The New York herald., 1875-09-01
White SULPHUR SPRINGS.
Southern Politicians at the Spa of
the Chivalry.
POLITICAL GOSSIP AT THE HOTELS.
Ex-Governor Vance OH jeff Davis and the
Currency Question.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS,


ex-Coniederate officers as to prevent them from max
ing their annual pilgrimage to these Springs there will
come wall OF woe scarcely less poignant than that
uttered when they dsfranchlsed and almost ex-
patriated The consolation that comes to them in
their dark hours, when their lingering political hopes
indefinitely deferred when the people seem to
get their illustrious services, and even when
poverty pinches is that for a month or SO
they will forget their cares and 90 to tho
White Sulphur, and there meet and encourage
another. And as the mother lives over
her youth and girlish pleasures in the
cesses of her daughter, do these gentlemen-with
sometimes shade OF jealousy-deriye their happiest
Inspirations and most of the delight that vouchsafed
them In watching and advising the rising generation Of
and patriots 1t is hard for them to
der all hold upon the world, and if by OF
changes that have taken place. they longer able
to get occupy prominent POSITIONS they deter
mined If possible, that their opinions and experiences
shall be impressed upon those who to be their sue
l really think but few of the old leaders
pect, whatever they may wish TO become powerful
again. They feel that their grasp is lost
and that If they are ever to have
hearing it will be through the medium of
young who have to extent imbibed
their ideas and learned the lessons Of wisdom at their
feet The gentlemen refer TO have been here this
talked the times long past-the fierce contests of
other days and the prospects OF the future; and the
aforesaid officers have in conversation fought their
battles dssected plans OF successful and
campaigns and for the moment lived over the exciting
days Of the
While have observed close fellowship between tho
old political leaders and the ex-Confederate officers
take it that most of the latter of different mould
from the former Certain OF the Confederate officers
practically laid away the shelf with their political
cronies but the far greater number the salt and
Of this part Of the moral vineyard. They
have hopes, and good and reasonable hopes, too;
for wherever they have shown adaptation to
the existing state of affairs their military record has
been IN the State, county and city governments safe
passport to promotion. The teachings of their elders
may possibly be kindly heard but these are not
going to throw away their chances because they have
lost theirs So in the grand company of fashion, intel
lgence and influence here assembled and representing
nearly every Southern State Iremark feeling of buoy
ancy and genuine patriotism that is more pointed and
distinct because few-a very few-gentemen do not
share encourage 1t If there is a station in human
nature arrived at which people may respect advisers
without being much influenced by their advice, think
ninety nine out Of the hundred of these Southern
visitors may be stated to be exactly there.
JEFFERSON DAVIS
speak the county fair in winnebago county, Illinois,
has given opportunity for the utterancc Of all OF
sentiments capable OF being evoked by the occasion
The thoughtful and conservative Southerners regarded
the invitation handsome thing and they considered
1t long step in closing the gap Of sectional feeling
But they sorry that Mr.. Davis accepted it. The
feeling with reference to Mr. Davis hard to be under
stood. 1t is another case where those who do not
fail to respect a mans opinion refuse to
aDy voes in the oS ouS RSs %ero 9Be
voters authorized to give him their suirages STILL
those Southerners who never liked him wish him
nothing but good luck The painful feeling Is abroad
that he do the South good, and that the life of
privacy and manly silence which General Lee led from
the hour of the surrender to his death Mr. Davis
example which true policy would urge him to pursue.
When 1t thought Mr.. Davis would speak In Illinois
it was feared that he would say something that would
do the whole Southern people harm and there not
few who sincerely believed that matter how
guarded and discreet he might be- still in the hands OF
to work injury to the Of fraternal
Cancellation and future democratic success. The
latter by means an inferior consideration. Tho
uprising of the people Of Winnebago and the letter
from Mr.. Davis withdrawing from the engagement of
course settles tho question MT Davis treatment is
declined To accept the invitation person does
aught else than sternly disapprove the summary and
violent way by which his invitation was practically
rescinded For the moment, and probably for all time,
all Southern sympathy is with Mr. Davis and he is in
vested with q martyr-like character.
EX-GOVERNOR VANCE.
In an address delivered here short while SINCE be-
fore meeting of friends OF the Southern Historical
Governor of North Carolina" in relating
the part North Carolina took in the war
for Southern Independence avaled himself Of the
sion TO say that the Southern lost mot in
the field but at home" He did not lay the blame di-
rectly entirely at the door OF Mr. Davis but he
didn't mean to charge good share of the responsible
y to him then his language is susceptible of double
construction Governor Vance also stated that after the
failure Of the Hampton Roads Conference-whch Mr.
Davis is by some believed to have prevented from
ceedng-Confederate Senator Graham, Of North Caro-
lima who recently died at Saratoga came TO him Vance)
with suggestion that North Carolina should make her
acted on behalf of a considerable number
of Confederate Congressman but without actu-
ally indorsing the scheme himself Governor
Vance declined to entertain the proposition, saying
that in the mountains Of North Carolina where he was
raised, when a man was whipped he had to say
"enough himself not by proxy, and that those Coned
crates who wanted TO end the should follow the
precedent This address of Governor Vance is
likely TO be heard from again. as II was in the main in
tended to demonstrate that though Virginia may have
furnished the leaders for the Southern struggle North
Carolina furnished the men and materia-at least
largely greater than her due proportion thereof This
Virgnians viii hardly assent to- whatever other South
States may do in the premises II will be strange
indeed If General Jubal A. Early, who is peculiarly
jealous Of the fame of Virginia. but not unwilling to give
due credit TO others, does not out Vance with
one of his peculiarly ncsive historical corrections
THE CURRENCY QUESTION.
The currency question is discussed here with great
Interest There Is rather an opposition TO very early
return TO specie payments 1t is the belief that Governor
into the Ohio campaign, and IL he does Southern dem
ocrats will be ready to abandon their halfformed views
in order to agree upon such part OF the platform
will likely procure for the democratic nominee for Pres
ident the largest possible vote from the North and West
Southern demecras you may be sure had rather have
change in the government with resumption of specie
payments than continuance of the present adminstra
tion and continuance of the present money policy II
the matter should be put that way. SO few Of the peo
pie really understand the money issue IL will be no
hard task TO reconcile them a resumption of q specie
payment plank in the platform, II coupled with it is a
andS III.
erners securing share OF the national patronage and
active participation in the national government
AS general rule most Of the notables here refuse to
be interviewed on the currency question, Governor
Vance being notable exception
EX-GOVERNOR VANCE ON THR CURRENCY QUESTION.
asked him what his opinions were in regard 10 the
currency question
Governor VANCE said :-"Like most Of tho people OF
my State, and suppose, this State tmeaning Virginia.
my mind in regard 70 the currency question is not fully
made up"