The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-02-25
PRESIDENT, HARRISON,
The Way lie Expresses PeOple---SOme
Other Public Men.

that ne was able to make a speech fnil of genu- |
inc good fellowship. IL so happened that sat |
next to him on thai occasion, and had an Op- |
poItunity 10 observe him very closely. lie |
was IN tho Senate then. aud had been noted |
only ms a careful and painstaking representa-
tive of his State; man true to his party Prin-
ciples, and earnest in everything that he under
took. had met him several times IN the pur-
suit of news, and had found him courteous aud
polite; always ready To answer questions, but
never exuberant in the giving up Of iniorma-
tion. He was generally considered a cold, self
contained man, aud lacking in those qualities
which 90 to make up jolly good fellow. No
one believed at that time that he would make
an especially desirable companion At dinner
party, and when no took his seat at the table
came to the conclusion that the gentleman who
had invited him did so moro from a sense OF
duty than from a belief that he would prove
any very great acquisition 10 the company.
OF course he was called upon to make
speech, and when he did so he completely sur
prised everybody. lie was easy aud aiiable;
his words were full of good feeling and good
fellowship; he was somewhat humorous, aud
altogether he made the most attractive remarks
Of the evening. His speech was so totally diff
ferent from what everyone had expected, that
/ know the majority of the members of the
party were as greatly astOnished as | was l
became convinced that there was great deal
more in the man than had any idea Of, and
later in the evening ! talked with him quite
freely, and was still further gratihed at his
range Of study; at his keen analysis OF men
and methods, and at his bright comments upon
incidents of various kinds or course that was
long before he was ever thought OF as Presi-
Dental candidate, and was considering him
simply rs man and a Senator. When he was
nominated for tho Presidency the remarkable
series Of speeches that he made during the cam
paign did not so greatly astOnish me as it did
some others; and / realized that they were
the natural development OF the mans growth.
So, too, were the speeches that he delivered on
his western tour. Speeches which enunc!ated
clearly and distinctly the principles Of the De
! publican party and Of honest Government, and
| yet, though delivered in a section Of the cOun-
| try hostile 10 him and his party, they gave no
real ground Of Oiiense. In respect Of faculty
Of saying the right thing in the right way
| President Harrison stands way above any other
man in the Republican party, and it has been
a source Of surprise 10 me, and doubt not 1t
has been to many Others, why with this tactiul
/ faculty in the utteraHce of words he should be
so lacking in the tact required in the handling
of men with whom he IS brought in contact
officially and socially. His speech tho other
nj ght was pleasant and happy in the extreme,
and fully sustained the dignity Of his position
as the guest Of honor, and also contributed to
/ the general enjoyment Of the occasion.
| In regard 10 the Presidents lack Of tact in
/ the treatment OF men |ho arc compelled 20 ap-
proaeh him have heard two instances recently
which will illustrate. Oae was that Of Con-
| sui who had been removed from the position
that he had held, but had been promised q
better place. He came here and saw the Sec
retary Of State, who was personally interested
| in him, and was given his choice OF three va
cancies. OF course he selected the one with
the highest salary, and was told that his com
mission should 10 made out. He waited for
several days and heard nothing in regard to
the matter, and then sought an interview with
the Secretary, but was unable 10 sec him.
| Three weeks passed and he was getting very
nervous, especially az he had repeatedly tried.
| without success, TO get some information from
the State Department Finally he determined
to call upon the President. He saw Gen.
Harrison, explained 10 him the circumstances,
and said that he meray wished TO know IL the
Secretary bad submitted his name for tho place.
The President replied in rather brusque man
ner that he would have to wait, as matters OF
that kind could not be attended TO until they
were reached in the regular course Of events.
He felt rather uncomfortable. more as 20 the
manner Of the President than as TO what he
said and came 10 the conclusion that lac had
injured his chances. So as lac was going out OF
the room he turned and said Mr. President
/ am afraid 1 have rather prejudiced my case
by coming to you, but you must attribute it to
my anxiety in the matter"
The President replied: "No; you haven't
hurt your chances a bit. All you have to do Is
to watt" and then lac put out his hand and
shook hands very pleasantly with the Office
seeker. lie did wait for several days more, aud
was thoroughly disheartened, when one morn
ing he happened to pick up q newspaper aud
found that his name had gone iuto the Senate
the day before.
: When the name Of Justice Brown was under
consideration for the vacancy on the United
States Supreme Bench, among others whom the
President sent for to learn In regard 10 the diff
ferent candidates for the vacancy was Justice
Harlan. The President ask cd him in regard Il
several who were strongly backed for the posi-
tiOn, and among them was Justice Brown
Judge Harlan gave bis estimate of the different
people, dwelling upon their legal requirement.
! aud their peculiar fitness for tho place, but b,
spoke most warmly Of Judge Brown. After Il,
had gone home that night he happened 10 think
that possibly he hadn't said enough in regard e
, Judge Brown whom he recognized as a man o
superior legal ability aud whom he believed
would be an extremely valuable acquisition L
0 tho bench upon which he himself sat So thu
next day. Just before he went 10 the Suprom,
Court he went 10 the White House and tolC
Q the President that perhaps he had not expressed
: | himself sufficiently strong in behalf Of Judg
! Brown, and then he went on to say something
4 more in behalf Of that gentleman. The Presi
. | dent listened very patiently aud attentiyely
I and when Harlan had finished he said that h,
was very much obliged 10 him for the addi
| tional information. When Justice Harlan
, reached the Capitol the first thing lac heard wa
that Judge Browns namo had been sent TO tn
Senate, aud he knew that even before he hat
seen the President that day the decision ha
been made that the nomination had been for
warded 10 the Senate, aud yet the PrCsidcn
heard him as though tho ease was still open
and never once indicated what his actiO
a might be.
. An oiice-seeker never knows how humbl
u a man may be instrumental in forwarding hi
Q hopes heard a story about the late Senate
Hearst which illustrates this perfectly. Dow
i'm little town Ia Texas, near the border iint
, was an Irish hackman named BTannigan. III
: Was a Jolly, good uatuTed son OF the Emerald
= Isle with all the weaknesses aud all the shrewd
, ness Of his race, and hs made fair living l.
Z driving a hack at - a day. lie used 10 talk
T great deal abou; Senator Hearst and speak {
: him i'm quite a familiar Way, and the people Z
IS the town considered that this was only Iris
j. buster. But one day Senator Hearst came dow
e into that town, aud 10 Tas seen that Briun
u gau's boast of familiarity and acquaiutanceshi
q was not in vain. IiIs S~natOr sought him Ou
= and was with him . great deal. Inquired hO,
VI lie was getting aldatg tllered 10 help him
anv way he could, ut all that Branniga
y would Take was 40 order for the best suit ,
s. clothes that could * made By the local tai.o
y when the Senator fcfL 10. told Branuigun tia
IS II he could ever be 81 serGcc % him an no la
- 20 DO was % let him know. In that town ~
20 . rr,.;I- shot had ftFrpfiv br.r, ,vaaIfJ,y- D.,