CHAPTER XIX.
THE PRIMARY.
After this rush of work, Peter's life became as routine as of yore. Thewinter passed without an event worth noting, if we except a steadilygrowing acquaintance with the dwellers of the district. But in July anew phase was injected into it by a call from Dennis Moriarty.
"Good-mornin' to yez, sir, an' a fine day it is," said the latter, withhis usually breezy way.
"Yes," said Peter.
"Misther Stirling. An' is it engaged yez are for this night?"
"No." Peter had nothing.
"Then," said Dennis, "maybe ye'll be afther goin' wid me to theprimary?"
"What primary?"
"For the election of delegates to the convention, shure."
"No. What party?"
"What party is it?"
"Yes."
"Misther Stirling, do yez know my name?"
"Dennis Moriarty, isn't it?"
"Yes. An' what's my business?"
"You keep a saloon."
"Yes. An' what ward do Oi live in?"
"The sixth, don't you?"
"Then," said Dennis, his upper lip twisting into a smile of enormousproportions, "Oi suppose yez afther thinkin' Oi'm a dirty blackRepublican."
Peter laughed, as few could help doing, when Dennis led the way. "Lookhere, Dennis," he said, "don't you run down that party. My father was aDemocrat, but he voted for Lincoln, and fought for the blacks when thetime came, and though I'm a Democrat like him, the Republicans are onlyblack in their sympathies, and not in their acts."
"An' what do yez say to the whisky frauds, an' black Friday, an' creditmobilier?" asked Dennis.
"Of course I don't like them," said Peter; "but that's the politicians,not the party."
"Shure," said Dennis, "what's the party but the men that run it?"
"You've seen something of Mr. Bohlmann lately, Dennis?"
"Yes."
"Well, he was the man who put Goldman in charge of that cow stable. Yethe's an honest man."
Dennis scratched his head. "It's a convincin' way yez have wid yez," hesaid; "but it's scoundrels the Republicans are, all the same. Look atthem in the district; there's not one a decent man would invite to drinkwid him."
"I think, Dennis," said Peter, "that when all the decent men get intoone party, there'll be only one worth talking about."
"Av course," replied Dennis. "That's the reason there's only theDemocratic party in New York City."
"Tell me about this primary," said Peter, concluding that abstractpolitical philosophy was not the way to liberalize Dennis.
"It's most important, it is," he was told, "it's on top Patsy Blunkersan' his gang av dirty spalpeens (Dennis seemed to forget that he hadjust expressed the opinion that all the "decent" men were Democrats)have been this two years, but we've got orders for a new enrollment atlast, an' if we don't knock them this time, my name isn't DinnisMoriarty."
"What is the question before the meeting?"
"Afther the enrollment, it's to vote for delegates."
"Oh! Then it's just a struggle over who shall be elected?"
"That's it. But a fine, big fight it will be. The whole district's soexcited, sir, that it's twice Oi've had to pound the b'ys a bit in mysaloon to keep the peace."
"What do you want of me?"
"Shure, every vote counts on a night like this. An' ye'd be aftherhelpin' us big, for the district likes yez."
"But, Dennis, I can't vote without knowing something about the waythings are. I shouldn't know whether I was voting rightly."
"Why, a man votes right when he votes for his friends!"
"No; a man votes right when he votes for his convictions."
"Convictions, is it?"
"Yes. That is, he votes as he thinks is best for the country."
"That, maybe, is the way yez do it where yez come from," said Dennis,"but it's no good it would be here. Convictions, whatever they be, arenever nominated here. It's real things we're afther votin' for in NewYork."
Peter laughed. "I've got to take you in hand, Dennis, and you've got totake me in hand. I think we both need each other's help. Yes, I'll cometo the primary. Will they let me vote?"
"The dirty spalpeens will never dare to stop yez! Thank yez, sir. Oi'llbe along for yez about eight."
"Remember, though, Dennis--I don't say how I'll vote."
"Yez just listen, an I'm not afraid av what ye'll do."
That evening, Peter was ushered into a large hot room, pretty wellpacked with men, and the interstices already filled in with densetobacco smoke. He looked about him curiously, and was surprised to findhow many of the faces he knew. Blackett, Dooley, and Milligan werethere, and shook hands with him warmly. Judge Gallagher and Blunkerswere in evidence. In plain clothes were two policemen, and three of the"fire-laddies," who formed part of the "crew" of the nearest engine,with all of whom he had often chatted. Mr. Dummer, his rival lawyer inthe case, and one of the jurymen in it, likewise were visible. Also manyfaces which were familiar to Peter by a former occasional friendly wordor nod exchanged in passing. Intense excitement evidently reigned, andevery one was whispering in a sort of breathless way, which showed howdeeply interested they were.
At Dennis's suggestion, made in walking to the room, Peter presentedhimself without guidance, at the desk. Some one behind him asked if helived in the ward, and for how long, but this was the only apparentopposition made to the prompt entering of his name. Then Peter strolledround and talked to those whom he knew, and tried to find out, withoutmuch success, just what was the division. Every one knew that a fightwas on, but in just what it consisted they seemed neither to know norcare.
He noticed that hot words were constantly exchanged at the enrollingdesk, over would-be members, but not understanding the exact nature ofthe qualifications needed, he could not follow the disputes. Finallythese ceased, for want of applicants.
"Misther Stirling," said Dennis, coming up to him hurriedly. "Will yezbe afther bein' chairman for us?"
"No. I don't know anything about the proceedings."
"It don't take any," said Dennis. "It's only fair play we're afther."
He was gone again before Peter could say anything. The next instant, theenrolling officer rose and spoke.
"Are there any more to be enrolled?" he called. No one came forward, soafter a moment he said: "Will the meeting choose a presiding officer?"
"Mr. Chairman," rang two voices so quickly that they in truth cut thepresiding officer off in his suggestion.
"Mr. Muldoon," said that officer.
"Oi spoke first," shouted Dennis, and Peter felt that he had, and thathe was not having fair play.
Instantly a wave of protest, denials, charges, and counter-charges sweptthrough the room, Peter thought there was going to be a fight, but theposition was too critical to waste a moment on what Dennis styled "adiversion." It was business, not pleasure, just then.
"Mr. Muldoon," said the officer again, not heeding the tempest in theleast.
"Mr. Chairman," shouted Muldoon, "I am proud to nominate JusticeGallagher, the pride of the bar, for chairman of this distinguishedmeeting, and I move to make his election unanimous."
"Misther Chairman," shouted Dennis.
"Mr. Moriarty," said the officer.
"Misther Chairman, Oi have the honor to nominate for chairman av thismeetin' the people's an' the children's friend, Misther Peter Stirling,an' Oi don't have to move to make it unanimous, for such is theintelligince an' manhood av this meetin' that it will be that way forshure."
Peter saw a hurried consultation going on between Gallagher, Muldoon,and two others, during the latter part of this speech, and barely hadDennis finished his remarks, when Justice Gallagher spoke up.
"Mr. Chairman."
"The Honorable Justice Gallagher," said that gentleman.
"I take pride in withdrawing in favor of Mr. Stirling, who so justlymerits the honor of presiding on this important occasion. From recentevents too well known to need me
ntion, I am sure we can all look to himfor justice and fairness."
"Bad cess to him!" groaned Dennis. "Oi hoped they'd be just fools enoughto oppose yez, an' then we'd have won the first blood."
Peter was chosen without dissent, and was escorted to the seat behindthe desk.
"What is the first business before the meeting?" he asked of Gallagher,aside, as he was taking his seat.
"Election of delegates to the State convention. That's all to-night," hewas told.
Peter had presided at college in debates, and was not flurried. "Willyou stay here so as to give me the names of those I don't know?" he saidto the enrolling officer. "The meeting will please come to order," hecontinued aloud. "The nomination of delegates to the State convention isthe business to be acted upon."
"Misther Chairman," yelled Dennis, evidently expecting to find anotherrival as before. But no one spoke.
"Mr. Moriarty," said Peter.
"Misther Chairman. It's my delight to nominate as delegates to the Stateconvention, the Honorable Misther Schlurger, our distinguishedrepresentative in the Assembly, the Honorable Misther Kennedy, our noblePolice-commissioner, an' Misther Caggs, whom it would be insult for meto praise in this company."
"Second the motion," said some one.
"Mr. Chairman," shouted a man.
"That's Caggs," said the enrolling officer.
"Mr. Caggs," said Peter.
"Mr. Chairman," said Caggs. "I must decline the honor offered me fromsuch a source."
"What?" shrieked Dennis, amazement and rage contesting for first placein voice and expression.
"Mr. Chairman," said Dummer.
"Mr. Dummer," said Peter.
"I have the honor to nominate the Honorable Justice Gallagher, Mr. PeterSweeney, and Mr. Caggs, to whom Mr. Moriarty has just paid so glowing atribute, as delegates to the State convention."
"Second the--" shouted some one, but the rest was drowned by anotherstorm which swept through the room. Even above the tumult, Peter couldhear Dennis challenging and beseeching Mr. Caggs to come "outside an'settle it like gentlemen." Caggs, from a secure retreat behindBlunkers's right arm, declined to let the siren's song tempt him forth.Finally Peter's pounding brought a degree of quiet again.
"Misther Chairman," said Dennis.
"Mr. Moriarty," said Peter.
"Misther Chairman. Oi'll not take the valuable time av this meetin' tospeak av dirty, cowardly, black-hearted, treacherous snakes, wid soulsblacker than the divil's own--"
"Order!" said Peter to the crowd.
"No," continued Dennis, in answer to the audible remarks of theopposition. "It's no names Oi'm callin'. If yez know such a beast, sucha snake, fit it to him. Oi'm mentionin' no names. As Oi was sayin',Misther Chairman, Oi'll not waste the time av this meetin' widdiscribin' the conduct av a beast so vile that he must be the contemptav every honest man. Who would have been driven out by St. Patrick, widthe rest av the reptiles, if he'd lived at that time. Oi only rise towiddraw the name av Caggs from the list Oi nominated for delegates tothe state convention, an' to put in place av it that av a man who is asnoble an' true, as some are false an' divilish. That of Misther PeterStirling, God bless him!"
Once more chaos came. Peter pounded in vain. Both sides were at feverheat. Finally Peter rose.
"Gentlemen," he shouted, in a voice that rang through the hall aboveeven the tumult, "if this meeting does not come to order, I shalldeclare it adjourned."
Instant quiet fell, for all had paused a moment to hear his words, andthey concluded that he was in earnest.
"Was the last motion seconded?" asked the chairman calmly.
"I seconded it," shouted Blackett and Milligan together.
"You have heard the nominations, gentlemen. Has any one any remarks tomake?"
A man next Justice Gallagher said, "Mr. Chairman," and being dulyrecognized, proceeded to talk for ten minutes in a very useless way. Butduring this time, Peter noticed first a good deal of whispering amongBlunkers's friends, and then an interview between Gallagher and Dennis.The latter was apparently not reconcilable, and shook his head in a waythat meant war. Then there was more consultation between the opposition,and another confab with Dennis, with more headshakes on his part.Finally a compromise having been evidently made impossible, the oratorwas "called down" and it was voted to proceed to an election. Peternamed one of the firemen, Dooley, and Blunkers, tellers, who, after aballot, announced that Dennis had carried his nominations, Peter headingthe list with two hundred and twelve votes, and the others getting onehundred and seventy-two, and one hundred and fifty-eight respectively.The "snake" got but fifty-seven votes.
"Shure," said Dennis, later, "maybe we don't vote for convictions here,but we don't vote for the likes av him!"
"Then you are voting for convictions," said Peter.
"It's yezself is the convictions then," said Dennis.
Perhaps he was right.