Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-07-25
A PRESIDENT MAKER.
Friederichs!

A most fascinating man-brilliant,
dashing, sparkling, optimistic, impul-
siye and generous-a natural leader of
men. He had all the qualities that win
mems admiration. He had follies-and,
l almost said, vices-that could only be
condoned by overshadowing them with
his multiplied virtues. By birth q Ger
man; by naturalization an American;
by profession a journalist. If you would
know more of him, he was a short,
stocky man about 40 years of age, with
a smoothly shaven, round face, and
leonine head like Millocker, the COM
poser. He married sweet faced, mild
tempered, little woman, who idolized
him and whom he loved with all the
warmth Of an impulsive and affectionate
nature.
His income was sufficient for the
needs of an economical man, but Fried
erichs was not economical; he did not
premeditate extravaganza, but was one
of those unfortunates whose tastes were
patrician and whose means were pie
beian. He knew little or nothing Of the
value of money; a bill or coin was to
him as leaf, and he ''the owner of un-
bounded forests. :" He gambled some
times--not often. When he won, he felt
no pleasure other than what came
through the purchase Of some luxury for
the little wife at home When he lost, he
was depressed-not for the loss of the
money, but because the little wife would
suffer some deprivation. Then his exu-
berant disposition would assert itself,
and he would cheerfully borrow such
sums as he needed from the first friend
who would lend. Many such obligations
were never repaid. His inability to meet
them within q reasonable length of time
caused him much temporary annoyance;
then he neglected them and eventually
forgot them.
Anomalous as it may seem, his sense
of honor was high and strong. Had he
been accused of being truant to any
debt of honor he would have resented it
to any extremity. His weakness was his
optimism. 1t mattered not how dark and
cheerless the present, the future was
roseate, the past was dead.
The morning of that rosy future never
dawned
Friederichs sat in room in Chicago
hotel with two senators of the United
States. The city was filled with people
gathered for a special occasion. Men
We're rushing about, pausing for hasty
handshakes Or whispered consultation,
secret conferences were being held be-
hind locked doors, and everything por-
tended that an event Of Importance and
magnitude was about to take place.
Without swelling cheer is heard, min
gled with the notes of patriotic air
played by brass band. Presently the
band wheels into sight from across the
street and marches down one of the
great thoroughfares. Following comes
an army of men with flags and banners
The conspicuous attire is long linen
coats and tall white hats On their
coats are badges of ribbon denoting the
organization to which they belong
They carry no more formidable weapons
than light walking sticks and sun UNI
brellas. They are greeted with cheers
from the surging, struggling mass that
lines the sidewalks, and an answering
cheer goes up from the ulstered, high
hated line. Occasionally some unduly
excited individual utters a yell
AS the procession passes out of sight
a similar one crosses on a side street,
and the crowd shifts and struggles into
position to obtain a view of the latter
Thus the day is spent, thus the evening
and far into the night 1t is a scene
with which Americans are familiar.
They know the meaning Of this assem-
bling of hosts, this gathering of clans.
On the morrow a national convention of
great political party is to be held to
select candidate for president of these
United States
"Senator, cannot do it, said Fried
erichs to one Of the men in his apart
ments. 'You might as well expect the
colonel Of O regiment to desert his gen
eral in the midst of battle with victory
in sight I have been with him from
the first What would the German peo-
pie think of me if 1 deserted now? 1
have written hundreds of columns in
his favor They have read and believed.
What you ask is impossible. -
'tBut, Friederichs, replied Senator
Black, ''you have more to gain with
us. Come, be reasonable. A foreign
mission for you. Ipromise it. You do
not doubt my authority to promise it in
the name''--
"No, I do not doubt you, senator, but
I must not think Of myself. I must
think Of him..
"Well," petulantly exclaimed the
senator as he arose and rapidly walked
the floor, ''you think you know him,
Int ycu do not know him so well as T. "