National Republican., 1877-10-08
THE HOT SPRINGS.
Carpet -Baggers In tho Civil servicc-views OF
an Arkansian on the Appointment Of Gen.
Kelley.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct. Q, 1877.

WASHINGTON, n. c. Oct G, 1877.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN: In your paper of this
morning read with pleasure an interesting sketch
Of Gen. B. =. Kelley, who has lately been appointed
superintendent OF the Hot Springs Of Arkansas. I
see by this sketch that Gen. Kelley was merchant
and military man, and for the life Of me cannot
sec how this gave him such peculiar qualifications
that the one hundred and thirty thousand voters OF
Arkansas had to be passed by and q superintendent
Of the springs selected from West Virginia, Had
Gen, Kelley been native Of Ohio l might have
Permit me here to say few words further about
the Hot Springs and carpet. .bngycrs. II has been
said that the present Administration is opposed TO
that element Of the Republican party in the South
called carpet baggers' As am native Of the
South. can define
THE WORD "cARPET-BAGGER"
as applied there in politics. It mcans"a Republi.
this the definition, Gen Kelley Is the fourth
pet bagger sent to Hot SPRING. since last April.
s!oners, whose duty il was 10 dispose fthe springs
in the manner directed by the bill. Amer Congress
adjourned Senators Dorsey and Garland and Rep
rcsentaives Cause Wiltshire. Guner and SlemOns,
the entire Arkansas delegation, among whom there
is only one Republican agreed upon three mcn.
and then 70 Hays
three interests to he considered first the United
states and to represent that we offer Mr.. Morgan
Claims: next the old citizens and rs their repre-
sentative we offer General Fagin, native OF the
state and Democrat third, the new citizens. and
| to represent them we present Ex-Governor Hadcy,
NORTHERN MAN
| and Republican, and as the only questions that
can arise the only parties that are Interested are
the United States and the People Of Arkansas, we
ask the appointment Of these three men as COM
| misSiOncrs." Every Arkansas man In Washington.
both Republicans and Democrats urged these par
| ties commissioners hut no attention paid to
their requests. and three carpet bag ggers." ex-
Senator Cragin. Of New Hampshire; eN-Representa-
tive Coburn, of Indiana, and cx Governor Stearns,
| of Florida were sent there.
Now. sir, ! do not attach any oppro brium to the
word "carpctbaggers." believe that a citizen of
the United States has right 10 settle anywhere he
peases aud vote talk his political convictions.
but there Is prejudice against cRrpet.baggcrs, and
this Administration Is said IN share II. Why. then,
| Is Arkansas made the receptacle for this new i'm
portItion Of Official carpet baRgers? II Is not be-
cause Of their superior ability their attention to
business, as am credlbly Informed that the com.
misSioncTs while drawing their ten dollars per
day regularly, have been absent from the State Rt
least three months Of the time. As far as General
Kelley Is concerned have no doubt that he Is a
gentleman, but know that there are a score OF
men at Hot Springs and thousand In Arkansas
who are competent, II not more So than General
Kelley to discharge the duties OF Superintendent
and want 1t distinctly understood that am no,
one OF them rs an affection Of the lungs prevents
me from residing there. ARkASsIAS.