Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-03-12
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Well, I reached washlnsfon very
sore. but otherwise In good form, soon
utter daybreak. vas trembling with
excitement when I put my horse In the
stable and rang the bell at our door. 1t
neemed to me that was crossing the
divide betwses BID. and little things. A
few steps more and, ! should ha lo"k.
Ing down into the great valley Of the
future. Yet now that was there.
began to lose confidence. -
The butler opened the door.
Yes, the senator was up and had
just returned from q walk and was In
his study. found him there.
"well. Bart. how does this happenr'
he asked.
Its important business" I said. -
presented the lettsr.
Something In his look and manner
as he calmly adjusted his glasses and
read the letter~of Judge Fine brought
the blood to my facs. It seemed to
p,incture my balloon, 20 to speak, and
I was falling toward the earth and 20
swiftly my head swan. He laid tho
letter on his desk and, without looking
up and a. coolly - II he were asking
for the change Of . dollar Qusrisd:
"Well. Bart, what do you think We
had better do about 1T"
I'll WAS hoping-you-you would
take it, ! stammered.
That's because the excitement Of
the convention 10 on you," he an.
swered. Let ~ look at tho compass.
They have refused to nominate Mr..
Van Buren, because he Is opposed to
the annexation Of Texas On that sub.
ject the will Of the convsndon r. now
clear. It IL possible that they would
nominate me. We don't know about
that, We never shall know. II they
did, and I accepted, what would b e1-
pected Of mo II also clear. They
would expect mo to abandon MY prin-
ciples and that course OF conduct
which I conceive to be best for the
country. Therefore should have to
accept 1t under false pretenses and
take their yoke upon me. Would you
think the needle pointed that wayT
"No." answered. .
Immediately 10 turned to his desk
and wrote the telegram, which fixed
his place In history. It said no.
Into the lives Of few men has such
"A moment fallen. looked at him with
a feeling Of awe. What sublime CALM
ress and serenity was In his facet Al
Il It were q mere detail TN tho work Of
the day, and without moments fall
tering, he had declined q crown, for he
would surely have been nominated and
elected. He rose and, stood looking
out Of the open window. Aways I
think Of him standing there with the
morning sunlight falling upon his face
and shoulders. He had observed my
emotion and I think It had touched
him a little. There was moment OF
silence. A curious Illusion came to me
hen, for It seemed a. II I heard the
sound Of distant music. Looking
ihoughtfully out Of the window he
asked:
Bart, do you know when our first
fathers turned out Of tho trail Of the
beast and found the long road Of hu-
nanity1 I think 1t was when they dis
covered the compass In their hearts"
SO now at last We have come to that
high and lonely place, where We may
look back upon the toilsome. adven-
turous way we have Travelled with the
aid Of the candle and the compass.
Now let ~ stop moment to rest and
to think. How sweet the air 10 herel
The night Is falling. I go tho stars in
the sky.
Just below me is tho valley Of Eter.
nal silence. You will understand my
haste now. have sought only to do
justice to my friend and to give my
country name, long neglected. but
equal in glory to those Of Washington
and Lincoln.
Come, let US take one last look to-
gether down the road we have trav.
eled, now dim IN the evening" shad.
ows. Scattered along It are the little
houses Of the poor Of which I have
written See the lights in the win
dows-the lights that are shining into
the souls Of the young-the eager,
open. expectant. welcoming souls Of
the young-and the light carries many
things, but best of all q respect for the
old, unchanging way Of the compass.
After oil that Is the end and aim Of
the whole matter-believe me.
Ny life has Heightened into these
days when most Of our tasks are &C.
complished BY machinery. We try to
make men by the thousand, In vast
educational machines, and no longer
by the one as Of old. It was the Low.
ing. forgivins. forbearing. patient.
ceaseless toll Of mother and father on
the tender soul Of childhood which
quickened that inextinguishable sense
of responsibility to God and man in
these people whom now leave to the
judgment Of my countrymen.
have lived to see the ancient plan
Of kingcraft. for self-protectlon, com.
ing back into the world. It demands
that the will and conscience Of every
individual shall be regulated and con-
trolled BY some conceited prince.