The Statesmen Snowbound Part 5

"And I was otherwise discouraged. My encounter with big Bill Such of Sangamon left him, as before, the undisputed rough and tumble champion of middle Illinois. My people at home, too, were solidly against me.

Life-long Republicans, as they had always been, they felt that I had disgraced them, and showed it very plainly. As the standard-bearer of a party upon whose banners Victory had never perched, at least so far as my district was concerned, I was indeed the leader of a forlorn and ragged hope; but my blood was up, and I was determined at least to make a better showing than any other Democrat had done.

"But it was an expensive ambition.

"Election day rolled around, and I spent the greater part of the time driving to and from the polling places in my own county. I was particularly anxious to carry H----, even though all the other counties failed me. That would soften the blow to the family pride, I thought.

Not a morsel of food pa.s.sed my lips during the whole of that trying fifth of November. From sunrise to sunset I never left my buggy, except once to vote, and at nightfall I was fairly done up. When all was over I was too tired-out to await returns at headquarters, so I turned in quite early, only venturing to hope that the fate of Judkins would not be mine. For Judkins, a recent victim, had been so overwhelmingly defeated in the spring elections that he had retired from the political arena in disgust; anathematizing politics in general and the politics of the --th district in particular. Then, in his weak and shattered condition, he fell into the arms of the eldest Parsons girl, who had been stalking him for, lo, these many years!

"I slept as soundly as though trouble, sorrow, and Congressional elections had never been; and in the morning came the surprise.

"I was elected by an enormous majority!

"I can not explain this phenomenon; they are still trying to do that out my way. It was an upheaval, with the great Democratic party and its astonished candidate very much on top. Its like will never occur again in my State; not in my district, anyhow. A recent Republican gerrymander will prevent that. Andrew Sale says he did it. Maybe he did; I don't know."

"It was Fate--f-a-t-e--Fate!" said Colonel Manysnifters, solemnly.

"There's no avoiding it. My sainted parents, both good Presbyterians in their day, would doubtless have urged predestination. That may be it.

Your election to Congress was something you couldn't side-step. Nor, by the same token, can I. Only when I am nominated, I don't worry any more.

There _is_ a general election, I believe, but that doesn't fret me much.

We have eliminated the opposition down our way--perfectly legal and statutory. Oh, yes. There _are_ a few 'lily-white' votes cast on the other side, they tell me,--sort of a registered kick for conscience's sake, I suppose,--but it is just a matter of form, and n.o.body gets excited over it. They are trifles lighter than air, yet--

"'Small things should not unheeded be, Nor atoms due attention lack, We all know well the miseree Occasioned by an unseen tack!'

"And again:

"'Little drops of water, Little grains of sand Make contractors' mortar That is used throughout the land.'"

"Well," said Sammy Ridley, drawing a deep breath when the Colonel was through, "I may be a d.a.m.n fool, but I am no poet!"

VII

REPRESENTATIVE VAN RENSSELAER UNFOLDS A STRANGE TALE

"And now, Van Rensselaer," said Colonel Manysnifters, "it's around to you. I reckon you have something up your sleeve that will surprise us, eh?" The debonair Congressman from the Empire State was quite equal to the occasion. He seemed primed and ready, and needed no further urging.

There was another hiss of soda, the clink of gla.s.ses, and with a prolonged sigh of satisfaction he began.

"This is a true tale, and unfolded now for the first time. Harken unto the evidence.

"It was a lovely afternoon in early spring, and 'The Avenue' was alive with a leisurely moving throng--for no one hurries in Was.h.i.+ngton. I strolled along, thoroughly enjoying the balmy weather, the crowds, and the charm of it all. About four o'clock hundreds of government clerks streamed out sluggishly from the side streets. At the crossings fakirs were busy, their customers good-naturedly elbowing each other in their eagerness to be swindled. And violets everywhere! The air was filled with the scent of them. Men, women, and children with trays piled high with the tiny purple and white flowers were doing a tremendous business; their customers ranging from dignified statesmen to the loudly dressed Afro-American gayly swinging along. Out of the fas.h.i.+onable Northwest came many carriages, pa.s.sing from the grim shadow of the Treasury into the sunlit way beyond. The trend of movement was eastward--always eastward--toward the great white dome on the hill. Congress was in session, and history was making there. The war debate was on in all its fury, with the whole world listening breathlessly. Pictures of the ill-fated _Maine_ were much in evidence, and maps of Cuba in the shop windows were closely scanned. The probability of war with Spain was loudly and boastfully discussed by seedy looking men in front of the cheaper hotels and restaurants. Extra editions of the New York papers with huge scare headlines were eagerly bought up. The latest news from the Capitol--_via_ New York--was seized upon with avidity. The papers were filled with the rumored departure of the American Consul-General from Havana. 'Twas said that he was coming direct to Was.h.i.+ngton. His portrait and the _Maine_ lithographs were hung side by side, and the people spoke of 'Our Fitz' with enthusiastic affection. The President and his Cabinet were roundly censured for their policy of moderation.

Much whiskey and beer was consumed by thirsty patriots. The pent-up feeling of the people found relief here and there by loud cheering--especially at the bulletin boards. Tiny Cuban flags were worn.

Crossed American and Cuban flags were everywhere displayed.

"The De Lome incident--the intercepted letter of the imprudent Spanish Minister, and his subsequent disgrace and recall--was another much-discussed topic. It was an open secret, especially among the newspaper fraternity and others in the know, that the former minister had dispensed with lavish hand a corruption fund to influence writers on the American press. A little clique of journalists in and around the Capitol had profited greatly. Information about alleged filibuster movements found a ready market at the Spanish legation. These, and a dozen other subjects relative to the momentous events then impending, occupied the thoughts of a highly excited public.

"That walk down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Treasury to the Capitol opened my eyes wider than ever to the fact that the popular clamor was for war, war, the sooner the better. The sentiment in Was.h.i.+ngton voiced that of the entire country. Similar scenes were occurring in all the large cities, and I could fancy the crowd at the home post-office waiting for the latest Buffalo papers, hear the warm debate at Steve Warner's, and see Major Kirkpatrick haranguing the boys from the steps of the city hall; which, in fact, he did. (See the Hiram _Intelligencer_ of that date.)

"Henley of Iowa had the floor when I took my seat in the House. The galleries were filled. It was warm in the chamber, and fans, bright bits of color, waved briskly. In the Diplomatic gallery the representatives of many nations seemed anxious and absorbed. Subdued murmurs of applause, like the hum of a mighty hive, arose at the telling points of the speech, which was for war! war! war! The galleries reeked with enthusiasm, and quailed not before the stern eye of the Speaker.

"Notwithstanding Henley's fiery eloquence, I was desperately sleepy, having been up late the night before; indeed, there were streaks of rosy light in the eastern sky when I reached my hotel. I found myself nodding at my desk, and it was with an effort that I turned to the work which had acc.u.mulated before me. An enormous mail had arrived. The usual place-hunting letters from const.i.tuents, a pet.i.tion from the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Hiram Center protesting against the sale of liquor at the Capitol, invitations to dine, a tempting mining prospectus, circulars without number, and at the bottom of the pile a square blue affair with the Was.h.i.+ngton postmark. I gave it my immediate attention. The letter began abruptly, and ran as follows:

"'Ah, senor, have you forgotten Saratoga, and the little Mercedes?

Have you forgotten your promise to the Cuban girl? Surely not! The pain in my heart you must well understand, for I know that _you_ love _your_ country very dearly. I read your speeches--all of them--I read them in the papers, but not a word for Cuba--my poor, bleeding Cuba! And yet you swore to me that night on the veranda, with the moon s.h.i.+ning so softly through the vines, that your voice would ever be raised for Cuba--Cuba Libre! Would I have kissed you else? Now, dear friend, when you make one of your beautiful speeches again, think of Cuba, my gasping, dying Cuba, and

"'MERCEDES.

"'P. S.--I am in Was.h.i.+ngton, at the Arlington.--M.'

"This was interesting, to say the least. Of course, I remembered Mercedes, and old Villasante, her fat papa, and Manuel the brother, and Alejandro the cousin. Yes, I remembered them all very well and the night on the veranda, with the moon s.h.i.+ning softly through the vines, the music floating out to us from the ballroom, the innumerable b.u.mpers with Manuel Villasante, Carlos Amezaga, Alejandro Menendez, and others of the Cuban colony at the hotel. Also the promise made to my lovely partner as to the voice for Cuba--Cuba Libre!--when I took my seat in Congress; the warm pressure of her arms around my neck--and the kiss! How could I forget it? But that was two summers ago, and my views now and then were vastly different. Whatever I may have said under the combined witchery of Mercedes, the moonlight, and the champagne was not to be seriously considered now. Like all Americans and lovers of liberty, I thought of course that Cuba should be free, that she should make every effort toward that much-to-be-desired end, but the idea of my own country stepping in to aid her did not strongly appeal to me. While Cuban affairs elicited the warmest interest in the States, those of our people who had actively a.s.sisted the patriots had become involved in endless trouble both with the home government and that of Spain. Filibustering was severely frowned upon, and many recent attempts had proven most disastrous, jeopardizing both the lives of the 'patriots' and the _entente cordiale_ between two great and friendly nations. The blowing up of the _Maine_, undoubtedly the work of Cuban insurgents in order to hasten hostilities with Spain, had rendered the situation most acute.

Pledged to the Administration, I was a conservative of conservatives. I was therefore opposed to any interference in Cuban affairs, and I regarded a conflict with Spain as the height of folly. I was determined to fight to the bitter end any measure for war.

[Ill.u.s.tration: The Kiss!]

"With all this in mind, I tore up the fair Cuban's letter and threw it into the waste-basket. At that very moment a page hurried to my side and handed me a card.

"Manuel Villasante was waiting to see me!

"I went out to him most reluctantly. He greeted me with enthusiasm; his delight amounting almost to rapture. I am afraid I did not meet him half way, nor anywhere near it. He did not appear to notice it.

"'My dear, dear friend,' said he, 'this is a sublime moment! To see _you_, the gay companion, the good fellow, the b.u.t.terfly, I may say, of other days, a member of this great body is certainly soul-stirring! So you have realized your ambition? What next? The Senate? And then--then?'

he pointed upward, 'higher yet? and still higher? Ha! The White House?

Who knows?' he whispered prophetically.

"I cast my eyes modestly to the floor.

"'This is quite enough for me, or any other good American; but, Senor, tell me about your father and the Senorita, your sister; are they well?

And how long have you been in Was.h.i.+ngton? It is certainly good to see you again.'

"'We are all here for a few days--my father, my sister, and I. You know we are living in New York this winter?'

"'In New York, eh? Fine! It is strange,' I continued, 'but I was thinking of you and your family the very moment your card was brought in.'

"'Ah, my friend,' he said mysteriously, 'you know what it is, do you not? It is the mental telepathy. I have known of things most wonderful to happen by the mental telepathy. Only yesterday my sister Mercedes----'

"'Quite right,' said I, heading him off, and remembering something I had read not long before, 'it is indeed a wonderful, subtle thing. We live in the midst of the unknown. Unseen forces drag us. .h.i.ther and thither.

At times we are brought face to face with the occult, the eerie, the gruesome. Charcot says in his superb work on the subject that--er--that--well, we will hardly go into it now. Some other time.

The matter is a profound one, and not to be touched upon lightly. How is my old friend Alejandro Menendez?'

"'He is well, but--s.h.!.+ Caution! Are we quite safe here? Yes? It is a great secret, but I tell _you_--you, a trusted friend. I tell you all!

Alejandro Menendez is at this very moment approaching the sh.o.r.es of our beloved isle! I can see it now--the beautiful yacht, the calm blue sea, the brave patriots, and our glorious flag floating in the breeze! And a more magnificent body of men never set forth in a grander cause; with hearts full of courage and high purpose to fight, aye, to die, in the sacred cause of Liberty!'

"'That's great!' said I, with a burst of false enthusiasm, 'great! never heard anything better in my life! Villasante, old fellow, put it there!

I admire your ner--feeling!' And we clasped hands.

"'And you will join them?' I added.

"'No, not yet,' he said, with an expressive shrug; 'I am more needed elsewhere; here--in New York. There is money to be raised, arms and ammunition to be procured, sympathies to enlist, influence to gain.

Later, I will see Alejandro, and the beautiful _Sylph_.'