The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-23

some interesting talk On the bottle n poli
tics and the part which Il has played In tho
country's history. According TO this writer
a glass Of wine probably wrecked the demo-
cratic party In 1860. The story IL worth
telling, After the breaking 10 Of the Ma
tional democratic convention al Charleston.
the party in Georgia hold State convention.
Great excitement prevailed The leaders OF
the partv could not ssrse. 1t was critical
period.
Tho majority report Endorsed the secedcss
or boilers at Charleston. while the minority
report opposed their action. Tho LEADING
champion OF tho minority was Herschel v.
johnson. and his followers were confident
his eloouencc and logic would carry the day.
II is quito likely that such would have been
the case. but for an unfortunate mishap,
Ex Governor Johnson began his spcech be-
fore the noon adjournment on the second
day and concluded after dinner.
Old mon who remember that speech saw
that It was powerful argument and the
impression gained ground that after the noon
recess the speaker would dcmolish his cppo-
nents with few sledgc hammer blows
But the over confident friends OF the min
GRITTY report were doomed 70 dlsappointmcnt.
Johnson felt the strain OF the morning SEES
sion so much that he was unable to eat any
thing and he took q glass OF Wine uuon IN
empty stomach to strengthen himself. This
was q fatal mistake That ono glass OF wine.
perhaps changed the destiny Of the Natlonl
\ y
The great orator resumed his speech. but
the wine had nauscated him. He was hazy.
verbose and unintelligiblc at times. His style
aud argument lacked vigor. consistency and
postivcness, His friends looked ut one an
other in despair The men on the other side
were exultnnt. 1t was evident that the sneak
or had damaged his own cause
Then Howell Cobb and Henry r. Jackson
followed each other for the majority report
They spoke with an air OF expectant triumph
and captured the convention.
Tho majority report was adopted. 1t is I'M
necessary TO follow tho history OF the next
few weeks Tho National democracy was
completely disrupted and put two tickets IN
the Held Lincoln was elected president and
the country was plunged into a civil war
Had Johnson succeeded in inducing the oeor-
gia convention to adopt his conservative ideas.
1t Is safe to say that other Southern Staten
would have fallen in line with our common
wealth. and the National democratic party
would have remained united.
This is tho story OF what a little glass or
wine did II ruined a great party, caused
disastrous war and. besides the loss of l!f0,
cost the South over Ao0o.ooo,ooo. Perhaps
this is rather speculative. but there are many
who believed 1t a generation ago
4 \ y
There were statesmen in the old DAYS who
were heavy drinkers Daniel Webster WAS
one OF them
When no spoke in Richmond. Mr.. Webster
took several biz drinks before the went on
the platform. II was nlain that he was under
the influence OF liduor, and the chairman OF
the committee went TO him and suggested
that If he did not feel we'll the speech could
be postponed
The sodilke Daniel ms his admirers called
him, was never too drunk to fail to take .
hint He straightened himself up and IN his
coolest. cioarest tones. Informed the chairman
that he never felt better In his life.
| Ten minutes later the great expounder of
| the constitution walked out on the platform
and delivered grand GRAFTON. Not one OF
his hearers. outside OF the committee. sus-
pected TINT he had touched LIQUOR that morn
ing,
| or course Webster had remarkable con-
stituton Both physically and mentally ne
! was capable OF enduring almost any strain
or excess 1t was only in his old age that
he became somewhat ma;dlin In his cups.
Finally the bottle killed him.
\
That peerless orator. Sargent S. Prentiss OF
Mississippi. for many years seemed to be
| tho master of the bottle He drank heavily
but was always Mt his best
| Upon one occasion no went to small
town to speak. and the leaders of the opposi-
ton party decided to get him drunk before
the hour for his speech.
They Invited him to a breakfast at the
hotel. and for two hours forty politicians
drank his health, and It was necessary for
him to take enough wine to XIII any ordinary
man. although 1t Is hardly possiblc that he
took glass for glass with them.
| The appointed hour came. The platform
was built outside OF tho dining room ans
| when the clock struck the forty conspirators
were under the table SHOCKING away very
comfortably,
| MIR. Prentisa calmly surveyed his fallen
opponents, and then cool and serene az
May morning. stepped through tho window
| 10 the platform. and made one OF tho best
speeches OF his life
| He died in his prime. physical wreck.
| \ \ y
| Andrew johnson was generally able 70 tske
care of himself when he was drinking. but
| he once oyersteppcd the limit. When he was
innugurnted at WASHINGTON he got hold OF a
bottle In nm office n the capitol and the mo-
ment he began his spsech his hearers saw
that he was disgracefuly full,
Instead OF delivering dign!hed address,
he talked like demaEosue. and claimed
that no was a plebsian. This ststement hs
repeated number OF times. until even his
friends were disguised.
| As a rule however. Mr. Johnson was able
10 swallow quart Of whisky and conduct
himself 40 decorously that very few sus-
pected that no was under tho influence Of
anything worse than very high temper
| The old English statesmen were more In
temperate than ours. Many Of them wees
practically drunk from the cradle to the.
grave. Even Burke. who drank nothing
stronger than hot water. once said: "shsrry
for boys. port for men and brandy for ~
roesl"
| How customs and men havs changed. Inc
average statesman OF today courts the tenn
perancs vote He is rarely ever seen " =
saloon. unless he sneaks in At the blcA door.s
For moral. physical. social and business ~
sons he makes It . point to keep sobsr,