The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-11-03
Nes Neua 4 Teetnda4

(By e. j. E%ards.)

1T was a characteristic of Samuel J. Randall
= when serving as Speaker Of the lower
House of Representatives that he spoke inva-
riably in private conversation of the members
Of the House without criticism, being careful
always to give due acknowledgment to the in
tellectual and personal qualities Of each one Of
his fellows. He studied every man in the
House and was probably better informed than
any other member of Congress of his time not
only with respect to the personal and intellec-
tual characteristics of each member, but alsl
the more important incidents Of his career.
l remember one evening in the early spring
Of 1881. just after the close Of the regular ses.
sion Of Congress-, when / spent an hour with
Mr.. Randall in his study. which was an upper
chamber in the little home he occupied within
a stones throw of the Capital. BY some chance
the name Of John A. Kasson, Of the Des Moines.
Iowa, district was mentioned and Mr.. Randall
said that he presumed-as was the case with
SO many other public servants-that a measure
which was of vast importance and value to tho
United States and which was the result OF tho
persevering and intelligent labors Of MI kas-
son would, in time to come, not be associated
with Mr.. Kasson's name. His service would be
forgotten, but the beneficial effects of it would
be recognized throughout the country and ulti-
mately throughout the world.
For q few moments Mr.. Randall sat nuains.
gently stroking his cheek with what was for him
a characteristic movement. Then he was en-
gagged in deep thought. Al last he said:
=, "Kasson possesses one Of the keenest as weli
as profoundest intellects Of which 1 have any
knowledge. Curiously enough, however, ha
does not attribute whatever success he has
gained to any other gift than a capacity for
prolonged and thorough work and an equal
capacity for utilizing knowledge that he has
gained through that work so that it can be put
to practical use. Kasson is a profound scholar.
yet | suppose he takes no pride in his scholarly
-a~ttainments. He believes that the scholar, pur"
and simple, is a sort Of hermit, and that schol-
aTGhin IL n NO H. - iC mad
available for practical service.
Lincoln, whose ~shrewdness in reading men
has not yet been fully acknowledged, must haE"
thoroughly understood Kasson's intellectual
power and his disposition to make use 81 his
power for practical purposes.
Did you know that the second nomination
Lincoln sent to the Senate after he sent in th'
names of his Cabinet for confirmation was th&&
of KaSson, whom he nominated as First Assist
ant Postmaster Generals? While in that Office
kasson mastered the entire philosophy Of po-
ltical service and then, having gained that pro-
found knowledge, undertook to utilize il. H@
set about establishing our international postal
union, and that great work as we now have u
was due chiefly to his energy, knowledge and
perseverance.
ut would pay you to go TO the document
room and get some of the speeches made ~
MI. kasson after he entered Congress II"
nsed simple and yet pure and elegant English
lie was a master OF compactness Of statem"Hs
and OF iucidity as we'll, and although he is nov
thlnk, about sixty years of age, yet ii is likely
that the more important part Of his career -
yet to come, although he has already served -
minister to Austria In my opinion, he is h"t-
ter equipped for high diplomatic responsible
ties than any other public man Of whom / haEe
knowledge"
Two years later, when President Arthur aF'
pointed Mr.. kasson as Minister to Germany.
recalled what Speaker Randall had said and
wondered whether he, too, did not feel that TIM
appointment was in some sense a justifcatiO-
OF his own appreciation of the Iowa Statesman
copyright, 1911, by f.. j. Edwards. All rights
reSerVed.)
tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell Of a Yam