The Cairo Daily Bulletin

ALEXIS INQUIRING ABOUT OUR WORKING-MEN.

(From the Hartford Courant.)

During the Grand Duke Alexis's walks through the Bridgeport cartridge factory the other day, he pointed to several workingmen, and inquired of Gov. Jewell, "Are these men what you call the common people?" The governor replied that they were a fair specimen of the working classes in this country. "But do you mean to say these get into official positions?" further asked the imperial scion. "Perhaps not any of these men," rejoined Gov. Jewell, "but men of their class do; they are educated men, most of them-that is they can all probably read and write, and most of them take and read the newspapers." "Do you know of any cases where such men have actually been elected to office?" queried the curious Alexis. "O certainly," the governor said, "I, myself worked in the shop as a tanner till I was 20 years of age;" and the announcement seemed to puzzle the Duke a good deal. Here was the governor of a state, as well dressed and as well appearing as himself, who had actually worked in a shop, and this man was welcoming him in behalf of a hundred thousand voters; it was more of an enigma than the boy had ciphered on previously but as he goes through the country he will ascertain, upon inquiry, that very many of the public men here have come direct from the workshop. In Massachusetts, where he is now visiting Gov. Claflin was a shoemaker, Senator Wilson was a cobbler, also, and Gen. Banks was a machinist. In every State just such self-made men could be found. They fill the highest places. President Grant was a tanner, and Vice-President Colfax a printer. President Lincoln split rails for a living. There is no end to these examples of promotion. And the Duke may, if he chooses, gather facts enough to make a very interesting narrative, showing the beautiful working of a republican system of government, to be recited to his most august parent, when the old gentleman shall ask him on his return to sum up the experience of his journey.