The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1876-08-10
Correspondence.
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 20, 1C'

WASHINGTON, d. c., July 20, 1910
disqualification of Democrats Econon,,
a,m Rcjorm--Tnf uepce ofde ndchiag,
Of Lamar on tie ltAae Race Of n,
South.
In It's issue OF the 20 inst. the Ma
tional Republican says: "If q man
is to be judged by the company he
keeps, Tilden is indeed a sad reform
er." Before judgment is made up
under this very just rule, there
should be included in the list of his
present active friends, the name of
Maj. Tom. O'Conner, of Tennessee,
q representative man Of tho rebel
party Of that state, which is counted
sure for Tilden in the coming cleo
ton, and who was chosen by tho 81
Louis Convention TO notify tho Re-
former Hendricks Of his nomination
for tho Vice-Presidency. In this
connection It may net DO uninterost-,
ing to knov who Mai. O'Conner is.
Prior to tho rebellion no was a
citizen Of moderate means, engaged
in tho honorable avocation Of o Sad
ler, in Knoxville, Tennessee, Gov.
Brownlows home, espousing tho re.
bel cause, he served gallaptly during
the war, winning destinotio,s, among
other things by having ",oinged" a
victim or two, in true southern style,
in accordance with the highly chiu-
diric rules of tho Oode Dueiio, AT
the close Of the war he returned to
Knoxville, his first distinguishing act
a. q citizen being settlement with
his creditors, through the medium
OF the court Of Bankruptcy, in which
settlement IL was said his creditors
profitted little and he much. Re-
suming his anti-billum occupation.
he has pursued it at Knoxville aud
Nashville to the present time, and is
now estimated to be worth half a
million dollars, and Is leader in the
Democratic party in that state.
Il must not bo presumed however,
that this financial success is the sole
result of legitimate trade. Not at
all. Mai. OConner is imhued with
the spirit of true robel honor. Like
Morressey be is proud Of his acquire.
monts. Like him, he is a profession
al gambler, aad prides himself on his
ability to Aeecs his game. BY virtue
Of his notoriety 40 q man "who will
shoot, he oan sweep the board with az
much impuuity % his oouptryman
oan by virtue Of his muscle. He is
brave, frank, open hearted and lih-
eral In bis expenditures, will give
money freely to decorate the graves
Of federal dead, or to celebrate tho
4th Of July. In an ordinary business
transaction, his word is good for
money. Withal he is better man
than hundreds Of thousands of such
rebel patriots as Lamar for he is
honest enough to express his real
sentiments in public plsoes, is braoe
enough to soy openly what he pro-
poses 70 accomplish. He would
never stain his honor, II o member Of
Congress, by standing in his place
in the House, and uttering glittering
denunciations OF such horrible mas.
sacres as that at Hamburger, whom
his own election to high position
had been secured by fraud, intimida.
ton and blood shed, ne would soon-
or boast of the frauds no had com.
mitted, of the crimes he had counte>
nanced, and challenge you to deny
him the position ho had won at tho
expense OF evory sacred right OF
American citizenship. lie is not one
to profess virtue DO docs not pos
seas, he never
"Stole the livery ofths Court Of Heaven
To serve the devil in"
Yet possessing these virtues he
has all tho attributes Of Bourbon
Democrat. He is fond of the ''social
glass; and can, il occasion requires,
! carry a full cargo of "Robison Coun-
ty" without reefing sail. In poll
tics, he is unscrupulous. Amid the
loyal element OF East Tennessee,
will stand at the ballot box aud bold.
ly attempt to buy votes enough to
carry an election. Among the cut-
throat Ku Klux of Middle or West
Tennessee, he would hesitate at no
degree of fraud or foroe necessary to
intiWidate Republican majorities,
and insure the success at the ballot
box of tho cause he ohampionod with
his sabre on tho battle fields of the
rebellion.
But it was not ON tho battle field,
in legitimate trade or OF the card
table, that Mai. O'Conner has won bis
principal notoriety, tho bulk Of his
money, and his consequent high
position among the rsiormers Of the
Tildsp School.
Since 1869, when the Demo cratic
party, under the speoious cry OF eco-
nomy and. reform, through the null
fication Of the laws Of the State.
seized tho reins Of government in
Tenpessse,hs has been Q leader OF
che most graaelsss end successful
ring that eyer pursod the country.
A ring that has robbed that debt
hurdsned State Of over twenty Ave
million dollsrs. that has failed for
seven years 10 pay the interests on
the State debt, that has relinquiah-
| cd. under The CRY Of liquidation and