The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-09-02
TACT WAS MS TALENT.

To illustrate what Dead Sea apple q
public Office proves, even in the hands of a
man of superior ability and of unusual
success in securing aud retaining Office for
many years. let as glance Ut the career Of
Gen. n. p. Banks.
Banks in his youth had been a millhand
and an iron worker, bat he had fine
voice and considerable talent as an ex-
temporaneous speaker. The workrngmen
picked him up during the Knownothing
excitement and sent him 10 congress,
where he served two terms, being elected
speaker in 1856. Then he was governor of
Massachusetts three years; then he was
MAJOR general Of volunteers from May 16,
1861. TO August l2. 1858. then he was sent
to congress, where he remained until 1878;
then President Hayes made him United
States marshal: he retained this office
under Arthur. and did not lose his office
under Cleveland until fsss; then he was
again sent 10 congress. where he remained
until March 1891
This is the record of man who from
1854 to 1891 was continually in Office. lie
was nearly IS years of age when he lost
his denomination FOR Office because his
constituents believed that il was high
time for an old gentleman 10 stand aside
and make room for a younger man. He
started out with excellent gifts for sue
cess: he was a handsome man and very
popular orator; his temper Was genial; he
had no principles that we're not self-ad-
Ia oh ssFs -
wind in his party. and be was so charm-
ing in his manners that President Cleve-
land deeapitated him at last Ia his first
term more in Sorrow than in anger. aud il
is said would not have cut OF his head at
all had il not been that Congressman
Patrick Collins danced, ike the daughter
Of Heroaias. before the Herod Of the
White House a political trnll-lull-loo aud
insisted upon it. lie retired from Office
without dollar: he had won no honors
save OF a transient sort; he remained TO
the last year Of his long LIE a clever.
genial, charming old gentleman. Nhom
everybody liked 90 hear speak at a club
dinner.
Gen. Banks was signal illustration o
the power Of wonderful political tact.
Joined to fine personal appearance and
uFhsns manners, to achieve enduring
popularity and success withou. the aid Of
solid talents. He came out Of the war
without reputation for = single military
virtue save imper,urbab!e nerve and cour-
age under ere. His utter failure as a
soldier would have swampsd an ordinary
man, bat the personal charm Of the man
and his splendid. ringing voice on the
stump carried him At once into congress.
Gen. Banks never had any money BY in
hsritanee: never made any money: never
stole any noney, and always speEt his
salary as fast as be earned t. lie never
manifested any high capacity. He vas =
fnant speaker. with a fine metallic voice
and impressive manner, bat his brain
never rose above the requirements 81 =
good campaign orator He was not dis
tiagaished for industry or fer any useful
public talents that secure public influence
and respect through their solid worth. and
vet without money. without great service
before the var, daring the var or after its
close. without high talents, Gen. Banks
managed - preserve his personal popu-
larity So well from ISIS - tsao that his
defeat for accumulation tn $50 was due
chiefly % his old axe.
Tact With Ranks mast have been g tai
sut lie must have bad a rare capacity for
making frisnds wiih the crowd. or he
would rot have lasted so tong, and vet he
Vas in no sense $ man Of Vulgar manners
4 or coarse habits. Ga the contrary. despite
hss ai3aele temper. his manners lacked
| neither dignity nor polish. Perhaps his
remArkAbss success in political llfa ami its
long endurance Vas due 70 his fine powers
~ conversation and bis easy, agreeable
| quality as 3 speaker AZ political haneaets
xhers in his prime be Vas charming
saiker. lie Eks rot a mAA Of strong polli-
ieal Fessulraeats. Was al opsim5sl "a his
polss.ea. philosophy aa4 a matter IL lie