Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-24
WHY HE WAS DEFEATED
One E1-Oongressman Now Neditates Upon
the Prevalence Of Ingratituda
Three Friends for Whom Ho Had
Done Many Favors Worked
Against Him.

One of the sad things about public life
which a man discovers when he is suddenly
out of 1t Is the prevalence of ingratitude.
There are a great many victims Of in
gratitude looking on from the outside
while new men are preparing for their
entrance into Congress this winter. A Star
reporter met a man the other day who. at
the last election, had a most startling
realization of tho existence of this trait of
human nature. He is now standing on the
outside and meditating upon 1t. Among
his people he was popular. He was a sort
Of hero. Being q wounded soldier with
record of bravery, he had their admiration.
Being amiable and sympathetic and in all
ways accommodating, they telt an afrec-
ton for him. That he should ever be
thrown out of Congress by bis people did
not to occur to him.
But in his town there lived man
against whom there was some years ago
a popular prejudice. This man he defend
ed and made friend of. He overcame the
mans unpopularity, aid had him elected
to an office, and after awhile the old
prejudice was all forgotten. One day there
was an office to which both men aspired.
The man who afterward came to Congress
retired as soon as he knew that his friend
was in the field. So on the obligations
were piled up, always from the one side.
When the generous one came to Congress
he continued his favors toward the other.
There was young son who wanted to go
to West Point. and the Congressman had
him appointed For this. as for past IA
vors, the friend was grateful. Then the
young cadet got into trouble and was
about to be dismissed from West Point in
disgrace. The father wrote to the Con-
gresham, who, with great difficulty, patch
ed things up. Finally, just before the last
election, the son was again on the point
of dismissal and the Congressman saved
him. This was the record of the Congress-
man of service for that friend.
There was another neighbor with whom
the CongreSsmau's relations were some
what similar. This neighbor also had
were the days and weeks and months the
Congressman worked to save his friend
from this disgrace. Finally, just before the
election, he succeeded in getting a pardon
for the young man. This favor the father
could not forget. Here were two old friends
steel.
But there was yet another man In that
neighborhood bound by similar ties The
Congressman had saved him $4,000, and
he, too, was grateful. These were three
strong men and warm friends. When the
Congressman went home to look after his
reelection, he found that there had sud
denly sprung up an opposition to him. A
new man was in the field, and there was
fight on.
The Congressman took the stump in his
own behalf. His three friends followed him
everywhere he spoke and canvassed the dis
trict with an energy they had never before
shown. But they canvassed 1t against him.
They worked up a sentiment against him
in private. and they took the stump in pub
lie. They denounced him and circulated re-
ports against him, and they defeated him.
Now he looks on from the outside. and
meditates upon the shallowness Of public
favor and private gratitude.