ARTHUR, CLEVELAND, AND BLAINE-1881-1884 211 



layed and we have had to get another speaker. &quot; I was 

 greatly disappointed, and expressed my feelings somewhat 

 energetically, when the mayor said : But this speaker is 

 really splendid ; he carries all before him ; he is a thorough 

 Kentucky orator. My answer was that I knew the breed 

 but too well, and that if I had known that Mr. McKinley 

 was not to come I certainly would not have left my work 

 at the university. By this time we had arrived at the door 

 of the Globe Hotel, whence the speaker entered the car 

 riage. He was a tall, sturdy Kentuckian, and his appear 

 ance and manner showed that he had passed a very con 

 vivial day with the younger members of the committee 

 appointed to receive him. 



His first words on entering the carriage were not very 

 reassuring. No sooner had I been introduced to him than 

 he asked where he could get a glass of brandy. &quot;For,&quot; 

 said he, &quot;without a good drink just before I go on the 

 platform I can t make a speech. &quot; I attempted to quiet 

 him and to show him the difficulties in the case. I said: 

 &quot;Colonel - , you have been with our young men here 

 all day, and no doubt have had a fairly good time ; but in 

 our meetings here there is just now need of especial care. 

 You will have in your audience to-night a large number of 

 the more sedate and conservative citizens of Syracuse, 

 church members, men active in the various temperance 

 societies, and the like. There never was a campaign when 

 men were in greater doubt ; great numbers of these people 

 have not yet made up their minds how they will vote, and 

 the slightest exhilaration on your part may cost us hun 

 dreds of votes. He answered : That s all very well, but 

 the simple fact is that I am here to make a speech, and I 

 can t make it unless I have a good drink beforehand. I 

 said nothing more, but, as he still pressed the subject on the 

 mayor and the other member of the committee, I quietly 

 said to them as I left the carriage: &quot;If that man drinks 

 anything more before speaking, I will not go on the stage 

 with him, and the reason why I don t will speedily be 

 made known. The mayor reassured me, and we all went 



