I soon
found that the officers and men in the Third Cavalry knew all about the
incident.
During the spring of '72, the Indians were rather quiet. We did a
little scouting, however, just to keep watch on them. One day, in the
fall of that year, I returned from a scouting expedition, and as I
passed the store there were a lot of men crowded in front of it. All of
them saluted me with "How do you do, Honorable!" I rode straight to the
general's private office. He also stood at attention and said:
"Good morning, Honorable."
"What does all this 'Honorable' mean, General?" I demanded. He said:
"Of course, you have been off on a scout and you have not heard, but
while you were gone you were nominated and elected to represent the
twenty-sixth district of Nebraska in the Legislature." I said:
"That is highly complimentary, and I appreciate it, but I am no
politician and I shall have to tender my resignation," and tender it I
did.
My refusal to serve as a lawmaker was unqualified. I knew nothing about
politics. I believe that I made a fairly good justice of the peace, but
that was because of no familiarity with the written law. I merely
applied the principles of fair-dealing to my cases and did as I would
have been done by. The Golden Rule was the only statute I applied.
I inquired how to free myself formally from the new honors that had
been thrust upon me, and soon another man was serving in my stead--and
quite welcome he was to the pay and credit that might have been mine.
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