The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1876-09-21
Life Among the Mountains Of Western
Ii North Carolina
VII.

.58s4E NE
VII.
Not long after the celebration, 1 visited
village 90 miles distant, on business pertain
| ing to tn horse problem heretofore referred
! to- The day proved to be one set apart for
Tilden and Hendricks flag raising. My
Democratic friend, Capt. r., who bad
made the afternoon address on tie Fourth,
very fine and gentlemanly man by the way,
invited me to make few remarks on the
occasion. / suggested the unftness OF
placing my name among the list OF speakers.
l was northerner, Republican, and Hayes
! and Wheeler were my very positive cnolce.
He persisted, urging that the remarks need
not be political, but such as would be suita-
Bile on any ordinary occasion of raising
liberty pole, also tEas he thought remarks
from me might add interest etc. 1t was
probably thought that 1t would be quite
novelty to hear Yankee hold forth, but
would MOI promise such qualification.
Towards noon the flag was raised-a flag
consisting of the requisite number of stars
for The States of the union, but having only
|
| Hendricks, and Vance-the latter their can
ddate for governor, were displayed in glar-
ing capitals. After q couple of speeches,
one of which was spread -eagly to a fearful
extent, the crowd of chivalry adjourned to
the Court House. Soon after the opening
there, my Democratic friend who presided,
without warning TO me, made few remarks,
in the course of which there was compliment
tary allusion to the Fourth of July celebra
ton, and the conciliatory sentiments there
| expressed, intimatpg in delicate terms, that
lit would be safe to listen to their author at
that time, and called upon me to speak. 1t
was novel and some what embarrassing Sit
uation, and there was no time to consider
the matter, and 70 way of escape. Such
cordial feeling had been manifested toward
me personally by considerable number of
the citizens, that it seemed fitting to express
at least my good will, though | determined
to leave 10 doubt in their minds as to my
position politically. It was delicate task.
but [ advanced to meet it. l expressed my
appreciation of the compliment of an invita-
J tion-appreciate ed all the more because my
friend knew that I was not Democrat.
spoke Of my mission among them as one not
! political, or speculative, but among other
things, to study the country and the people.
The hospitable spirit everywhere manifested
was referred to. The great mineral resour-
ces of their country were alluded to, they
were to be congratulated on the fact that
|
should have man of unimpeachable integ-
Irlty for next President. (The recent Tilden
developments, as yet not satisfactorily ex-
planned, compel me to retract here, so much
of the above as refers to the Dem ocratic
standard bearer) I assured them of my
full sympathy with all genuine reform.
While of course I hoped for and expected
the election of Hayes and Wheeler. [ could
bid even Tiden God speed, If elected, so far
as his administration was honest and pure.
Considerable applause greeted these mild
sentiments. Regard had been shown for
their courtesy, at least, and [ had yielded
no conviction. The audience was composed
ofthe better class of southerners-planters,
| gentlemen Of leisure of which there are
many, with sprinkling of trash, and an
occasional darkey. Several speeches follow
ed. the sentiments of which were Democratic
of course though some, 1t must be confessed,
sounded rather strangely Cor a people who
were supposed to have surrendered few
years since. / returned to the mountains.
inwardly wondering what experience would
come next. It was afterWard reported
that one man Thought On sight more of
that Yankee for squarely admitting that nc
was a Republican instead of attempting to
evade it," Another regarded it as "plucky.'
I myself thought it good joke both on my
self and on the meeting.
On returning one day from q horseback
ride to little settlement 70 miles away,
with an ex-rebel soldier, We were thrown in
company with Gen. Wade Hampton, now
Democratic candidate for governor of South
Carolina, who was spending some time in
the mountains with his family. We rode
together for nearly two hours, talking poll
ties, slavery matters, war times etc. The
general is a rather poltly man, fond of horse
back riding and the chase, courteous, and
yet strong in his party sentiments. The
conversation was interesting as showing
some new phases of southern feel
ling. 1t was evident to me that the doc
trine of state rights is far from being ex-
tinct. At the conclusion of our ride to-
gether. he politely invited US to stop OF his
boarding place for drink, which my tenn
perance principles compelled me to decline.
In all my contact with the southern nobili- |
ty. which has not been extensive, our inter~
course has been pleasant, unmarried by any
bitter thrusts, with single exception.
Some of them doubtless, felt more than they
One man en- ex-rehel colonel |