The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-28
washington Correspondence Cincin-
natl Enquirer.l

washington, Dec. 10.-Passing up
Sixteenth street a few days since
met John Goode of Virginia in front Of
the Lafayette theatre. which occupies
The site of the old Blaine mansion. and
also of the old historic house in which
Seward lived when he was assaulted
by Payne Zone Of Booths confede-
rates. After adverting to the historic
rates). After adverting toshrd kthero
character of the place, Colonel Goode
repeated in substance a brief converse
ton between himself and James G..
Blaine that occurred a short time be-
fore the latter's death, at this very
spot.
said Mr.. Blaine: IF it's fair ques-
lion. how old are yOu2"
Mr.. Goode replied that he was born
In 1929 whe-eupon Mr.. Blaine promptly
remarked that he himself was born in
1880. Mr.. Goode rejoined: We'll Mr..
Secretary, I am little your senior, but
you have made much deeper footprints
on the sands of time than l. All"
said Mr.. Blaine in serious, pathetic
tones, THE shifting sands: the shift
ing sands." and with his peculiarly
dramatic manner he bowed himself into
his house.
10 words could indicate more clearly
how keenly he realized the disappoint-
ment of his political ambition
Historic Words.
1 recall Cardinal Wolsey's words to
Cromwell, in which re spoke of the
bitterness of his own disappointed life,
and said that he, like a boy with a
bladder around him, had been swim
ming these many summers on a sea of
glory. and at last had sunk beneath the
waves. Cromwell, l charge thee fling
away ambition; by that sin fell the an
gels
''AII is vanity and vexation of spirit.
In much wisdom there is much grief,
and he that increaseth knowledge in
crease the sorrow" In modern times
the doctrine is well expressed by Pope:
Man never is but always to be blest."
Also by the earlier Poet Dryden:
When 1 consider life. tits all cheat,
Yet, fooled with hope, men favor the
deceit;
Trust on and think tomorrow will re-
pay
Tomorrow's falser than the present
day
But a more forcible statement Of it
is by Voltaire, to-wit: Happiness is
a dream and only pain is real. have
thought so for 81 years. and know no
better plan than TO resign myself to
the inevitable and to reflect that flies
are born to be devoured by spiders, and
a man to be consumed by care"
Again says Voltaire: II do not know
what the life eternal may be, but
at ali events this one is very poor
joke
A novel by Yoltaire was published in
1859 entitled "Candide, or the Opt
mist" Candide was a pupil of DR.
Pangloss, who persistently upheld the
doctrine that all was for the best. Can
dide went forth into the world. He
met with constant misfortune, and
often recalled the teaching of his mas
far loc he in, a
hospital. One of the patients was ar
old man who had suffered dreadfully
and often. He was lying at the point
of death. "Ah," said Candide, none
but DR.. Pangloss, in a case so desper-
ate, can maintain the doctrine of op-
timism; all others would preach pes
sim"
Don't pronounce that abominablt
word" cried the poor man; II am the
PanglOss you speak of. Wretch that
am. let me die in peace. Ali is WELL al
is for the best" And he expired.
Great Contest Recalled.
Blaine and Goode were good friend:
in the house, when the electoral com
mission was appointed to decide the
Hayes-Tilden contest. That commits
sion was composed of five senators
five members of the house and five jus
tees of the supreme court. The Vir-
member of the commission, and Ran
dolph Tucker and General Eppa Hun
ton were anxious candidates for thu
honor. Their colleagues not wishing
to decide between them, it was deter
mined that the drawing of strawl
should settle the matter. The strawi
were held by Ben Hill, then membe
of the house, and afterward the grea
senator from Georgia nr. Hunton
who was also subsequently United
States senator, drew the prize and sa
on the famous electoral commission
that elected Hayes president of TIT
United States by a vote of to T.
That was day of giants in tn
house, and all Washington arose earl,
and focked TO the capitol to witness
their majestic play There were in tn
arena such men as Samuel Sullivan
Cox, a gigantic Saul among Prophets
and a statesman widely known as
humorist, whose ouips and jokes FIRE
-quently set the house in a roar AM
caused a broad smile to spread over tn
face of the country He was severa
times the popular candidate for speak
er, bat being known as the member 20
Infinite Jest" he was always defeatel
by the solid qualities of Samuel J
Randall. the protection Democrat
whose work against the force bill ant
whose rugged honesty of conviction
Gratis and Republicans alike and en-
abled him TO command sufficient fol
lowing 70 defeat Morrison's famou
tariff bill.
Hopes of Sunset"
Cox furnished another example o
disappointed political hopes. Sunset
Cox was a ready debater and the Da
mascus blade of his ready wit and re
partee was keen and trenchaDt. / re
member an instance when il was WELD
ed against Mr.. McAdoo of New JeT
sey. a prominent member OF the navs
committee, who had been appointed t
investigate the details of the river an
harbor bill and to report at the ensu
ing session. When congress convene
he arose with head proudly erect an
evident self-esteem to enlighten tn
house with a report on navigatio
which he deemed aiI-sufficient NJ
Cox, in reply, said that he would lik
a day or two to look into the matte
before taking a vote. McAdoo. with a
air of great surprise. retorted curt
that he did not suppose there was
member on the floor so obtuse as not
be ready for a vote after listening
such a complete calculation as that
his report.
Mr.. Cox quickly parted the thrus
saying that he congratulated the hous
upon having been so fortunate as
select for the task a member who wa
infanible. and whose great genius an
H.. IL.