New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-28
Micbael Hmm.

| The correspondent of the Chicago Inter
| Ocean in a letter from New Orleans reviews
the situation and deals some sharp blows on
all sides. Among the bits Of political gossip
| are sketches of prominent men of both
parties, and one of the best is of Speaker
Hahn. which is here reproduced:
Ex Governor Hahn, Speaker of the House.
is q German by descent He was engaged in a
| modest practice of the law here when the war
broke out, but did not hesitate to denounce
secession from the platform. After Buffers
advent he was elected to fill an unfinished
congressional term. was admitted to bis
seat and distinguished himself IS d stub
born loyaist, a forcible speaker. and a
fruitful counselor upon Southern needs. In
1864 he was elected Governor of the State,
| and the ensuing year to the United States
Senate. but that body, undetermined as to
a Southern policy of rehabilitation, though
averse from LincOln's plan OF immediate re-
admission to their original relations of The
States, as they might be reclaimed by arms
did no more than hold its door ajar to MIR
Hahn, thrust out ito head and commend
the man rather than the precedent he had
come in Louisiana's interest to establish.
He made sturdy but truitless remonstrance,
and at len 9Th returned home a mere citizen,
as naked of the Senatorship as when for it
Hahn is short, adpose man, say forty
five years of age, with keen little eyes that
are always on the alert. He is frank,
whether as friend or as q Toe; ia cautious
in resolving his opinions, but blunt and
even arbitrary in announcing them. The
first Louisianian to pronounce in 1862 for
colored sutfraSans, and increasingly inimical
to all miscellaneous demagogues in his own
or the opposition party; the sworn foe of
partisan despOtism and official corruption;
q Republican who has made bold, honest
battle for principle, and who, falling under
the blUdgeon On that awful day OF July,
1866, rose later from his bed erect and
resolute as ever; man against whom no
whisper of misconduct has been directed
he commands the unalloyed respect and
confidence of both political parties. You
greet an indomitable self-cOnsciousness in
him that cavils and ISLANDERS cannot sting.
His skin is thick rind, SO to speak His
Teutonic phlegm SO tempers his American
zeal that he is like horse of fine mettle, !
responsive to the bride; he never wastes |
himself in restiveness, but waits for handi- !
caps. He likes public station. but must have |
it by open sOr,ie, or not at all. He regards |
official tenure as moral larceny, where in
cumbents crawl into it by stealth, through |
the back door of a ring or over the fence |
of caucus. He sguarely announces |
the stewardship he seeks, moves toward |
it in open daylight, and in his last |
election was hidden, as | Jamestown, "God-
speed" by both Political parties, a circum-
stance OF peculiar significance in view OF |
the general acrmony between them. Hahn |!
has d brilliant future before him. less be-
cause Of any pre-eminent ability than be-
cause he is resolute, equable, and honest
These traits are granite blocks. solid and
safe. Chosen member OF Congress, Gov
ernor, and a United States Senator before |
bis thirty fth year, and weary. perhaps, of
rust and inactivity during the last six
years. he is about to start anew, if mis-
take not, and has climbed to the Speaker
ship to proclaim as much and to make
PREDATORY survey