pleasure and happiness.  In a recent conversation I had with her, her beautiful, large dark eyes sparkled with delight, and her sweet and lovely face was suffused with a smile of satisfaction when she informed me that she had never had occasion to regret her selection of a husband.  She was then the mother of several very handsome children, to whom she pointed with pardonable pride.  The products of such a union could not possibly be otherwise than attractive, for the father was a remarkably handsome man, while the mother was a personification of the typical southern beauty.  The man was devoted to his family.  How could he be otherwise?  Husband and wife were so strongly attached to each other that both were more than willing to make any sacrifice that cruel fate might have in store for them.

“I therefore appeal to you, Mr. Secretary, in behalf of this charming and accomplished woman and her sweet and lovely children.  In taking this position I am satisfied you will have nothing to lose, for you will not only have right on your side, but the interest of the public service as well.  Rise, then, to the dignity of the occasion and assert and maintain your manhood and your independence.  You have done this on previous occasions, why not do it again?  As a member of the Senate of the United States you openly and publicly defied the well-known public sentiment of your party in the State which you then had the honor in part to represent, when you disregarded and repudiated the mandate of the State Legislature, instructing you to vote for the free and unlimited coinage of silver.  It was that vote and the spirit of manly independence shown by you on that occasion that placed you in the high and responsible position you now occupy, the duties of which your friends know will be discharged in a way that will reflect credit upon yourself and honor upon your State.

“You again antagonized the dominant sentiment of the Democratic party of your State when you pronounced an eloquent eulogy upon the life and character of Charles Sumner.  And yet you were able to overcome the bitter opposition you had encountered on each of those occasions.  You can do the same thing in this case.  I therefore ask you to promise me that this worthy and competent public servant shall not be discharged as long as his official record remains good.”

The Secretary listened to my remarks with close and respectful attention.  When I had finished he said: 

“I agree with nearly all you have said.  My sympathies are with your friend and it is my desire to retain him in the position he now so satisfactorily fills.  But when you ask me to disregard and openly defy the well-known sentiment of the white people of my State on the question of amalgamation, I fear you make a request of me which I cannot safely grant, however anxious I may be to serve you.  I could defend myself before a public audience in my State on the silver question and on the Sumner eulogy much