The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1902-05-19
Washington
Day bYDaY

Washington, May 1s.-(speciaL) Ger
tain Southern spouters of nonsense in
Congress created a scene recently by
demanding an investigation of absurd
charges made by foreigner against the
honor and dignity of the Congress. AS
If to lead our Southern brethren still
deeper into the mire, the Republican ma
jority readily assented to the ''investiga.
tion," with the result that the official
LEADER of the Democrats and one or two
of his three or four followers were made
more ridiculous than ever. They were
the forerunners of the nine wise men ar.
rayed against the three hundred fools
who were in favor of aiding the destitute
inhabitants of Martinique.
In our time there has not been a more
remarkable illustration of the valor of the
one wise juror against them 'leven
damned fools"
One old backwoodsman in Congress
years ago, a man who had little more
than sense enough to betake himself on;
of the rain, won national notoriety by
eternally croaking 81 object" and some
ridiculous public journals proposed him
for the Presidency. In those days 1 was
a boy with a seat In the press gallery
of the House and of the Senate. was
also the clerk of a House committee, the
magnificent meeting room Of which was
Immediately outside and nearest to the
lobby of the House press gallery. In
my youthful enthusiasm / spent all the
time l could in the gallery. where my
seat was marked by a brass tablet bear
ing the name of one of the newspapers
hated any human being, and never since
then have 1 hated any one; but ''Old
Object" as all of as termed the notorious
collector" constantly aroused my indig-
nation. Some trick of the mind made
him to me like unto Poe's Raven. with
It's hideous Nevermore'-"Quoth the
Raven, Nevermore."
The time came when "Old I Object
was put to the test of sincerity. Some
bill OF doubtful virtue and advisability
was called up on the plea of unanimous
consent. One of It's many provisions was
the appropriation of considerable money
to be expended in "Old I Objects dis
trict. He sat silent in his seat, and there
being no objection the bill was put upon
it's passage. A detestable young Penn
sylvania member whom we called Simon
Tappertit," after a character OF Dickens,
asked for the yeas and nays. and the
roll call began. When the name of "Old
1 Object was reached, there was no re-
sponse I looked at his seat. He was
there; he had lodged the vote.
"Ahal have you now, old humbug,"
said-too loudly, for the Speaker called
for silence In the gallery" and at the
moment unconsciously grasped the arm
of the man next to me.
Did you expect anything else from
him." the man asked
I looked around and-Murat Halstead
was gazing at me fiercely
That was the beginning of the end Of
"Old l Object Two or three years af-
terward the voters of his district retired
him forever, and he sleeps now where
the dogwood blooms In the west.
Nowadays we have some feeble imi-
tators of "Oid 1 Object" some of whom
rise Their pint O. order" in order to get
their names in the Record and in the
press reports. They have begun to Stun
BILE along the way that was worn by
the demagogue, "Old Object" long ago.
1t Is a fated path to tread as some for
mer legislators in Alabama and all other
states now know to their great grief.
fg-N-
lection in Congress, the saddest case
of all is now pending In a court In Wash
ington. All intelligent men who can re-
member the principal public occurrences
of six and twenty years ago, readily re-
call the case of Hallet KiIbourn. The
story Of poor Kilbourn's life. a life once
bright with honor. wealth and promise,
necessarily brings in some facts con-
corning the career of the great Philadei-
phia banker, Jay Cooke. In the early
70s Mr.. Cookies banking house failed
for s2O,0O0000, In a large part of which
great sum the United States government
was involved. For the time being Mr.
Cooke was denounced as a rascal, and he
walked the black way of damned dis
grace.
But when Jay Cooke was finally re-
leased from the custody and claims of
courts of law, he remained as he always
had been man of incorruptible personal
honesty and a devout Christian of the
Baptist form of faith. At once he began
the great task of removing the stain
which misfortune Joined to the deeds Of
other man had Dlaced uDon his character
How nobiy he succeeded is a part Of the
best history of our people; but there is no
space here to deal with his monumental
success further thant o say that he came
In time to repay every dollar for which
he was In any manner responsible to
others, and at the age Of eighty-one he
passed to God in goodness and In full
ripened honor. leaving more than mil
lion dollars in personal property.
The case OF Jay Cooke the brave Bap-
fist was a case of hard luck and adaman-
tine honor-an honor that never yielded
to misfortune. never bent to calumna-
ton
You have more than one Jay Cooke
in Birmingham today-more than one
debt, who rose superior to misfortune!
Such men are the real heroes of life.
To return to poor Hallet Kilbourp, who
has ] Isl beco.n. insane and who 10 be-
fore a court which will confine him for
the remainder of his life. his bitterly sad
condition his name will bring anew to
Thousands of Alabaroiana Tenpeasneaos