The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-10
A Word With a Novelist.

Mr.. j. w. DE- FOREST has written letter
TO the Nation which is curiosity in it's
way. 1t is remarkable, not for any new
facts or any original doctrines contributed
to current political discussions, but as n
revelation by, OF, and concerning Mr.. DE
FoREsr himself and the insane condition
of mind to which this accomplished gen.
tleman has evidently been reduced by as
ISOLATION with Republican politicians. The
matter of this composition is the matter
of ISGERsoLLs yell and of BLAINE's
whoop. 1t is the kind of trash that join
PATTERSON runs up to Washington 10 get
telegraphed all over the country before
elections, and that boutwell, spouts and
shouts when he tiaunts the dirty shirt
streaked with red in the back towns OF
New England.
OF course the author OF that charming
sketch, the New Member" wraps the
reckless folly of the party hack IN dec
orous phrase, and tricks il out with
the graces OF a superior style. But the
wonder is that the man who has painted
| the most realistic and startling pictures of
| tho horrors of carpet-bag rule, should
| be willing to promulgate this wretched
secondhand twaddle as his own. Is il
n case OF pure faulty where one would
| least expect itf Or has Mr.. DE FOREST
scared so long and so high in the upper
| atmosphere of fiction, that II has become
| impossible to fold the wings OF hi. fancy
aud descend TO the solid ground Of sober
TRUTH
| In this very letter Mr.. DE FOREST ac-
| knowledges freely the almost total corrup-
ton of the party in power, and the abso
lutte necessity for its removal. He Is par
ticularly revolted by its atrocities in the
south. and shrinks with ill-disguised terror
from further "regn of the men who
have pundered the Southern white aud
debauched the Southern black" What i;
| the remedy? Mr.. DE FOREST answers with
the broad declaration that in case of Mr.
| TuDENs election, "no doubt negro gov.
eminent and misgovernment would al
once cease everywhere" Certainly, then
the reader will say, Mr. DE FOREST is gong
to help us save the country by helping II:
to elect the reform candidate. But no, hC
thought he would until tho time ap
proaches;" and now lie has concluded tC
let the country continue on the high roat
to perdition four years longer, while h
amuses himself by a little tussle with thu
gnost OF the buried rebellion, and en-
courages Bon INGERsoLL, Father TAFT
and ANANIAs HAYS in u similar perform
ance.
| But let us see what Mr.. DE FOREST reall,
thinks, II, indeed, a man who argues IRON
imaginary premises to unsubstantlal con
illusions can be said to think at all. II
begin with. then, he fears the cotton Ia!
would be refunded, and says: "perhap
this would bs justice" He has no objec
ton to the payment but insists that II
order TO accomplish it the Supreme Cour
would have TO 10 packed ami in this h
discovers great peril " TO something O
somebody. Now, as matter OF fact. tn
Supreme Court has been packed and vi
packed to suit various party exigences b
the Republican party, while the Demo
} cratic party has unanimously and decided
Iy condemned all partisan tamperng wit
. the high tribunal. But il the Democra
were disposed TO initiate the bad examp
Of their adversnries, how does Mr.. J.
/ | FOREST expect them to go about ~ Pre-