It was parcel of his affected cynicism to like an enemy.
When Richard came to Washington it is more than a chance that he was a patriot.

But as he went about he saw much to blunt the sentiment.

A statesman is one who helps his country; a politician is one who helps himself.

Richard found shoals of the latter and none of the other class.
One day he asked Speaker Frost, whom he met in Senator Hanway's study, his definition of a statesman.
"A statesman," said that epigrammatist, "is a dead politician." Richard frequented House and Senate galleries; it was interesting to watch the notables transacting their fame.

The debates were a cross-fire of deceit.