The Washington weekly post., 1899-10-17
DUTY OF UNCLE GREENMOSS


Drawing rein at the top of the hill, l
sat in the saddle, moodily viewing the
prospect; and with a cynicism born OF
the days disappointments, recalled the
lines:
Tho ev'ry prospect pleases.
And only man Is vile.
For the past week 1 had been canvass
ing F county in the interest OF my
friend, Judge L, a candidate for po-
htical honors. inexperienced in practi-
cal politics, l was shocked at finding the
ballot regarded as an article of merchan-
disc by the people generally, and as sucn
to be disposed of in the most profitable
market. Doubtless my cynicism mad its
origin partly in wounded vanity, for what
ever logic. diplomacy and elOquence / was
capable OF not only failed to abate the
mercenary spirit, but was often ludicrous-
ly perverted by 1t. This condition, though
at times appealing to ones sense of
humOr. was particularly irritating among
citizens Of African descent, and my mis-
sion was to them chiefly.
An experienced politician had advised:
BE positive of success; It is the most
effective argument you can use with these
people" On my way up the hill, having
observed a fellow-citizen leaning on his
hoe, in field by the roadside, expended
a half hour in demonstrating to him why
the judge was sure of election. My logic
savOred of prophetic vision, and was so
convincing that the listener drawled:
'Tll g'lOng wild you, kunl, dough rs
heerd dat de oder canderdates gWine ter
spend a pile er money; but you seems so
dead sho. l specks yo' man entends ter
spend a lot NOR"
To sound the depths Of the mans un-
conscious iniquity, / asked If he had ever
heard of reform in politics.
''Suttinly, sah," he replied: "a refo m
canderdates man dat wants yo' vote fer
nuthin'."
Further on / dismounted at a little
dwelling whose quantity pastoral sur
roundings promised the abode of honest
simplicity. l patiently discussed topics of
interest to the old black farmer, and in
extolling his crops and live stock, i'm
proved upon the truth, meanwhile dis-
tributing the customary change among
his redundant progeny. Mingling this
harmless diplomacy with praises of the
candidate, / endeaVOred 10 produce q
state of mind favorable to my purpose.
"A gentleman dat knows eZ much bout
hawgs ez you does mus shOly be able ter
size up man. said the old philosopher
so rs willin' ter take yo' word fer ii
and vote fer de judge. knows you en-
tends ter give dat team er mules you
made such 'miration bout a chance ter
arm some money hauling voters on lee
ton day; an rs sho' dat a man ez sma't
ez you 'scribes &c jedge ter be kin get de
ole woman's brudcer, wild de rheumatic,
dat jan'ter's place at de cou't house.
Thus, irritated by constantly stumbling
over the outcroppings of this mercenary
vein, l reached the hilltop overlooking the
scene of my futile labors-futile because
Judge l. was running on the reform
ticket, and 1t would appear inconsistent
for him to openly bribe voters: besides,
what is more to the point. he was not a
wealthy man. The sight of a little cabin
on the ridge opposite me, the home of
honest old Uncle Greenmoss, suggested a
means of relief. l knew he possessed con-
siderable influence among his people In
the neighborhood, and for the sake of old
times would take an interest in my diff
ficulties. His denunciatory style of elo-
quence would probably be far more eff
fective than any effort of mine, and his
belief in the degeneracy of all things
modern had always inclined him to attack
existing conditions. That the old man
was unchanged in this latter respect,
soon had proof.
Uncle GreenmCss sat in the open door
of his cabin, out of which came the crack
ling sounds and savory fumes of frying
bacon. He was thoughtfulIy rubbing the
back of a self-satisfied looking shoat.
My! dem cracklin's from de ribs er yo'
nanny do smell goodi' / heard him say
I
Is feared you's gwine ter be like every
thing else desc yere days; you won't be
half de hawg yo nanny was
The old man heard Of my difficulties
with many a sympathetic groan. "Dey is
sholy de vote sellinest lot er niggers dat
cumber de yarth. But what mo kin you
'spect desc days?" was his comment.
And now, uncle" said, ''it is the duty
of every honest man to fight this degrad-
ing condition. ! want you TO go to the
meeting with me tonight and preach
some sense of the responsibilities OF cit
izenship into these people"
He eyed me obviously before answering:
''Sholy, you knows Ia do ennythiug on
yarth to 'commodate you, Mr.. Charles,
but, yo' see, Is a po' man, an can't er-
ford ter give my time fer nuthin'."
You conscienceless old rascal"
broke forth. what pecuniary loss will
you suffer by giving the cause of reform
4 little of your time tonight, instead OF
loafing at the CROSSROADS store? Or, per-
haps," / added sarcastieally, you have a
previous appointment to visit some hen
roost?'
"'Tain't Exactly dat" he said with a
CLEAN of cunning amusement in his eyes,
but dere is mos in gen'ally considabie
money spent in dis yer politics business,
an ole Uncle Greenmoss might jes ez
well git some er II ez de mex one. De good
book itse'f say De labrer am wordy er
his hire"
Uncle" / said, yielding without fur
ther argument, and placing two silver dol
lars in his hand, here is the price Of four
fine pullets. 10 make good any loss you
may sustain by reason OF your failure 20
keep the previous appointment. II these
people who cannot do their duty without
peing paid for il have one spark Of con-
science among them, blow II into
fame"
III blow dat spark till dis stiff-neeked
gen'ration er wushippers er mammon
smells brimstone," was the assurance
received.
That night when he arose TO address the
meeting in the dimly lighted little school
house. Uncle Greenmoss was an impress
sive figure, with his gTizzled hair standing
high above his crumpied forehead and his
eyes flashing from beneath their bushy
brows with the nenacing gieam Of an ac-
cusing prophet.
''Fello citizins an breddernw he began
''Dere air jss' one thing on
dis yarth could er endueed me ter drag
desc old bones ter dis yer meetln'-and
dat aLr-de call er duty! II done give me
mo pain dan my rheumatic ter notice
dat de people. desc days. Is growed so
fond or De bird er freedom dat dey'H sell
dar souls fer his imige on de back er a
piece er silver. Ter notice dat dey enter
pits de word freedom ter mean de right
ter sell darseives on lection days. an
dat you Is all became nuthin' mo ner less
dan niger traders! But says" ne thun-
dered forth. shame on de man dat kin
hear de chink er silver better dan de cali