The sun., 1893-06-30
An Old Friend in n Pain ted Suit.

An Old Friend in n Painted Suit.
The Hon. JOHN CHALFANT New may be
engaged in repairing wire fences nnd taking
down lightning rods for the Hon. BENJAMIN
HARRISON, and the Hon. WILLIAM Nc
KINLEY may be standing on the tips Of his
highly protected toes to peer into the re-
cesses OF 1896, and Tom REED and Mr..
| MORTON and the inevitable ALGER and
| CULLoM OF the sleek face. and divers other
| Republican statesmen, moro or less, may be
| looking forward eagerly to the glories
| OF the next national Convention; but pause.
brethren. pause. Read this letter published
by the Nebraska State journal 1t Is only n
letter from lady OF Washington. now in
the country. to her husband in that city,
but 1t gives glimpse. bird's-eye view Of
an eminent Republican statesman:
"Idrove out to the farm. was told ho spent all
bis time there He received in long room, which
had cheerful double win dows all sides looking out
upon his broad lie the chair In the
room and seated himself pile OF books which ex
tended almost the entire length OF tho room. lie
attred in old suit OF clothes. which bore evidence
OF tho WORK going on as here and there was an
sonai splash of green white brown paint; and his
hands big and generous they showed plainly that
he know how 10 lend helping hand when occasion
demanded lie looked the farmers friend, ready at all
times to work for their interests He had none tho less
the look OF the statesman. with broad idea OF life
and people. ready to grasp tho situation at moments
notice and to act accordingly"
The name Of this farmer statesman. big
handed and paint-spashed, Is, OF course.
JEREMIAH RUsK Of Wisconsin. There he
stands in his Wisconsin farmhouse. which
he has been papering. painting. repairing.
He Is going to live in it. at least until the
Convention of 1896 Is over. His clothes will
get older and more paint-dappled. his boots
bigger and rustier. his straw-hat wider OF
brim. his overalls shabbier. as the months
whirl on. But the people, II they remem-
Der to remember it. will know he is there.
No palace for JEREMIAH. A plain farm
house is good enough for him. Just plain
farmhouse. with plenty OF his agricultural
reports on the floor. and rows OF dried
squashes and bags Of seed on the walls and
ceilings. The neighboring farmers bring
their horses. and get Uncle JERRY's cele-
brated work showing how many diseases
q horse can have without knowing it, and
giving to the same those awe-inspiring
Greek and Latin names which nobody can
pronounce. but the mere possession OF
which must be n great consolation to the
owner OF a sick horse. and would be to the
horse himself il he could read. The sound OF
the political rumor is drowned in the cheer
ful song OF the moving machine as Uncle
JERRY drives it whenever reporter
happens to be near the farm. The now
ing machine has to be repaired every time
it is used by Uncle JERRY, as his method OF
driving Is somewhat too sudden: SO in
the early mornings you will hear him
whetting his scythe with us much vigor
and enjoyment as Smiling Bob MAXWELL
shows in using his axe. Uncle JERRY drives
that welted pruning hook into the ground.
after the manner Of amateurs. To be sure
there Is beautiful pastoral OF the HARR1-
son days which shows him. then Secretary
OF Agriculture. moving away in the noon
tide heats. vainly pursued by a scythe-
bearing clerk. to whom he had given two
swaths and single discount. but everybody
knows that this was property" moving
match. The White House lawn had been
shaved already.
But there the lusty old chap is. in front
OF his farmhouse. whetting his scythe.
Hear him and see him. Republican farmers.
for he is not unwilling. Are you likely
to get a candidate more bucolic than
he? Look at tho paint on him. Populists
are especially invited to look at him.
Observe that there Is no plutocratic
pretenson about him. That is genuine
paint Have we not had enough candidates
from the exhausted East? is it not time for
another plough-tail statesman. not u man
who puts on black frock coat and creased
trousers. and silk hat, when he talks to the
people. but genuine son OF the soil. who
knows hoe from harrow?
Uncle JERRY spoke in the black costume
when he was making Pullman platform
speeches during Gen. HARRIsoN's travels.
He was speaking for Gen. HARRISON then:
he is speaking for himself now. and he puts
on that paint-stained old suit. recovered
from tho scarecrows. Fix your eyes upon
him. aspirants for the Presidency. He yet
may NOW YOU all down.
The lady from whom wo have quoted
writes that she felt like crying. Hurrah
for Uncle JERRY. He can always 500 what
is to be done. and does it, Just now he
Is trying to see what car be done by states
man in n painted suit. He doesn't care about
politics. All he asks is plenty OF paint.