in its favor
1t seems little mixed but considering the
cucumber it is good deal of a sunbeam. The
Hon. Amos J. Cummings will accept our con-
CALCULATIONS upon his latest achievement