Henry Adams

Name: Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII.
Author: Henry Adams

Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

Summary

“Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII.”, published in 1880, is a work by Henry Adams. It explores elements such as Ratcliffe, Lee and Carrington.

Quotes from Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (Henry Adams)

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Madeleine could only acknowledge that Mr. Gore's case was a bad one. "But after all," said she, "why should politicians be expected to love you literary gentlemen who write history. Other criminal classes are not expected to love their judges."
"No, but they have sense enough to fear them," replied Gore vindictively; "not one politician living has the brains or the art to defend his own cause. The ocean of history is foul with the carcases of such statesmen, dead and forgotten except when some historian fishes one of them up to gibbet it." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ You would only say that it was a choice of evils, to go, or to stay."
"We might translate it by saying: 'One may go farther and fare worse,'" rejoined Madeleine; and so the storm blew over for the time, and Ratcliffe sulkily let the subject drop. Nevertheless the two men never met in Mrs. Lee's parlour without her dreading a personal altercation. Little by little, what with Jacobi's sarcasms and Ratcliffe's roughness, they nearly ceased to speak, and glared at each other like quarrelsome dogs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Ratcliffe came at other times, as when he persuaded Mrs. Lee to be present at the Inauguration, and to call on the President's wife. Madeleine and Sybil went to the Capitol and had the best places to see and hear the Inauguration, as well as a cold March wind would allow. Mrs. Lee found fault with the ceremony; it was of the earth, earthy, she said. An elderly western farmer, with silver spectacles, new and glossy evening clothes, bony features, and stiff; thin, gray hair, trying to address a large crowd of people, under the drawbacks of a piercing wind and a cold in his head, was not a hero. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Gore something more than a friend. If she had overheard his parting words to Carrington, she would have had still more reason to think that a little jealousy of Ratcliffe's success sharpened the barb of Gore's enmity.
"Take care of Ratcliffe!" was his farewell; "he is a clever dog. He has set his mark on Mrs. Lee. Look out that he doesn't walk off with her!"
A little startled by this sudden confidence, Carrington could only ask what he could do to prevent it.
"Cats that go ratting, don't wear gloves," replied Gore, who always carried a Spanish proverb in his pocket. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Isn't that the first step in politics?"
Mr. Gore had no mind even for serious jesting. He broke out into a long lecture which sounded like a chapter of some future history: "But Mrs. Lee, is it possible that you don't see what a wrong path you are on. If you want to know what the world is really doing to any good purpose, pass a winter at Samarcand, at Timbuctoo, but not at Washington. Be a bank-clerk, or a journeyman printer, but not a Congressman. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ No doubt many of those who call themselves servants of the people are no better than wolves in sheep's clothing, or asses in lions' skins. One may see scores of them any day in the Capitol when Congress is in session, making noisy demonstrations, or more usefully doing nothing. A wiser generation will employ them in manual labour; as it is, they serve only themselves. But there are two officers, at least, whose service is real—the President and his Secretary of the Treasury. The Hoosier Quarryman had not been a week in Washington before he was heartily home-sick for Indiana. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Removals were fast and furious, until all Indiana became easy in circumstances. And it was not to be denied that, by one means or another, Ratcliffe's friends did come into their fair share of the public money. Perhaps the President thought it best to wink at such use of the Treasury patronage for the present, or was already a little overawed by his Secretary.
Ratcliffe's work was done. The public had, with the help of some clever intrigue, driven its servants into the traces. Even an Indiana stone-cutter could be taught that his personal prejudices must yield to the public service. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ If you had seen Washington in war-times and for a few years afterwards, you wouldn't ask that. We had more congressional business than all the other agents put together. Every one came to us then, to get his bill through, or his appropriation watched. We were hard at work all the time. You see, one can't keep the run of three hundred men without some trouble. My husband used to make lists of them in books with a history of each man and all he could learn about him, but I carried it all in my head."
"Do you mean that you could get them all to vote as you pleased?" asked Madeleine. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ In former days it was not admitted that the devil's servants could by right have any share in government. They were to be shut out, punished, exiled, maimed, and burned. The devil has no servants now; only the people have servants. There may be some mistake about a doctrine which makes the wicked, when a majority, the mouthpiece of God against the virtuous, but the hopes of mankind are staked on it ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ But many people never get so far, or only when too late. I shall be glad to hear that you are mistress of it and have given up reforming politics. The Spaniards have a proverb that smells of the stable, but applies to people like you and me: The man who washes his donkey's head, loses time and soap."
Gore took his leave before Madeleine had time to grasp all the impudence of this last speech. Not until she was fairly in bed that night did it suddenly flash on her mind that Mr. Gore had dared to caricature her as wasting time and soap on Mr. Ratcliffe. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Mrs. Lee told Ratcliffe that Schneidekoupon seemed out of temper, and asked the reason. He only laughed and evaded the question, remarking that cattle of this kind were always complaining unless they were allowed to run the whole government; Schneidekoupon had nothing to grumble about; no one had ever made any promises to him. But nevertheless Schneidekoupon confided to Sybil his antipathy to Ratcliffe and solemnly begged her not to let Mrs. Lee fall into his hands, to which Sybil answered tartly that she only wished Mr. Schneidekoupon would tell her how to help it. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ The truth was that Ratcliffe had now precisely ten days before the new Cabinet could be set in motion, and in these ten days he must establish his authority over the President so firmly that nothing could shake it. He was diligent in good works. Very soon the court began to feel his hand. If a business letter or a written memorial came in, the President found it easy to endorse: "Referred to the Secretary of the Treasury." If a visitor wanted anything for himself or another, the invariable reply came to be: "Just mention it to Mr. Ratcliffe;" or, "I guess Ratcliffe will see to that." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ "I have got so far as to lose the distinction between right and wrong. Isn't that the first step in politics?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ Baker wended her way elsewhere and Madeleine had given the strictest order that she should never be admitted again, Carrington entered, and Madeleine showed him Mrs. Baker's card and gave a lively account of the interview.
"What shall I do with the woman?" she asked; "must I return her card?" But Carrington declined to offer advice on this interesting point. "And she says that Mr. Ratcliffe was a friend of her husband's and that you could tell me about that." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Adams, Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (1880)

“ He objects to the cut of my overcoat which is unfortunately an English one. He also objects to the cut of my hair. I am afraid that his wife objects to me because I am so happy as to be thought a friend of yours. ”

Henry Adams

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Quotes from Democracy: An American Novel — Chapter VIII. (Henry Adams)

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