"I have got twenty men at me back who will fight to the death," said the to the old .
"And they can be blowed for all me," replied the old filibuster. "Common as sparrows. Cheap as cigarettes. Show me twenty men with steel clamps on their mouths, with holes in their heads where memory ought to be, and I want 'em. But twenty brave men merely? I'd rather have twenty brave onions."
Thereupon the warrior removed sadly, feeling that no were paid to valour in these days of mechanical .
Valour, in truth, is no bad thing to have when ; but many medals are to be won by the man who knows not the meaning of "pow-wow," before or afterwards. Twenty brave men with tongues hung lightly may make trouble rise from the ground like smoke from grass, because of their subsequent pride; whereas twenty cow-eyed who accept unrighteous and far-compelling kicks as they do the rain from heaven may halo the ultimate history of an expedition with gold, and bedeck their names, winning forty years of from , simply by remaining silent. As for the cause, it may be only that they have no friends or other furniture.
If it were not for the curse of the swinging tongue, it is surely to be said that the filibustering industry, flourishing now in the United States, would be pie. Under correct conditions, it is merely a matter of with some little detectives whose skill at search is rated by those who pay them at a value of twelve or twenty dollars each week. It is nearly that normally a twelve dollar per week detective cannot defeat a one hundred thousand dollar filibustering excursion. Against the criminal, the detective represents the , but in this other case he represents his desire to show cause why his salary should be paid. He represents himself merely, and he counts no more than a grocer's clerk.
But the pride of the successful filibuster often him and his cause like an , and men who have not in their mothers go with him. It can make the of the Capitol tremble and the Senators to over-turning benches. It can increase the salaries of detectives who could not detect the location of a pain in the chest. It is a wonderful thing, this pride.
Filibustering was once such a simple game. It was managed by gentle captains and smooth and undisturbed gentlemen, who at other times dealt in law, soap, medicine, and bananas. It was a great pity that the little cote of doves in Washington were obliged to officially, and men were kept from their at night, and Custom House people got wiggings, all because the returned adventurer pow-wowed in his pride. A yellow and red banner would have been long since in a shame of defeat if a contract to filibuster had been let to some admirable organization like one of our trusts.
And yet the game is not . It is still played by the wise and the silent men whose names are not display-typed and blathered from one end of the country to the other.
There is in mind now a man who knew one side of a fence from the other side when he looked sharply. They were hunting for captains then to command the first of what has since become a famous little fleet. One was recommended to this man, and he said, "Send him down to my office and I'll look him over." He was an attorney, and he liked to lean back in his chair, twirl a paper-knife, and let the other fellow talk.
The sea-faring man came and stood and appeared confounded. The attorney asked the terrible first question of the filibuster to the . He said, "Why do you want to go?"
The captain reflected, changed his attitude three times, and ultimately that he didn't know. He seemed greatly ashamed. The attorney, looking at him, saw that he had eyes that resembled a lambkin's eyes.
"Glory?" said the attorney at last.
"No-o," said the captain.
"Pay?"
"No-o. Not that so much."
"Think they'll give you a land grant when they win out?"
"No; never thought."
"No glory; no immense pay; no land grant. What are you going for, then?"
"Well, I don't know," said the captain, with his glance on the floor and shifting his position again. "I don't know. I guess it's just for fun mostly." The attorney asked him out to have a drink.
When he stood on the bridge of his out-going steamer, the attorney saw him again. His shore and we............