The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-09


preferred over his. Doubtless commission
composed Of eve such men as Andrew Car
negie. c. p. Huntington, jay Gould. John j.
Blair and \ T. Stewart could run this gov
eminent more efficiently. and at half the
expense Congress does: but that would be
no more desirable than purple-robed and
jewel-crowned Augustus like Diocletan.
Parliamentary government is at once the
offspring and the bulwark Of liberty. and
the worst and most prodiSal American
Congress that ever legislated is 10 be pre-
ferred above the wisest and the best king
that ever reigned or the most virtuous and
patriotic oligarchy that ever governed. And
so be ii forever.
The committee Of appropriations Of
neither house is the place for lazy man
they are hives of industry, Where drones
have 10 mission. Every member of either
house, sooner or later. falls into the groove
made for him. They never mistaken in
a man. That State which sends Ounce
to either house of Congress not only emas
culates its own influence in the sisterhood.
but commits a crime against the American
people That was "A grand thought Of
Thomas s. Reed: "Ofhce as a ribbon i'm
your coat is worthy no consideration; but
Office as opportunity is worthy all consid-
Grafton" Tittlebat Titmouse, may youT
tribe decreased But docs it?
1t was an inspiring scene when Allison
and Beck. in the closing hours of a Ions
session. with coats of, sleeves rolled up
and collars open. acting as subcommittee
on some great bill appropriating many mill
lions. licked it into shape after it had
-
man on the House side They labored like
oxen-Beck talking the while like thrash
ing machine and Allison as taciturn as the
Kentuckian was loquacious. 1t was impos-
sible to tell if the one performed more work
than the other. 1t is enough TO say when
they got through with it the bill was fin
ished, and the full committee and the Sen
ate knew it, and the House found it out
in due season.
WANTED TO BE PRESIDENT.
Perhaps Mr.. Allison has never shown
much excitement in the Senate but once,
and that was when Dubois. a young sena-
tor from a young State. proposed to sub
tract from the committee of appropriations
several of the general appropriation bills.
While the man from Iowa was speaking it
reminded one of the adage: Beware the
wrath of a quiet man" There was a
bright flash of the eye. a dark look of the
brow-the same that Thomas Carlyle must
have thought he observed in Daniel Web
ster when he said of that gigantic per-
sonality: I'D hate to be that mans mig
GER
No one will dispute that Allison is the
greatest man Iowa has yet sent Is the
national councils, and had the country
known him double decade ago as well
as it knows him now he would have be-
come the head OF the Nation. That he de-
sired to be President everyone knows; but
his has been the serenest life of all the dis
appointed aspirants 10 that exalted station.
The bee of emulation was in his bonnet;
the canker of disappointment was never
in his heart.
Iowa's first two senators were Democrats,
George w. Jones' though his senior was
the friend and disciple of jefferson Davis.
and the second of Jonathan Cilley, Of
Maine, in the fatal duel with William j.
Graves, of Kentucky. Gen. A. c. Dodge,
the other Iowa senator of 1S4S. was a brave
and successful soldier and grim old Indian
fighter He had captured a famous Indian
chief probably Black Hawk himself, and
interview the old veteran had with his cap
tive by means Of an interpreter, and it was
something like this
Dodge-Ten the red man that 1 am as
brave as Hannibal and as fortunate as
Caesar-tell him that, by Cd
Black Hawk-Ugh!
Dodge-Tell the red man that / am his
friend in peace and his enemy in war-ten
him that, by Cd!
Black Hawk responded with a series Of
grunts that put a summary period TO the
interview.
1t is long way upstairs from Dodge to
Allison in the temple of parliamentary
craftsmanship. Iowa just now is in the
top story of that temple in both houses
and has excellent quarters in the executive
council chamber as well.
Let other States look TO Iowa and keep
the men by natures law designed for shoe
makers at home and send their statesmen
to do the work of statesmen. A workman
is known by his chips and there are some
awfully and fearfully cut chips in the
American Congress nowadays.
SAVOYARD.