The herald., 1894-07-17
TWO NOTEWORTHY INCIDENTS.

Very frequently incidents of history
founded upon fact crop up in singular
and perverted shape. Thus We find the
following in a recent issue of the Gin
cinnati Commercial-Gszstte:
There was Democratic president who
took q government vessel at Washington
and went on cruise with some of his
friends. When he returned home he
directed the officer in command to send
him, the president, bill showing the
COST OF the coal consumed on this trip.
When the bill came the president sent
his check and paid for the coal. There
was Democratic secretary who took a
similar trip on another government ves-
sci and followed the example of the
president. Neither of theee officials was
named Cleveland or Carlisle.
There is some foundation for this
story, but it lie quito as we'll that it
should be told correctly. The president
referred to was Mr.. James Buchanan,
who has now probably been dead long
enough to admit OF Justice being done to
his essential Scetch-Irish integrity. The
Hon. Howell Cobb was Mr.. Buchansn's
secretary OF the treasury. One day this
jocund Georgian thought it would be a
good idea to have junketing trip down
the Potomac to tidewater, taking in
Newport News and other pleasant points.
The revenue cutter Harriet Lane,
named after Mr.. Buchanan's niece, who
was then the lady of the White House,
. bax al ta1 60 tha
and that lady, who divided with Mrs.
Stephen A. Douglas the honor OF being
one OF the two pre-eminent bellies OF
Warrington, was one OF the guests.
The excursion was perhaps one of the
most agreeable that had ever been
chronicled in Washington, and every
ling went merry as marriage bells. All
the guests declared that they had never
had such delightful time in their lives,
and nobody dreamed OF all afterclap.
At the next meeting OF the csbinst
Mr.. Buchanan, after tee conclusion of
the routine proceedings, turned to his
secretary of the treasury and said, by
the way, Mr.. Cobb, who is going to pay
the government for the expenses OF the
Harriet Lane on that junketing trip the
other day ?" Mr.. Cobb blushed and
stammered, and lost his tongue for the
moment, which the president observing,
said, "Be kind enough to send me an
itemzed account of the expenses OF that
trip. and will send you my check for
the amount"
Cobb got away a. we'll az he could, set
his subordinates to figuring out to the
utmost minutia the sum involved in
making government cruiser the instru-
ment OF private junket, and be him
self covered into the treasury the cum
involved. That was Democracy, pure
and undiluted. and was worthy of the
best days Of the republic.
One other incident in Mr.. Buchanan's
career showed that he was thorough
Democrat of the old school, and the
thorough discussion evoked through the
incident probably made him president.
He was Mr.. Pierce's minister at the
court OF St. James. On his arrival at
London it was intimated to him that he
would be expected to appear in court
dress at the queens reception. He
promptly answered that il he were not
acceptable in the dress of an American
gentleman he would not appear at all.
The court officials were ashaet, but they
finally conveyed word to the American
minister that he would be welcome in
any costume. Fortunately for MIR. b.
chanan he was a man of superb personnel
six feet two inches high, with most
courtly manners, and he far outshon'
any OF the bsfrilled and bedizened rep
resentatives OF European countries.
That we have passed the age OF repub
lcan simplicity and democratic man
ners and morals there is only too mucl
reason to believe. Mr.. Buchanan wa
an deliberately educated man, and inca
pable of prostituting the spirit of tn
institutions OF his country. There wa
nothing Of the parvenu about him
and he would have disdained to hav
either the government or his fami
mixed up in vulgar junketing transact
ions. As it is now it is difficult to ge
lot of pseudo statesmen even to kno'
when honorable prescriptions are bein
violated,