Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1883 — A REMINISCENCE OF 1876. [ARTICLE]

A REMINISCENCE OF 1876.

What Senator Beck T nought of John MorI'iSSCy AS A I CAH<li<iAt43« Senator Beck, of Kentucky, furnishes innumerable newspaper stories. He is a clever, whole-souled and brightminded man, and can tell s' story himself about as well as anybody in the country. JThe following, in relation to the Kentucky Senator and his visit to St. Louis during the convention of 1876, comes from one who heard and saw all that is related: Mr. Beck was in St. Louis, but whether as delegate or speculator is immaterial. He stopped at the Southern Hotel. It will be remembered that anguest of the Southern on that occasion was the Hon. John Morrissey, ex-prize-fighter and ex-Cbn-gressman of New York, who was here as the friend of Mr. Tilden, and the opponent of Tammany. Probably no man in the great crowd of visitors who filled the city then attracted as much attention on the streets as Mr. Morrissey. On one occasion during his stay, Mr. Beck, having kept very late hours, rose late in the morning and found himself quite unfitted for the day’s routine. So he went into a room in the rear of a saloon on the southeast . corner of Fourth and Walnut, and, finding a comfortable-looking sofa, stretched himself out for a rest, which afterward became a sound sleep. It must have been about 2 o’clock in the afternoon when he was suddenly awakened by loud shouting on the street. It was in behalf of Mr. Morrissey, and was done by a crowd of men and boys who had followed that gentleman into or out of Gregory’s “Winter Garden” near by. Everybody on the street seemed to join in the chorus, “Hurrah for Morrissey!” Mr. Beck, about half asleep and half awake, rushed to the street, and the first person he chanced to meet was Col. Tom Nelson, of Terre Haute, Ind., a Republican in politics and a wag in practice. "Tom,” said Mr. Beck, rubbing his eyes, “what do these fellows mean by hurrahing for Morrissey?** Just then there was another shout for the big New Yorker from a crowd surging toward the Southern Hotel. Nelson looked at Beck for a moment, and took in the situation, as manifested in his drowsy eyes. “Haven’t you heard the news ? Why, Morrissey has been nominated,” said he to the Kentuckian. “Nominated for what?” eagerly inquired Mr. Beck. “For President of the United States, by the national Democracy in convention assembled,” said Mr. Nelson, in a tone of voice and with a manner of which he alone is the master. “Great God!” said Mr. Beck. “You don’t mean to say that they have nominated John Morrissey for President?” “I do say it; and that’s what all thia kurrahing means,” replied the gentleman from Indiana. “The masses of your party are for Morrissey, Mr. Beck.” Mr. Beck had by this time opened his eyes a little wider. As another "Hurrah for Morrissey” greeted his ears, he said to Mr. Nelson: “Well, the masses may be for Morrissey, but his nomination will play with the doubtful States.” —ot. Louis GlobeDemocrat.