Newspaper Page Text
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VOL.XXII
THE GRANT FAMILY.
Sketch of the Geueral’s Widow
and the Grandchildren.
New York, April 28.—Death has not vis
ited the Grant family since the general was
called from earth, and the shunshine of
prosperity, honestly earned, has followed the
Clouds that at one time overcast their sky.
< olonol I-red Grant represents his govern
inent at one of the most, important courts
of Europe. Jesse and l lysses. Jr., are re
spect.-d citizens in the business world, and
, sn '7 "'e <!<-ail. of her scapegrace
husband. Algernon Sartoris, leads a pl'asant
hfe in England with her father-in-law. The
generals widow resides witli her son. Ulvs
ses, Jr., and the placidity of her .dosing
jears is m pleasing contrast with her life |
she shared with her husband the hard- -
Ships of poverty, xcite o f militarv I
success, the publicity of while house life, i
the attention* of the world's great folk and 1
of financial reverses and un-
IlliTllrd disgrace.
Mrs. Grant s affection for and trust in the
* ’’ * r 77- > * •
( V '* ’
X X-
W:
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I . *. * *<-■ '■ '* 1 ♦• ’ : ’.*■<• ’•*?>*
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1 - ; .x ' ' *■.■ { - '
COLONEL EKED DENT < J RANT,
members <>t her (n vn family is perhaps her
most d.siiimt'\ii ”■ .. i i ... .-• ■ ; . • •
1,1 '>eneral < Irani knew i.> bounds and i:
,l,ve! •••tiered. i, . A;) „ when tim-s
ha- > lid that
was never hap■ ■<•[• than when they l : v din
dwir simp' G
*7 “‘omh. 1 mu .ea . ..re reserv. ■ •••
./ ■" ‘ ■ -' ■■ ■ “I ■ h also, liM h .
fri.-P J s" Hly the most devoted
surroui.ihb\ • io Imm I • ' ■
York hem -, in. ’••• gave :t up some time
ac • !■ '■ ■'' 11 u 7' n I ne -
She ! ■ ■■ 1 " r ' 1
.j. \\ '■ ier t’.i'k. i ’ioi id.-.. nine!: ot the witi
*. ■ ; ■ . > ' ■"-- . ■ p 1. 1' e had
iy of bar desire to
Vrs Grant is v.-rv fond of her grand
children ami the) are in turn devoted to
her. She is never .happy unless some ot
them are with .- "t. and they delight .0
l" . ... .■ i. r• s I it iy Ile ;ti:<i
the !■ ■ ' ‘ : '
as no other arnndmother ean toll her graml
chii.i’-eo ' Thev nr<‘ all equally dear to
i,„ u ..t ih,'ehildren of T'lyssi-s see most
w /her. made a viol io her son bred
at Vn ..an two <>r thru. year, ago ;e much
, ■ , ,-l . ven” as their lather. She
. • ' : u ii t wit.•!!
j -hildren everv winter, when,
whh his he makes’his annual visit
t V..-V York. She s->es Xe'die:- children
.u.-irlv ev rv smnnier. when, witli their
n.iii . r the-.' usually visi’ Amertea.
General Grant’s sons are all quiet, un
ities become me,re and more apparent as
-• 1 11.0 Grant, minister to Aus-
uia is uu.loabo.lly the ablest of the three
li d the most like his fattier I 1 1< i-er-ona.
’ . to the general lias often been I
r.:;. ! .?"?and it now positively startling.
Mi'n'ter Gram’- ear-.-r has been an m-
- 11 • ... 1 ...m- rat t on": 1. it were 1
V'' ~.s ,f j.is fatiwr’s.
p. -o'--jmna'.b eminent. When
it 'Aotm.• 1 friill( uitil j us
h :: 1 .. .. t! ■ a!
with manv important duties: he eolitracted
.. ,v re illness from exposure and was sent
a i 1 r/it-U \fter tb<‘ war In* ent<red
10 1 . n-nirmy ‘it West Point, and
the military aeadem' at . .
was for some time as a member
of the engineering corps whwh was . > g
out the I'nion i’a.ahe ravroad. VI - n e
ernl Sherman made his trip abroad. Ind
//
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y-'
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O d s Wsr
I LVSSES S. GRANT, JR.
('.rant went along as aide-<lc-cami>. Gener- I
nl Grant at that time wrote a;
characteristic letter I<> tin* I nion J ni'ific
characteristic letter to the 1 nion 1 s
chief engineer, asking that if he could be
snared, Fred should be granted leave ot
absence to go with Sherman. He was al
lowed to go, “but,” said one of his fellow
workers to me the other day “it was with
regret, for 1 red Grant had become a gen
eral favorite, because of his excellent work
and his quiet, unassuming courtesy toward
ev. ry member of the corps, from the chain
W \linisicr Grant’s capacity for the absorp
tion of detail and his systematic industry
stands him in good stead in his present
post. He has made the study of the imh
tarv and naval resources of Austria, and
an eminent journalist who asked him for
information in this direction reports himself
ils being amazed with the accuracy ami va
rietv of knowledge displayed in the replies
riven. In Minister Grant’s office there is
Nellie Grant’s Alleged Aver
sion to America.
a large and thoroughly systematized collec
tion of maps, documents and pictures, from
, whirl), together with his own analyses of
the facts, a complete history ami state
ment of the fighting capacity of the Austro-
Hungarian empire might be made.
General Grant’s only daughter. Nellie,
has been reproached for her avowed love
for life abroad, and dislike for the United
Slates. Anyone who knows her and un
derstands her character, must see the in
justice in this.
During her father's two terms as pres
ident, she was to some extent the social
head of the family, although she was ex
tremely young to occupy that position
Her mother was not fond of society, ami
sincerely disliked the duties which* Were
imposed upon her as the president’s wife
although she performed them gracefully
and well; ami little Nellie frequently took
nor mothers place in the president*# car
riage on those card dlsTributing tours
which are the bane of Washington officials’
w ives, and at more than one dinner ami re
eepiion f ||d i nore n,. in hel . niot | ler 1n en .
tertain the too numerous guests of the
president.
loJb> ,ll r'i'i l | l /*"' « simple, honie-
( loting little maiden, far fonder of a quiet
. 1 v ntiig with her father, whom she wor
■ **'. I’*’!*''' '! r ba,,s '>!' social toils. Sim
mill, t"' S a, "l he took her
; 1 h him whenever he could on his jonr
wl iH tl ' Vi ‘ S ' ,n ,b ‘‘ st '''''"‘slup Bristol,
x bile the general and Nellie wen-
Inn.dt "broad, that th" president's
d. der met Algernon Sartoris, whom
>ni . 1 terwards married, and who helped to
”!> bitter the last years of tho great s 'l
; S was coming to Anmr-
H i with b ls father, who intended to put
I ni m charge of certain real estate trans
actions ,n Mmconsin. A friend of the
ml'"'?'l "h" was on th-, ship, told me th"
”'h<r day that Algernon Sirtoris w-m
uui'c as mmltrtetiv... then as h« showed
htiHS" , to be afterward, but added fund
th- fact unzzh'd him th<m as much as j
does now tlmt Nellie Grant's regard for
rt.e uncouth Enghsmman. which afterward
° 'wi'lentlr began <,n tlm(
T'i;i- was not ;i long one
1;" C was 1V... Surtorli:
v ' v tsconmn at the fin--, nn-
bouiyed, that ho w."s to nmrrv the presi-
F" >■ /tou-dor. the people ~f the <(rv , t
’ *• ”■;? >'“-t“Ve him until Im did his
‘A. eel leer', tt,. indignity of nctnailv
"e.’j”' r l"''<'rs nulflio :; s t.roof
1 he ge.-ornl -■ ortrnsiltoi' to the nia<"b v-m
pletolv fatimtod ny tne nriinc. m-"'-. ”"
tiie brid" :inil groom drove awnv from no
white 1 ott<e. tl:.' "Id soldier broke down
comnietolv for the first time in niati.v years.
That there was reason f’ r Io; sorrow
' “'"H.
•'i' fe v. 5 ,
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JESSE R. GRANT.
was provet: before th" j-mrney of the bridal |
couide to t!ic groom's English Iwme Im I |
en led. Sartoris tr ..ted liis wile s-.i horribly
oa the voyag;' to England that the passe’i- I
gers on ti'e ship seriously considered the ad- |
visability of calling a meeting and adopting :
resolutions deiiotnieii'g him. lhe plan was ,
- abandoned only liee.-iu.se it would hax e .
; brought tho bride as well as the groom into |
umdeai- mt notorii ty. !
Her life in her new home xvtts far from
I plea am. Sartoris I'uliilled all tile disagrcea- ,
j Id,, predictions ma<tc o! him and tilings came i
| to such a pass that it was at one time i-ttr :
' rent report that Mrs. Sartoris was suing .
I for a divorce. This report proved to be Uli- I
true, but the unfortunate giri xvtts quoted 1
I as having said the only reason she «ii<l not .
1 take such action xvas because site did not 1
propose to drag the honored name of her ;
father in the mire. |
The one thing that redeemed her married I
life from utter wretchedness xvas the fact I
that the elder Sartoris, appr; <-iating his ;
s.n'.’s misdeeds, did all that he could to atone i
' for them. If is said lo have been because of I
; tiie old gentleman's insistance that Mr. and
I Mrs. Sartoris prnetic.-iliv separated aftt ;
i they had found that they were wholly mi- ;
j congenial. Sartoris, Sr., is said to have forced
1 liis son to keep axvay from the unhappy
I young wife r.s much as possible. It was on
the suggestion of the elder Sartoris that
Alg.-rnon made the journey to Italy last
xvinter. which terminated xvith his death.
All this must be told in order to explain
Nellie Grant's present aversion to America.
During every one of her infrequent visits
to this country she has been made the ob
ject of much xvell meant but, to a sensitive
nature, humiliating sympathy. Every time
she lias returned to the land of her birth
all the [t.-iinful details of her unfortunate
marriage have been refold in the newspapers
greatly to her distress. Add to this strange '
fact that her misfortune has not even been I
politely ignored by Amerioan society people |
I who have had the honor of entertaining her. j
but that even at a reception given to her in 1
New York "twelve people,” she recently
said, “xx’Ci'e ill mannered enough 1o condole 1
with me.” Still .'mother reason for her de- I
termination to end her days in England is j
1 rite fact that her father-in-law has settled :
: property on her children, to go to them only j
on condition that t’ley be educated and rear- |
; ed there, and that so long as ho lives, he I
have tho benefit and pleasure of their happy I
< society.
: There are three of these children. Vivian
Muy is the oldest, having almost reached
her sixteenth birthday. Next comes Alger- '
non Edward, and then Rosemary. 'I hey ,
are bright and pretty, every one of them,
and each promises to be or do something.
Both girls are pupils at Mrs. Edna Chaffee
Noble’s training school. Mrs. Noble, who
is ati American, proposes to abandon her
English school temporarily and open one in
tliis country because most of her
English pupils intend to visit the
world’s fair. It was hoped at
first that among those who did this
would be the Sartoris children, lint the aver
sion of the elder Sartoris to having them out
ATLANTA.' GA., Y ?, 1893.
of his sight has made it necessary to aban
don this plan. The specialty of Airs. No
bles school is elocution and her training
has been a stepping stone Io success on the
stage lor many of her pupils, ft is with
this end in view that Vivian May Sartoris
is working. She earnestly hopes lo be a
print actress sonic day. and is studying
Mary Anderson's methods and par's very
faithfully. Mrs. Noble tells me that she
shows much ability.
I W
Z-.
wss a z
MHS. NELLIE GRANT SARTORIS
The full story of Grant it Ward has
never been written. It probably never will
be, for the lips of several men who alone
i could, tell some of its chapters are sealed.
I L. S. Grant, Jr., met Ferdinand Ward
j then a clark in a produce exchange otlice,
I through W iliam Ward, to whom he was in-
I trodueed at a dinner given at the house
of the senior member of tiie hixv firm of
Davies A Work, with xvhom young Grant
was studying. William Ward, xvho had
been a soldier, first asked Grant's co-opera
tion in an anecdotal history of the civil
war, and the txvo soon became such fast j
friends as to take rooms together at tho ;
Bella fl,'its. Later, when young Grant xvas -
asked to invest in lhe Evening Star mine, :
he suggested that William Ward be sent lo (
investig;ite th" properly. This xvas done. '
Ward's report, was favorable, and the '
Grants took some of the si >ek. Ferdinand 1
Ward’s relationship to William Ward, his ,
rop-.tmtion for being an exceptionally up- '
right and brilliant young business man. and I
111 ' fact that fie had married the daughter !
of Cashier Green, of the Marine bank, of I
which James I). Fish xvas president, all 1
combined to give young Grant, confidence |
in l.is now acquaintance. When, therefore, ;
h" mad.'y mng Grant a business proposition, '
it w::s listened to xvith respect .
M sr.l slid that b'i :h. the president, of ,
the bank, had a large client"!" of small I
count,y ipkeeners, who, although they 1
had no ere-hl. w- re yet mer. xvho paid 1
their bills. He propos'd to tlr.-rit that ■
they should buy flour in 1.01)0 btrre! lots, I
into -he'bank and drawn against ro pay f-'f j
the flour Th" s-home xvr.s small, enough. I
t1,,. tit pt ' ba-r.-l ranging from -• cents ,
» s b-t'-is Ward declared the customers 1
wen p.-r-'M -iv -afe to pay their notes, j
though! the business twu'lh !>s,
it,.,.. War! managed it, an;, he -< 1 *
rtner from time to time tiiat txi.ix m.ng
wts all ri«'ht. Once he said they bad to
and Grant believed all the stones were
''''l'ltev had been in this business for
.. low'' time and had anparenfly been nmk-
as bankers. During General Gi.mt a
trip broad, his son, U. S.. Jr., had ‘.barge
the estate, and his management, xx as
so good Kat he paid all of his father s
In state were "i.'tny sbaos
f xAs S.-
."■'s'Jlnres in (Gnsolidab'd Vtrgnmj. asal" ,
nt nearly the highest price reac.ied by
steel;. Dealing m mining ,
.♦ w .i r. n *1 beiii£ CGiiDertvd with V erd
; * «nd business, he nauirally
spoke to tb< I,f tlle ?so - r (, ' W
ever doubled Ward's shrewd-iess, and he
advised Mr. Grant in a manner
wh-.-h ."nnbled him t" make money.
Ward's proposition was that he and
“Buck” Grant the Infer as i-epi
li s ' fall should each put up p
into a firm to be called t.rnaf & Ward,
lunes D. Fish was to contrdmte a similar
amount as a silent partner. Ibe firm was
♦ iL»’il in iniiiiiitT stocßs nr <mx I'liTi-. <
Gmt ;1 banking firm could handle. 1 hreo
rimes Grant refused. but finally he
consented. At that time on the flour busi
ness and other things NNard owed Grant
verv close to SIOOJM)G. As ho confessed
. afn-rwards. he had lost money from th<
| "tnrt and neither the flour business nm
, anvthing else had been permanently sue
eussfnl. The idea of the hrm was 1". d i«t-
I ]v a scheme to avoid paying his debts to
I the Grant estate, for bo required vol x ht
i fie aetjial cash from Mr. <irant, telling
! him that his share had already been paid
I in. and asking his to eross oil debts owed
bv Ward in his books.
'The firm of Grant A Ward began in a
| vorx- m.'dest fashion Ihe confidence
' placed in Ferdinand M aid by , ? n, k
; Grant first and the general afterwards has
alwivs been one of the mysteries of (Hat |
most’miserable and unhappy business a
business which camo near to wrecking the
confidence of the American people in one
of their greatest men and a business
which almost ruined General Grunt’s sons.
Bat when one reflects for a moment, it. is
not hard to understand this confidence.
The operations between Mr. Grant ntm
M'aril began in a very small way. 1 hey
increased gradually, and so far as the former
was concerned, he had no reason to sus
pect auvthing. When General (.rant, re
turned liis sou had nothing but good to say
of his partner. When the general wont in
to Wall street he found some of the lust
people there, men high in the confidence
of the business community, who spoke
bighlv of the young financier. Ihe only
person who seemed to have been in the least
suspicious was Colonel Frederick D. Gran ,
ami when he went to the ofhee to miest
gate things he was given the books to look
at and taken into the vault where he saw
security's worth over $1,000,000 standing
i n Ferdinand Ward’s name
Nor v’as thor< fc anvtlnnix about. Ferdinand
Ward’s 'life that would cause suspicion.
He lived well but not extravagantly. He
. hid no Ind habits that any one knew m
he was generally respected by all those
ilb .\”siorv’that has never b"o„ published
I will illustrate the reasons why Mr. Grant
1,-1 such confidence in Ward, berdinaml
! AVird had 'the active management of the
■ business in bis own hands. One morning
I “thick” Grant was coming down to the
I office when one of the directors of the
Manhattan Railway Company, a man who
I was a great friend of the Grant family.
1 told him~ the stock was a good “buy. ’ as it
was going up. \yhcn he reached the office
I fie ordered the purchase of 1,000 shares
Ferdinand Ward came in and found out
1 wbat had beep done ‘You should not have
j done that, ‘Buck,’” he said. Under an
ugret/, i.j-ou have . > right to, and the
I'lrftd'i.sei'.'a bad one. Manhattan is going
t u will have r .o transfer that to
- J»nt pi'ife account.” It was transferred
i 8M the lick went down until Grant lost
< tal'iN).instances Ijke these were enough
i »!■ 'ous for his belief in Ward’s ability
: ¥Vjyiklncss.
of the story about. Grant and
■ Ward been written ad nauseam, but
this ac it of how it all began has never
been p died before. Therefore, it is of
inter's ow in an article on the Grant
j 'aniil\ | hat the failure of the firm left
Gener.Jlrant bare, stripped him of all "h<?
{ ! iad--;i'y, properly, everything—is gon
erally fwn. At the end of his life he was
able Live his family his book, and apart
fron .1 , nothing except his mime. The
los4 I > money, severe as it was, for it
cos-talmUrauis over $1,000,000 before it
en#ej ffts as nothing in their eyes as
co:i!7« 1 '. to the slur on the name of the
gene; Tine, his fellow citizens now nn
derst i beyond a doubt that nothing dis
hotjH,,A over knowingly touched the old
solovi This is as it should be. Yet there
was lim" when some did not know this
and lined General Grant severely. This
his c jlren can never forget, and because
this jld ever have been, they mourn to
this i with a most honorable sorrow.
Tl' Jook has netted about $300.(X)0 for
Mrs Irant. and it still has a steady sal '.
Thcrliave been six editions published by
Cha d L. Webster & Co., of which firm
Marl/Ewain is a member, and each six
mon’i "Tmek” Grant, as representing his
moth , goes over file books. At that time
1 the Lire coming to Mrs. Grant is paid.
Tilt' Hi an arrangement will) one of tiie
mag.lnos “Memoirs” have received a large
extr.'Aalc.
Je>i Grant, who married Miss Chapman,
the jughter of a California real estate
I dealej resembles his mother more than
i any f the other children. He was a boy
I in thjvliife house and xvont with his father
and i'ther on their memorable trip around
, the xyrid. If was Tie who became famous
- bee.-uie of hi< .leelining to “eat with the
, servnlts" ; u Windsor castle when he xvas
told liat only his father am] mother were
to ditr at the royal table, w hile he xvas to
sit ala table with the gentlemen and la
dles pi waiting. This remark of Jesse's
was jot intended as a joke, but he made
severjl jocular remarks during his stay in
En-rliJifl that have not been forgotten. On
one 't'casion, at a reception given to tho
ortnc>j <*j- Wale*, ho <ot. verv tired and said
to a ij. hie Englishman, near xvhom lie xvas
staielyg. that ho shohld go home at once
only ip didn't want to “break up the xvholo
business. ' '1 ho rem.'irff was quoted as an
oxanril- of .T. sse's insolence by tho Britons,
xvho did not understand liis American
humor. an'l it finally found its wax - into
Brttisj je-'nf to horrify tiie entire British
I'fltio:;. lie lives with his wife mid txvo
chlldr >1). Nellie and Chapman, nt Oakland,
olid lie is interested in various enter
pri: % in California and Arizona.
x (liaets are men of unexception
-■! ? 11 *'F" ! 'f p They- are goo-1 looking.
’ tiron i "j.;. nnd they- nossoss
THE BOTTLE AND THE BIRD.
Once on a time a friend of mine prevailed on
me to go
To see the dazzling splendors of a sinful
ballet shoxv;
And after we had revelled in the saltatory
sights.
We sought a neighboring case for more tangi
ble delights.
When I demanded of my friend what viands
lie preferred.
He quoth: "A large cold bottle, and a small
hot bird!”
Fool that 1 was, I did not know what anguish
hidden lies
Withii tiie morceau that allures the nostrils
ami the eyes!
There is a glorious candor In an honest quart
of wine.
A certain inspiration which I cannot well
deine!
How it bubbles, how it sparkles, how it
gu’gling seems to say:
“Conu! on a tide of rapture let me float your
soil away!” »
But tie crispy, steaming mouthful that is
spend upon your plate,
How i discounts human sapience and satirizes
fad
Yon ouldn’t think a thing so small could
case the pains and aches
That -ertainiy accrue to him that of that
tl>ig partakes;
To nj. at least, (a. guileless wight!) It never
me occurred
What horror xvas encompassed In that small
lu bird.
Oh, ’hat a head I had on me when I awoke
nkt day,
And vhat a flrm conviction of intestinal
duty!
Whaseas of mineral water ami of bromide
I'lipplied
To iem-h those fierce volcanic fires that
tied inside!
And h the thousand solemn, awful voxvs I
jirhted then
NevUo tax my system xvith a small hot bird
aln!
The >etor seemed to doubt that birds could
wry people so.
But,less him! since I ate the bird, I guess
Inght to know!
The efiious condition of my stomach, he
Si.
Hespe a vinous irritant that amplified my
I*l.
And.rgo, the causation of the thing, as ho
brred.
Waslie large cold bottle,—not the small
1) bird.
• » • • • • •
Howveet Is retrospection when one’s heart
bathed in wine.
Andfore its balmy breath how do the ills
cite decline!
Hovrie gracious juices drown what griefs
vid vex a mortal breast,
Ambat the flattered soul into the port of
Cniless rest!
Hutu. O noxious, pygmy bird! whether It
■lyou fly,
Or die in the stagnant pools that swelter
festering lie,
I ct you and your evil kind for that you
mo wrong.
Entering poisons that corrupt my potted
ke of song;
Go, thee hence! and never more discomfit
and mine,
I t would barter all thy brood for one
et draught of wine!
—Eugene Field,
“Always with the People.”
FrC'he Jesup, Gil., Sentinel.
'Atlanta Constitution is always with the
peo It wants the entire democratic plut
foFnd pledges to the people carried out.
'Pls a marked contrast to the papers that
on'iote part of the plat form—the part that
su hem, and want that part carried out
ar.iy nothing of the balance. The people
w'the entire platform carried out, uot
oi few planks.
A PEACEMAKER'S TALK.
U lIOfiE LABORS IN THE SOVTH WERE
NOT WELCOME NOR BLESSEV.
Ills Kxprriences With Governor Brown—Ho
Tried to Avert. Wnr and Have the
South Stick to the Union.
In one of the most comfortable rooms of
the Kimball enjoying a most comfortable
apres the siesta, 1 found a most interest
ing gentleman. He is not a stranger of the
south or to lame. When he left, the city
of Charleston years and years before the
late civil war to make his home and for
tune in New York city, lie took with him
that pe< uliar spirit and savor of the south
ern gentleman that has remained character
istic with him through all these decades
that have brought a mellow portliness to
bis form and a silver crown to his head.
At seventeen years of age, he had fixed
himself as the leading cotton merchant of
the great metropolis and represented many
merchants and millions of southern trade.
From the day of his advent among the
commercial magnates of Gotham, the name
of
Colonel Thoinaa Lal» vrs.
lias been one of strength, sagacity and com
manding intlueiice in both commercial ami
political circles. His business success not
only brought his into contact and favor
with the best men and minds of trade
power in New York, but as commercial ami
political interests largely coincide in that
mighty city, he also became a recognized
factor and force in the larger political life
of the metropolis. He came to know and
to have the confidence of men occupied with
the gravest concerns of national political re
lations and upon questions that had a
southern bearing, he was consulted with the
greatest confidence.
Knowing that his experiences in some
of lhe notable political emergencies would
be interesiing. the representative-of The
Constitution asked him:
An A nil-secession Mission.
■’Colonel, what part of your activities in
politics do you regard the most interesting
and memorable?"
"Well, my dear sir, it is hard to select
or signalize the one instance that stands
out as partcuiarly acute and exciting. Yet,
if asked to select, 1 would always refer
first to my experiences just at the outset
of the war in the vain endeavor to persuade
the southern leaders not to go into the se
cession movement. ”
"How came you to be drawn into that en
deavor?”
" A hy, although I was a southern man.
loving the south with all my heart, I still
felt that secession from the union would bo
a mistake. 1 believed in the union, desired
its preservation and felt that, whatever
grievances the south had, those issues could
V’/N -fl* , iunH'Vl
men from New York state and the eastern
states who comprised the famous ‘Pine
street meeting,' in which the sentiments
expressed were so thoroughly favorable to
the south as to cause it to be designated
a fire-eater’s caucus. Out of that, meeting
grew the agivement to appoint two commis
sioners to visit the capitals of the southern
states and confer with the governors, urg
ing them to resist secession and remain in
the union. That course was deemed best
for the south ami calculated in cool judg
ment to bring it all its demands sooner
than they could be enforced by war, grant
ing such war could be eventually success
ful. and it was thought the south owed that
course to the friendship and faithfulness of
its friends in the north.”
ho were the commissioners?”
“Ex-President Millard Fillmore and my
self, but Mr. Fillmore fell ill on the eve
of our departure from New York and T
was compelled to make the venture alone,
as there was no time for delay. Armed
with papers setting forth fully the views of
the distinguished men of all parties, who
had agreed upon this matter, I came south.”
U ho Phiusible
“Upon what grounds, chiefly, did you re
ly in you arguments to these southern gov
ernors?”
“Our idea, as I have said, was that the
south would be stronger in the union than
out <d' it. She could command the open ami
courageous support for her claims of the
men in the north whose sympathies were
upon her side. The north was full of men
who could ami would have fought in poli
ties and legislation for the fullest rights
contended for by the south and guaranteed
by the constitution, but those men tould
not and would not follow or light for the
south in secession. We felt seriously that
such secession by the southern states would
boa wrong to the friends of the south and of
sound democratic principles in the north.
Mr. Lincoln had been elected by a minority
vote and we felt that he could not well get
the backing of the country in any scheme
of legislation that would humiliate and
grossly wrong the south. On the contrary,
we believed, and we still believe, that the
best interests demanded that she remain
in the union, resist any unconstitutional
encroachments, make her cause tho cause of
the majority of democrats in the country,
thus bringing the factions of the party to
gether for a grand ahd triumphant, victory
and policy in the next elections for congress
in ISG2 and the next election for president
in ISl‘>4. Secession could do only what it
did do—leave the northern democracy in a
hopeless minority and render it. powerless
to sympathize with, much less command
its active aid for, a seceded south. It
was wrong to leave us in that predicament
after we had so loyally championed southern
interests and for that wrong the people of
the south encountered defeat from a solid
north anil made possible the hard and ex
acting conditions of republican supremacy
for the past thirty-tvfo years.”
Ail I. iiavallinq: Appeal.
“What were your efforts, and their res
sults in seeking to intlueiice southern gov
ernors to oppose the secession movement?”
"1 did not stop to present my arguments
to the executive of Maryland, for 1 felt sure
that he was not a secessionist. Nor did 1
linger in Richmond, for 1 found there that
the people were not rampant for a divis
ion of the union. They were very largely
in agreement with the views 1 had come to
present, and so I hastened on to South Car
olina, where the war cloud was centering.
1 called upon the governor and presented
the appeal that our northern friends had
adopted and signed, but it was of no avail.
He said lhe people of South Carolina were
determined not to remain in the union and
that he would not antagonize that prefer
ence. Rut he took me down to (’harleston
to see the fortifications and tho array of
troops ready to open war upon the govern
ment. He took me around among the sol
diers —the debonair young scions of South
Carolina —who were affecting the veteran
fare of salt pork :tn<i boiled cow peas, and
remarked to me, ‘What do yon think of all
this?’ I replied that it was impressive
enough and very brave, but that it caused
me a great deal of sadness. Why? Be
cause, ns I told him. ‘These young men who
have subsisted all their lives on pates, wild
turkeys and champagne cannot endure these
PRICE 5 CENTS
foods and fightings long without depletions
and loss of powers. I’hiy are not going
out to fiht the north, as they think. They
will fight the foreigners whom the northern
people can and wiil hire until they exhaust
their patience, then tfio real sturdy and in
domitable hosts of the north and west will
turn out to make tin end of you. By that
time your choice army of the flower of
southern chivalry will have melted down to
little armies, amicted with weariness and
weakness, and will force them to a painful
and costly surrender.’ And that is just
what did happen. Seeing, however, that
naught eould l>" expected, from the governor
or people of the Palmeito State, I came cn
into Georgia.”
Ills Experience with Governor Brown.
"AVliat success did you have with Govern
or Brown, oi Georgia?”
“1 found Governor Brown in Savannah,
preparing to take possession of the fort
in the harbor. Fort Pulaski. Tt was Sun
day when 1 arrived, and I at once asked fur
an interview with the governor. He met
me with stately dignity and suave gravity,
but positively refused to discuss the matters
with inc on the Sabbath day. The next
day he politely informed ino that his judg
ment in tne premises was solidly formed
and no arguments I might, present <ould
shake him from the determinations he had
reached. But he kindly invited me to ac
company his oflieial party down the river
next day to witness the occupation of Fort
Pulaski. I did so and beheld the flag
hauled down and tho authority of eGorgia
assorted. After the ceremony the company
on the steamer, made up of the flower of
Savannah and Georgia, valor, indulged in a
jubilee. Champagne and. artillery punch
flowed freely and soon the mon got Govern
or Brown out on deck. One caught hold of
his coat tails and the next man caught on
to the coat, tails of him who Field the gov
ernor, and in this fashion tho procession
was strung out and went marching around
lhe decir. singing ‘Dixie* with the greatest
gusto and resounding cheers. Jt was an
exhilarating experience and no wondoi- that
it aroused many men to war-like fury.”
Governor Brown Upholds His Militia.
“By the way,” said Colonel Lathers, "the
governor told mo an amusing incident of
the hour. He said that when he sent a de
mand to the oflieer.in charge of the Augus
ta arsenal for the delivery of that post, the
officer refused to surrender his charge and
march out his handful of regulars without
a show of force too great or him to resist.
Governor Brown ordered out a company,
but still the West Pointer demurred. Then
a battalion was sent forward, but to the
amazement of all. the punctillious bearer of
lhe shoulder-straps r"fused still to feel him
self outnumbered. This stirred up the
Cherokee blood of the governor and he sent
the gentleman, now that he had respected
the latter's military scruples of etiquet but
he did not propose to have his Georgia mili
tia depreciated with impugnity, so he com
manded an instant evacuation of the post
ami surrender of the keys anil property,
and he got both without further question or
delay. The governor seemed to enjoy the
fina*' t'seomtbnre o*' the military dilettante
Mr. Jefferson Davis, the provisional presi
dent of the forming confederacy. When
he learned my mission in the south he turn
ed upon me with savage humor and com
mented upon my holding the views I did,
being myself a southern man. He eoollv
informed me that I knew nothing of the sit
uation—the issues and interests involved—
and used terms that, would Eave been in
sulting under any other conditions between
us. But, being a young man, with some
cool judgment and a higher purpose in heart
than to ferment a quarrel with any man
upon this tremendous theme, I retired from
the interview with -Mr. Davis more gi'ieved
than offended.”
Deserlrd by His Mobile Urow<l.
"Did you feel it worth while to go tiny
furt her?”
“Ob, yes, I had an invitation to address
the board of trade in Mobile, and went, on
to that city. There was a disposition not
to hear me. but The Mobile Register claim
ed for me a fair hearing as a messenger
from friends, and stated truly that I was
even then being denounced in New York as
a secession sympathizer, etc. I was in tne
very jnidst of my speech before a large and
attentive crowd when some on.' ami .up. -cd
a dispatch that Fort Sumter had been fired
upon! 'The scene changed with the swift
ness of thought and instantly beggared de
scription. M«»n went wild with frenzied
joy and the crowd swept out like an ava
lanche into lhe street below au l left me
dumbfounded. Oniv a few could be beg
ged to remain to pass a perfunctory resolu
tion of thanks for my speech which I never
finished. ”
Ordered Out of New Orleans.
“Well, that about exhausted your interest
in the mission of pence, did it not?”
“1 confess 1 had little thought thereafter
of accomplishing any good, but, as 1 had
an engagement to address the chamber of
commerce in New Orleans,courtesy demand
ed that, I should go thither. I did go, but
1 had scarcely registered at the St . Charles
hotel and my family gotten their trunks un
packed before my presence became known
and J was waited upon by the mayor of the
city. He very brusquely informed me that
he bad been on the lookout, for my arrival,
that he knew my mission, and that a train
would leave for the north in just two hours
from that moment and he wanted me to be
a passenger on it. I protested mildly, but
he was firm, and so we rcj>acked ouj- lug
gage and le£t the city as commanded.”
Colonel Lathers speaks of these experi
ences with quaint humor and evidently cul
tivates the memory of them with pleasure,
lie is still an active man in politics, social
and club life, and is a typical southern gen
tleman from whom, in his older days, the
smart gilding of Gotham life is vanishing,
and Hie gonial hospitable cavalier fashion
of the old south is returning to make mellow
and gracious the last days.
The Administration.
From The Butler, Ga., Herald.
The Atlanta. Constitution stated that Geor
gia. was entitled to something over 2,400 ap
pointments, ami that it had no doubt President
Cleveland would recognize the justice of the
claim. Forthwith all the worshiping crowd
sot up a great cry that The Constitution had
assailed the administration. In a few days,
however, it appeared that President Cleve
land’s ideas of the matter were on the line
of those advanced by The Constitution.
We regal'd President Cleveland as an hon
est. straightforward democrat. He made
us a good president one term and we believe
he wifi not lower ids record during the present
term But while we feel thus, we do not con
sider that he is so hedged in by the divinity of
otli'-o that his acts are above criticism. We
believe licit the purpose of the democratic
n-ii-tv is first and before all else to restore
Irnod government to the country. We may
diner about details but when the party speiiKs,
n! mvst obeV from president down to the
humblest private, at least all good democrats
V ' t'lir'v has demanded free coinage
r utlvof »l 'has demanded the repeal of tfie
m!v’ st tlb- -’Si.' -oite banks, and it
Ims demanded a radical reform of the tariff,
i t rlnisi and more, tho demoertic party has
promised the people. It now has the power
i' redeem those promises, and all are alike
of binding force. When Mr. Cleveland ae
■ented the nomination of bis party he neces
sarily accented its platform, and honesty and
sound policy alike deman i that every promise
be redeemed.