The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-10-04

when veteran campaigners fall to talk
ing of the past there is sure TO b
forthcoming a goodly grist of storie
of laughable and amusing experience
on the stump. Not a few of thes
stories have for their central fgur
the late Gen. George A. Sheridan, VIII
was for many years one of the mos
witty, effective and eloquent campaign
speakers enlisted in the Republican
cause. Sheridan on one occasion wa:
sent by committee to deliver an ad
dress in small town in Indiana on
the banks of the Wabash. He was
rather surprised at the elaborate re
ception he met when he alighted from
the train. A great reception, composed
of the town military company, various
civil societies, the mayor, and alder
men took him in charge and conveyed
him to the public square, where an
audience of 1000 or 5000 was waiting
him. Sheridan 8 bewilderment changed
to feelings of another nature when the
mayor arose and addressed the assem-
blage, saying: "FellOw Citizens:
introduced to you Gen. George A. Sheri-
dan, and he viii speak. He is not the
Sheridan we expected to hear. We
looked for Little Phil, the hero of
Winchester. The committee has played
a trick on US. This Sheridan is said to
be a good speaker, and we will try and
forget our surprise and disappointment
and listen to him. The mayor sat
down and Sheridan rose to reply. "Mr.
Mayor" he said, "when / was inform
ed that an appointment, had been made
for me to address the people of this
city accepted it with pleasure.
pictured to myself a teemihg city, its
buildings a triumph of architectural
art, its streets busy bazars thronged
with well-dressed ladies and gentle
men. / saw in fancy its libraries, seats
of learning, its galleries of sculpture
and paintings. / thought of its many
industries and its commercial great
ness, and withal of the refined courtesy
of its mayor and representative citi-
zens, and my thoughts were pleasur
able ones. What, then, is my surprise
and disappointment to find your city a
collection of wooden shanties on the
swampy bank of a dirty river, your
bazars of trade to consist of a few
drug stores selling quinine to your
scrawny, leathern-checked citizens; a
few rum groggeries and two filthy
country stores; your industries black
smith and undertaker's shop; your
art galleries pictures cut from the last
years Police Gazette, and your mayor
md representative citizens quite fit
to wallow in the mire of their sur
-oundings. I will try and overcome
ny disappointment regarding your
.ity and the disgust with the commit
zee who sent me to speak to popula-
ion who seem happy and eontented
With their lot, and l will now proceed |
o address you on politics. !"
Gen. Sheridan and the Crank.
During the campaign of 1876, Gen
sheridan was advertised to speak in |
own in Maryland. He was warned be- |
ore he left the hotel that he would
meet an old gray-haired, long.
earded, plausible looking fellow dur
ng his stay, and that he should have
othing to do with him, for he was a
rank. The man was fully described to
i'm, and he knew him when he was
ceosted by him within a few steps of
he hotel. The man asked Sheridan if
e might reply to his speech that even
rg. Gen. Sheridan said that he had no
1ntrol over the meeting, and that he
ould not guarantee him an opportu-
ity. The old man then asked Gen.
heridan if he would answer any ques-
ons during his speech, and Gen. Sheri-
an replied that he would. That night
lere was very large audience and
heridan s financial speech was re .
lived with great applause. In the
idst of it the old man stood up and
nd: "Gen. Sheridan, / may be wrong,
ut / would like to ask you a ques-
on.
''There are nine chances out of ten
lat you are wrong" replied Sheridan,
but / win answer you.
"What wish to ask, - continued the
d man, sis this: Do you mean to say :
'ates takes piece of paper and prints :
l one side of it the words, This is :
lie dollar, and under it that it Is :
egal tender for all debts, customs and
Iblie dues, and on the back OF it
.ints the words, This is one dollar
} you mean to say that that DDS not
axe it a good dollar, and as good for !
e as any gold or silver coin in the ]
nited States2"
Gen. Sheridan looked at the old man
he stood there in the midst of The =
Idience, and replied:
'Old man, | will answer your cues :
on by asking you another: Suppose Il
e government of the United States =
ould take You and stamp on your
rehead the words, Daniel Webster
oppose they should pick you up and !
n you through one of the great gov +
nment printing presses and stamp !
your back in letters a foot long, a
'aniel Webster Now, would that !.
IKE you United States senator?" =
This ended the argument
A Feeble Orators Effort. q
Yet another of Sheridan's amusing C
periences occurred during the cam il
ign of 1880, when he was advertised @
address a big Republican meeting at
ledo. 1t happened that Judge West, t
e eloquent blind orator, was in the n
" at that time. The local managers i
vited him to be present and make Il
favx- infrn1ua+orx- |