Glass j£~r?^ Q ^h Book..J&Z2.P7 ^ THOMAS COLLIER PLATT n The Autobiography />' OF Thomas Collier Piatt With Twenty Portraits in Sepia Photogravure COMPILED AND EDITED BY LOUIS J. LANG WITH ADDENDA NEW YORK B. W. DODGE k COMPANY 1910 Copyrighted 1910, by WILLIAM RICKEY (All rights reserved) FEINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMBEUA. DEDICATED TO MY "OLD GUARD" August 2, 1909. To Whom it May Concern : I hereby certify that this book of memoirs is compiled and edited by Mr. Louis J. Lang, with my consent and approval, and I grant to him the exclusive right to arrange for its publication. Very truly yours, CONTENTS Chapter I 1833-1853 Ancestry— Boyhood— Yale Student— Druggist— Marriage. Chapter II 1853-1860 I Begin my Political Career as a Warbler — Lead Fremont Glee Club— Songs it Sang — First Office — Writer of Advertise- ments — Editor and Poet. Chapter III 1860-1873 I Help to Elect Lincoln — Join Conkling and Arthur in Ele- vating Grant to the Presidency — Nominated but Refuse Congressional Honors — Renominated and Elected — Become Conkling's Lieutenant, and Aid in Building Up the New York Organization. Chapter IV 1873-1879 Enlist in the Congressional Fight for Specie-Payment Resump- tion and other Grant Legislation — I Espouse Conkling's Candidacy for President, but Hayes is Nominated — Sup- port Hayes against Tilden in Electoral Commission Con- test — First Important Speech in the House — Unite with Conkling in Revolt against Hayes — President Tries to Dis- rupt the Party — I Excoriate Hayes at Rochester Conven- tion — Hayes-Curtis Faction Beaten — I Become a Member of the First "Big Four" — Aid in Nomination and Election of Cornell for Governor — My First State Office. Chapter V 1879-1880 Get In behind Grant for a Third Term— Conkling's "Appo- mattox Apple Tree" Speech Nominating Grant — Garfield Wins after Sensational Struggle — Sherman, the Icicle — My Brothers, the "306" — How Death Has Mown Down All but Seven — A Eulogy for the Heroes. ix The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt Chapter VI 1880-1881 Conkling Declines to Aid Garfield — He and Grant Take the Field When I Exact Pledges from the Candidate — Garfield Elected — His Written Thanks for My Services. Chapter VII 1881-1882 Initial Election to the U. S. Senate — Garfield Repudiates His Promises to Me — Conkling and I Resign — We Appeal to the Legislature — Both Defeated for Reelection — Genesis of the Stalwart-Half-Breed Imbroglio — Garfield Assassinated — Arthur President — Lives of Arthur, Conkling and Myself Threatened. Chapter VIII 1882-1884 Am Instrumental in Choosing Folger for Governor — Origin and History of the Famous "Forged Telegram"— Half-breeds Knife and Defeat Folger — Conkling Quits Politics and Sur- renders the Titular Leadership to Me — I Rehabilitate the Machine and Elect the State Ticket. Chapter IX 1884-1887 I Disown Arthur for Following Garfield's Practices — Advocate Blaine's Nomination for the Presidency— Oppose Roosevelt, Curtis, et ah. Who Favor Edmunds — Blaine Nominated — Mugwumps Massacre Him — Cleveland President — Esti- mates of Arthur and Blaine. Chapter X 1887-1888 I Join in Electing Hiscock U. S. Senator — Remarkable and Unprecedented Feat of Swinging the Entire Morton Pha- lanx to Hiscock to Defeat Miller. Chapter XI 1888 I am Removed by Governor Hill from the Quarantine Commis- sionership — The Trial a Farce — Acrimonious Correspon- dence with the Judge Who Presided — My Friends Cause His Permanent Retirement from the Bench. The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt Chaptes XII 1888-1891 My Part in the National Convention of 1888— How We Nom- inated Harrison for President— Quay and I Carry New York for Him— The Promised Secretaryship of the Treas- ury Refused Me— The Spanish Mission Offered and De- clined— I Nominate Fassett for Governor— Flower Wins- New Plans for My Burial— Advice to Young Men to be Active in Politics. Chapter XIII 1891-1899 Tammany Corruption Compels Me to Direct Three Legislative Inquiries— Startling Disclosures of New York City Malad- ministration by the Fassett, Lexow and Mazet Committees —Laws Enacted to Correct the Abuses Revealed. Chapter XIV 1892-1893 Harrison Provokes Quarrels with Reed, Quay, McKinley, Myself and Other Influential Republicans— Appoints Our Enemies to Office — Retaliatory Opposition to His Renomination— We Put Blaine against Him— Harrison Renamed, but Badly Defeated by Cleveland— Sketch of Harrison. Chapter XV 1893-1894 Reconstruction of the Party in New York after Bitter Fac- tional Battle — Ante-nomination Pledges of Mayor Strong and Plow He Deliberately Broke Them— My Differences with Whitelaw Reid— His Attacks and My Roland for His Oliver— McKinley Heeds My Protest against Reid's Going to the Court of St. James's. Chaptek XVI 1894-1897 I Choose Morton for Governor, and He is Elected— Creation of the Greater New York and Framing of Great Excise and Election Measures— Morton-McKinley Contest for the Pres- idency — The Gold Plank Controversy and How I Won it- Why I Refused a Nomination for Governor and Nameri Black. xi The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt Chapter XVII 1897-1898 Am Reelected to the U. S. Senate — How I Defeated Choate — Catlin-Storrs Dispute Over My Candidacy — My Speech of Acceptance — Why Tracy Was Nominated for Mayor of New York — My Opinion of Low and the Citizens' Union. Chapter XVIII 1898-1900 I Nominate Roosevelt for Governor — Seeks to Withdraw, but Agrees to Stick when I Ask Him: "Is the Hero of San Juan a Coward?" — Elected— Roosevelt Consults with Me, but Does as He Pleases — Controversy Over Franchise Tax and Other Propositions at Albany. Chapter XIX 1900-1901 How and Why I Nominated Roosevelt for Vice-President — Promoted, Not Shelved — Murder of McKinley — Roosevelt President — Strives to Carry Out McKinley Policies — Esti- mate of the Martyred President. Chapter XX 1901 Low's Nomination for Mayor, and How it was Engineered — He Fails to Turn the Tammany Rascals Out — Their Reten- tion and Alliance with Mugwumps Drive Him from Office. Chapter XXI 1901-1906 How I Made Odell Governor — At Odds with Him about Ap- pointments and Legislation — The Governor Plays for the State Leadership — Defeats Sheldon for Lieutenant-Gover- nor and Names Higgins — Barely Reelected — Forces Reor- ganization of the Party and Lops off Heads of My Friends — I am Reelected to the Senate — Dispute with Odell Over Ousting State Chairman Dunn — Roosevelt and Fairbanks Nominated — Higgins Beats Woodruff — My Final National and State Contests — Who and What Hughes is. xii The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt Chapter XXII Laws Promoted and Enacted at Albany— Excise and Election Reform Statutes Approved by My Direction— Testimony of Raines, Kelsey, Barnes and Otbers as to the Wisdom of the Attitude I Assumed — Liquor Tax Law Put Through Despite a Seventy Thousand Dollar Bribery Fund. Chapter XXIII The "Amen Corner"— The Hallowed Spot in which Presidents, Governors and Other Men of Note Were Chosen— The Trysting Place where Leaders of All Parties Swapped Political Yarns and Decided the Destinies of the Nation and State— Dignitaries Who Have Sat and Counseled There — Pathetic Farewell Ceremonies. Chapter XXIV Clarkson's Review of My Stewardship — "Legislation Made Better and More Progressive" — "Four Great Governors" — I Nursed No Revenge, but Erred on the Side of Forgiving Enmity or Wrong. Chapter XXV Making of Faithful and Unmaking of Disloyal Organization Men — List of the Devoted Rewarded and Instances of Dis- cipline Administered to the Insubordinate — Fassett, Brook- field, Worth and Others Punished for Mutiny — Rules which Must Be Enforced to Maintain a Successful Party and Machine— "God Bless Thomas Collier Piatt!" — Finis. Addenda Piatt President Maker and Financier — Provocation for Issue of His Memoirs Due to Quarrel with Odell — How He Acquired the "Easy Boss" Title— The First Federal Job He Got for Roosevelt and How a $60,000 Campaign Con- tribution Made the Rough Rider Governor — Home Life — Development of the United States Express Company from a Pigmy to a Giant. xiii LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS PAGE Thomas Collier Platt Frontispiece Mrs. Thomas C. Platt 5 Birthplace of T. C. Platt 32 Gen. U. S. Grant 50 Thomas Collier Platt, 1873 GG James A. Garfield 98 ROSCOE CONKLING 138 Rutherford B. Hayes 179 Chester A. Arthur 179 Grover Cleveland 179 James G. Blaine 188 Benjamin Harrison 204 Thomas Collier Platt, 1892 22 ! > Levi P. Morton 296 B. B. Odell. Jr 29G David B. Hill 298 William McKinley 328 Theodore Roosevelt 384 Timothy L. Woodruff 421 Frank W. Higgins 421 John Palmes 421 Chauncey M. Depew 448 Elihu Root 448 Prank S. Black 448 Charles E. Hughes 463 T. C. Platt's Birthday Party 466 J. Sloat Fassett 486 Mark Hanna 486 Matthew S. Quay 486 William H. Taft 502 xv INTRODUCTION In presenting, at the request of members of my Old Guard, memoirs of a life now within striking distance of its eightieth year, I am re- minded that Alexander Hamilton once wrote George Washington : "No man has ever written a true biography of himself, but that he was apt to blame himself excessively, or to be too prone to self-defense. An autobiography is written either from vanity to present a man favorably to posterity, or be- cause he desires, for his own pleasure, in the study of himself, to recall the events of his career. ' ' I do not intend to blame myself excessively. Nor am I inclined to a general defense of public acts. I make no confession of vanity. Neither do I make any apologies. During the greater portion of fifty-three years spent in the political arena, I have been the target for many arrows. My words and deeds have often been either ig- norantly or maliciously misunderstood and mis- construed. At times my very life has been threat- ened by those who preferred to take snap judg- ment, rather than inquire what actually inspired me in the promotion of the principles of a party xvii The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt which, I am proud to say, I helped in an humble way to found. That which is set down in the forthcoming pages comprises incontrovertible facts, easily cor- roborated by my associates, many of whom, like myself, were sponsors at the birth and the chris- tening of the Republican party. They have stood shoulder to shoulder with me, fighting its battles, neither asking nor giving quarter. Starting as a warbler of campaign songs for Fremont in 1856, I have, through the suffrages of the people, been elected to high offices I never sought. The party for over a score of years recognized me as its leader in the Empire State — a commonwealth containing three times the popu- lation of the American colonies when they re- belled against the tyranny of King George. Twice chosen to the House of Representatives against my personal wishes ; thrice elected United States Senator from this imperial State; main- tained in the party leadership until, because of physical infirmities, I was compelled to release the reins to a younger and more virile lieutenant — honors from my own State should adequately answer calumnies which have been incessantly hurled at me. To one charge I plead guilty. I did contribute toward transforming a once Democratic State in- to an impregnable Republican stronghold. To another charge, General James S. Clarkson, for- mer Chairman of the Republican National Com- xviii The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt mil tee, replies that I saved the election of three Republican Presidents. They were James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison and William MeKinley. I have rejoiced in the personal and political confidence of Presidents Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, Chester A. Arthur, William MeKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. I have been most happy in the company of such Stalwarts as Roscoe Conkling, Matthew S. Quay, James S. Clarkson, Thomas B. Reed, Charles W. Fairbanks, William B. Allison, Russell A. Alger, Joseph H. Manley, Garret A. Hobart and Samuel Fessenden. With such intrepid comrades I have fought suc- cessfully for an honest dollar-for-dollar currency, a protective tariff, and other great and vital is- sues which the people have so overwhelmingly en- dorsed that during the period since the Republi- can party came into being it has won eleven of the fourteen national contests. As a member of the rank and file, and then as chief of the Republican organization, I have aided in giving to New York State ten of the eighteen governors elected since the Republican party wore swaddling clothes. I was a worker in the infant State organization when Edwin D. Morgan, who distinguished himself as the Civil War governor, was chosen the first Republican chief magistrate ; when Reuben E. Fenton supplanted Horatio Sey- mour, and was at the front when John A. Dix, of "Shoot-him-on-the-spot" celebrity, entered the xix The Autobiography of Thomas Collie?' Piatt executive chamber at Albany. I was the stanch supporter of Alonzo B. Cornell. I was the politi- cal godfather of Governors Levi P. Morton, Frank S. Black, Theodore Roosevelt and Benjamin B. Odell, Jr. I also was influential in securing to the people Republican Legislatures continuously, with two exceptions, from 1883 to the present day. Were I asked why I became a Republican I might reply that I could not be a Democrat. Early in life I became a believer in the Hamil- tonian theory of politics. From that time I have held consistently to the doctrine of government by party, and rule of the party by the regular organization. I have been accused of squaring principles to the rule of the party, rather than squaring party rule to principles. My friend, St. Clair McKel- way, has written: "Mr. Piatt looks upon princi- ples as something to help the party to obtain and retain power, rather than upon party as something organized to advance and enforce principles." I am much impressed with Dr. McKelway's perspicacity. Ever have I been the implacable foe of hypocritical and fraudulent shams, per- petrated and perpetuated by professional civil service reformers. From the outset I have con- tended that a party intrusted by the people with the control of the government is responsible for that government, and is entitled to man the offi- xx The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Plait ces with fit representatives of that party. If the people lose faith in that party they will surely drive it from power. I have experienced intense personal delight in driving out of the party tin 1 guerillas, jay-hawkers and sycophants who have tried to shoot it to death from ambush and who have courted favor by mean adulation. Invariably has the party and the organization been strengthened by the casting out of such characters. I drifted into politics — just drifted. I drift- ed into Congress. I also drifted into the party leadership, as I drifted out. Never was I am- bitious for place. There came a time when po- litical friends simply patted me on the back and called me leader. Apparently I had done some- thing that endeared me to them and a majority of the Eepublican party. This was their man- ner of recognizing it. Let me observe right here that no leader can exist any longer than his party desires him. And no party can last longer than a majority of the people wish. I became leader because night and day I sought to ascertain public sentiment and get abreast of it. By personal contact and by correspondence, averaging at some periods five hundred letters daily, I learned what the people wanted. Then I did my best to give it to them. Thus I made myself acquainted with the thought of the masses upon the great national questions of abolition of slavery, the reconstruction act, xxi The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt currency, tariff and other propositions. Thus I discovered their preferences for President, for U. S. Senators and members of the House of Kepresentatives. Thus I familiarized myself with their views about excise, ballot and municipal re- form, the creation of the Greater New York, and other projects which have agitated the State since I entered upon my career. In this way, too, I found it easy to gain my knowledge as to who was most available and likeliest to be elected for Governor, other State offices, members of the Leg- islature and municipal places. In choosing my subordinates I took pains to select only such as knew voters in their home districts almost as well as the members of their immediate families. The popular idea that in order to be a success- ful political leader, or a boss, one must possess ability to pull strings while puppets dance, is most absurd. It is not necessary to equip one's self with strings. Nor is it essential to make any persons dance. Conduct a political organ- ization as a general commands an army, or the head of a great business concern conducts its af- fairs, and you have solved the problem. Political leaders are born. Few who aspire to leadership attain it. Without the full confidence of his fol- lowers the leader's power dies. Let me impress upon those who seek political honors that they must first be honest. Then they must be faithful to the last blood-drop to their friends, diplomatic about making new ones, grate- xxii The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt ful and quick to reward service, regard a promise as sacred, fulfil it at the earliest possible oppor- tunity. Above all, they should march abreast of the people and strive to procure for them what they demand. xxm The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt CHAPTER I 1833-1853 How my father sought to make me a preacher — I become a pill doctor instead — / take a ivife, helpmeet and adviser. My original ancestor, Richard Piatt, came across the sea in 1638. He settled in New Mil- ford, Connecticut. My great-grandfather, and his father, were soldiers in the American Revolution- ary army. The former was captain in the Fourth Regiment of the line. He is mentioned in Los- sing's Field Book of the Revolution as one of the "distinguished patriots who constituted the Com- mittee of Safety at White Plains in 1776." A year before he represented New York in the Pro- vincial Congress. My father, "William Piatt, was a lawyer, long in practice at Owego, N. Y. My mother was Lesbia Hinchman, whose ancestors hailed from Jamaica, L. I. The male members of her family were soldiers of the Revolutionary and Colonial wars. Such was my lineage. I was born at Owego, July 15, 1833. I was 1 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt the youngest of five sons. My brothers were William Hinchman, Frederick Edward, Edward, and Humphrey. There were four sisters: Stella Avery, Susan Calhoun, Emily Elizabeth, and Anna. But one of the eight is living. She is Mrs. Emily Elizabeth Skinner, of Owego. My father had Puritanical ideas. He was a blue-blooded Presbyterian, and sought to bring up his children in that faith. Early in my boy- hood, father informed me that I must prepare for the ministry. As a preliminary education, I was compelled to attend family prayers daily; go to church at least twice and maybe three times, and to school once on Sunday. My Sabbath Day recreation — the only one allowed me — was the rather gruesome habit of walking in the village cemetery. So firmly was my father's mind made up that I should become a preacher, that each Sunday he invited a clergyman or two to dine with us. While partaking of food cooked on Saturday — for father would permit the serving of nothing- hot except tea and coffee on the Sabbath Day — our clerical guests endeavored to convince me of the attractiveness of their calling. I was not at all favorably impressed. I might have been had I not been forced to listen to them. AT YALE After a rudimentary course at the Owego Academy I entered Yale College. I was sixteen 2 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt years old. My father's purpose was, that after securing the degree of Bachelor of Arts I should go after that of Doctor of Divinity. Ere my cur- riculum ended I was constrained, because of ill health, to leave the institution. I had hoped to graduate with the class of 1853. Though unable to finish and get my sheepskin, I managed to win a prize for Latin translation, attested by Presi- dent Woolsey. Twenty-three years later there was bestowed upon me the honorary degree of Master of Arts. Returning home, I sought first to mend my shat- tered health. By rowing, swimming across the Susquehanna, playing the old-fashioned game of patch baseball, and other outdoor sports, I suc- ceeded so well, that my father renewed his argu- ments that I go back to Yale and study for the ministry. The suggestion was so distasteful that I pleaded for a chance to go into business. A DRUGGIST For years I had nursed the longing to become a druggist. Very reluctantly father consented to my learning to put up prescriptions. I went be- hind the counter of a small local drug store, and gradually acquainted myself with the secret of compounding pills. Ultimately I saved enough money to make part payment on the purchase of a drug establishment, and proudly hoisted my own sign along with a young friend, Frederic K. 3 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt Hull. With a few hundred dollars in my pocket, I married Ellen Lucy Barstow, of Owego, Decem- ber 12, 1852. WIFE. HELPMEET, ADVISER If ever a man was blessed in a wife, it was I. To her I owe much of whatever has made for suc- cess and uplift during the subsequent years. Mrs. Piatt was a woman in whose splendid loyal nature was combined a fine discrimination, keen intui- tion, and cool-headed judgment which never failed me at any crisis or exigency during the almost half century we traveled the road of life together. Her counsel, sagacious always, came to my aid in matters of politics, and (for I used to make her my confidante in the things which were vital to any and all my interests) I invariably found it unerring. It was never the expedient with her. It was the same conservative judgment of a woman of deep convictions and unflinching char- acter. She would stoop to no mean thing. Right was always right to Ellen Piatt. In the tenderer relations, as mother, home- keeper, I look back upon her with the finest emo- tions that can possess a man; for no woman was more loyal or devoted to her family than she. She was at her best when her hair had grown gray, the strong and once smooth forehead had become seamed, the bloom of the cheeks had faded away. She never lost her youth of mind and heart though Time had implanted upon her fea- 4 • A ./ MRS. THOMAS C. PLATT 5 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt tures its outward signs. She lived again in her children and children's children. Three sons were born to us: Edward T., now superintendent of the U. S. Express Company; Frank H., a successful New York lawyer for a score of years ; and Harry B., superintendent of the money order department of the U. S. Express Company, and vice-president of the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Maryland. From the be- ginning of my career, until death robbed me of her, February 13, 1901, Mrs. Piatt was constantly at my elbow. When in the early eighties we re- moved from Owego to New York, she fitted up for me a home-like suite of rooms at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Night after night, while we wicked politicians connived for the public good, Mrs. Piatt worked at her embroidery. Now and then she would drop a word of sage advice to me. She probably knew more about political secrets and methods than any woman of her day in the East. But she never " peached" on us. CHAPTER II 1853-1860 I start out as a political troubadour — Sing for Fremont — Mix a country clerk's duties with fashioning sketches of drugs I sell — As maga- zine editor I write verse for old folks and stories for children — Some of the bucolics and tales I inflicted upon Tioga Darbys and Joans. Early in 1853 the nation was in the throes of the slavery controversy. I became an intense abo- litionist. I observed with bated breath the union of Abraham Lincoln, "William H. Seward, Horace Greeley and John Sherman, Republicans; Henry Wilson, Henry Winter Davis and Ben Wade, Know Nothings; Hannibal Hamilton, Lyman Trumbull and Frank Blair, Democrats; Charles Sumner and Salmon P. Chase, Free Soilers; and Giddings, Garrison, Phillips and the Lovejoys, Abolitionists, to create a new party. That party was and is known to-day as the Republican party. It was formed for the final efracement of human slavery from the American continent. While at the drug counter I studied assiduously the speeches and acts of Thurlow Weed, William H. Seward and Horace Greeley, about whom the 7 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt New York State Whigs and "Conscientious Demo- crats" rallied, and longed to be in their confidence. In this I was not satisfied. But later I did possess that of their heirs, Hugh Hastings, Reuben E. Fenton and Roscoe Conkling. AS CAMPAIGN WARBLER I was not an orator. But I could sing some. At least I managed to master the tenor score of sacred music in the old Presbyterian church in Owego. So, when John C. Fremont was named as the first candidate of the Republican party in 1856 for the Presidency, I concluded that I could help a little by warbling campaign ditties. I also made some attempts at composing the words and airs to the melodies. A number of us boys formed a glee club. My heart still thumps when I recall how nightly we used to clamber aboard hay-ricks, carry-alls, or any other available vehicle, and whirl about the counties of Tioga and Tompkins, chanting the virtues of the Pathfinder and urging upon the people in canticles and verse why he ought to be President of the United States. My first aide was Charles A. Munger, a school- day chum. He developed rare ability in getting up musical campaign contributions. My ears still ring with the tunes and words composed by him. They contained satires upon Democrats, and eulogies of the pioneer who led the initial fight waged by the Republican party. 8 The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Plait I was a rather gaunt, rangy fellow. A pictur- esque figure I made, some said, as, armed with tuning-fork, I beat time, while my comrades ground out political ballads. A favorite with us was the "Rallying Song." It was arranged to the air of the "Marseillaise." It ran like this : Behold the storm is rolling, Which Border fiends, Confederates raise. The Dogs of War, let loose, are howling, And lo! our infinite cities blaze. And shall we calmly view the ruin While lawless force, with giant stride, Spreads desolation far and wide, Its guilty blood its hands embruing? Chorus: Arise, arise, ye brave, And let our war cry be, Free Speech, Free Press, Free Soil, Free Men, Fremont and Victory! Another that our little band of political trouba- dours used to delight in reeling off was entitled "We All Give Them Jesse!" It was Sung to the air "Wait for the Wagon." A verse from it reads : Ye friends of Freedom, rally now, And push the cause along. We have a glorious candidate, A platform broad and strong. Free Speech, Free Press, Free Soil, Fremont! We have no fears, The Autobiography of Thomas Collier Piatt With such a battle cry We'll beat the Bu-chan-lers! We'll give them Jesse, We'll give them Jesse, We'll give them Jesse, When we rally to the polls. "The Fremont Train'' was set to the tune of "Old Dan Tucker. ' ' A sample verse was like this : The Fremont train has gone along, Just jump aboard. The train Is bound for Washington, And it carries Fremont's foes of wrong, Our bravest son. Clear the track, Filibuster?, . ' Now's no time for threats or blusters. Clear the track, or ere you dream on it, You'll be beneath the car of Fremont.