Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-10-22
Political "Reminiscences.

(FOr the Dlspalch)
II occurs 10 me that brief, reminiscent
paper might not be unfayorably received
and conned by your many readers. ! am
still a bachelor, in my S0th year, and care
not who knows ! am stlll on the carpet.
] am not-bachelor though l be-without
a following. OF nephews and nieces, in
Guiding the little grands. l owned at one
time 10 40 and still reckon 10 living.
was. I'm days Of yOre. an Old-Line
Wing. and did my best. i'm common with
others. to defeat the aspirations of little
King Matty Van Buren, i'm the memOra-
bic campaign Of 1910. Our club assem-
bled. as the contest became heated, in the
old iog-cabin on Eagle Square of your
city We came near carrying OLD Viz
ginia "for Tippecanoe. and Tyler, too
We reduced the Democratic majority Of
former years,it was in the thousands
10 a bare 300 for Van Buren,.
when General Harrison passed through
Richmond on his way to Washington
had the exquisite pleasure OF taking his
hand. But mine was a hand of velvet,
and did no hurt to the velvety hand of
the President-elect. Others were not so
fortunate: General Harrison was obliged
20 refuse handshaking with all Of the
vast crowd that greeted him as he de-
scended from the steps of Lynch's coffee
house. His hand had been literally crush
ed 10 a Jelly before he reached Richmond
The speech he made there TO the most
enthusiastic crowd i have ever seen was
pithy. contentious. and eloquent. He
knew as well how 10 speak as TO fight.
He appeared 20 me 20 be of fragile con-
stitution-a man Of nerves. rather than OF
bone and sineW II was not difficult for
him 10 die under strain, so thought
al the time. His illustrious political IL
val. Henry Clay. possessed a stronger vi
tally Ills hand was open and liberal TO
friend and foe alike ] mOurned with
many a gallant Wig when, in lsiS the
"NlO-Bov OF the SlaAhes' was set aside
bv a convention Of his party. ! shall new
or forget the banquet given I'm his honor
bv the wings o. Richmond at Browns
tobacco factory. then the most capaciOus
building IN your city. The speech ne
made there was worthy of the reputation
he bore as statesman and an orator lie
mingled freely with his fellow~ctizens,
and strange as it may now seem. was
presented TO them by a staunch Demo
crat. the well-known John Lynch. The
relations which subsisted between Wings
and Democrats i'm the olden time were of
an amicable character They differed po-
ltically one with the other. hut never
socially Whether Mr.. Clay or Mr.. Cal
houn administered in office il was never
doubted by any that his accounts would
be clear and his administration as faith
fui and impartial as If he sat In judgment
on the bench.
have had the honor OF squeezing the
hand OF Daniel Webster when he visited
our Tippecanoe Club. on Eagle Square.
His speech. under an October sun. was
heard from the portico of the Capitol by
q. 900 people. He made three speeches I'm
one day--the third, which ! did not hear.
I am told was his best. This was an af-
ter-dnner speech. lie was the guest OF
the late James Lyons, who had dmed and
wlned MIN that day right royalty.
One Of the most genial, wh0le-souled
men OF the olden time was Jack Taylor,
whose march through Mexico had been
distinguished by a series OF victories. the
report Of which spread his fame as a
fighter throughout the civilized world.
While General Scott was getting ready
20 conquer a peace In the halls OF the
Montezumas Taylor was at Buena Vista
with his little army. holding his own
against Santa Ana. al the head OF the
fnes, army Mexico ever put into the field.
1t was said at the time that the Ameri-
cans there were as good as beaten. but
Old Zack did not know il. After this
splendid achievement Of our arms the
people. with loud acclaim. dubbed him
Rough and Ready"-a soDriquet which
sticks TO him everlastingiy.
When President Taylor visited Rich
mond, In lSiS. ] WAS a member OF the
d Richmond Lght-Horse Dragons, who,
IN q parade Of troops, had the honor II