The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-10-18
Ths 4n'p"ri" Nt~S.
JOHN G. FREMONT.
An Interview with Him.

AS Chicago was waving her last good
by yesterday to the fourth President OF
of the Republican party, the man who
bore the standard of its infancy, and &C
cepted certain defeat to immortaliZe
principle, arrived almost unnOticed. The
man was the cOnqueror of California,
the pathfinder of the great transconti-
mental railway, the first candidate for the
presidency of the Republicans, General
John c. Fremont. The veteran pioneer
officer was accompanied by Jessie"
now a stately, snowy-haired lady, still
possessing those remarkable charms of
mind and person that made her famous
in other days. A son and daughter of
the venerable couple were with them, as
was also Colonel James, fellow from
tiersman of the Generals in the days of
40, The party are en- route TO Arizona,
the General having been recently APP
pointed governor of the territory. A
representative of the Inter-Ocean met
the veteran at the Palmer House last
evening, and enjoyed a pleasant chat with
him.
"You have not been in Arizona for
some years, suppose" remarked the re-
porter.
"a generation ago." remarked the Gen.
eral, / ran the boundary line between
Mexico and that part of the United
States now called Arizona. l have new
er been in the country but once since,
and that was some five years later"
"What do you expect to accomplish in
ArizonaT'
81 shall do all can to develop the
country. 1t has great resources and a
varied climate. Parts of it are suited TO
grazing, other portions to agriculture,
but, above all, its mines are most i'm.
pOrtant."
"What do you think of the idea of in
creased trade with Mexico?"
81 think it entirely practicable. Now,
since this idea of war between the coun-
tries IS not so prevalent as in former
years, it is much more feasible. We
used to talk about fighting them. Now
we prefer to trade with them, as it is far
more profitable than war"
Have you been over the route of your
celebrated expeditions recently?''
1.-THE Union Pacific railroad crosses
the mountains within sight of the place
where we crossed the Rockies in '46. l
have never been at Salt Lake since those
days, except to pass right through.
When l was there last it was perfect
wilderness, without a white settler''
"Are any of the men of your expedi-
tion living?"
"Oh, yes. Cody, the creole, is living
in California, and wealthy, as are a num-
Der of others: In fact, all of them who
stayed in that country grew rich. Kit
Carson is dead. He came to New York
shortly before his death. Imet him and
advised him to see good physicians
They told him that he was liable to die
at any moment. He had injured his
heart. He went to one of the frontier
n Inn I, aI
time to bid his friends good-by. Then
he died as he had lived, brave man"
What do you think of the prospects
of the Republican partyg"
Il am not in politics lately. The next
election is very important one, and l
could not predict the result. You say
that 1t is claimed that the Hayes admin
istration has weakened the party. Now
/ think President Hayes means well.
The trouble is, the people are not &C
quainted with HIM. If they were, they
would like him better. In the case Of
General Grant, he was known personally
TO perhaps half "A million of soldiers. /
have always found that officers and men
who have served together are always at
tached to each other. Give a man $780,
900 friends in this country and you see
what strength he may WELD if he wishes
TO take advantage of it,"
THE National party leaders compare
their rise with that of the Republican
party, and point to its strength when you
were candidate for the Presidency"
There is no comparison. Our party
was founded on great moral principle,
that which we had been taught from the
birth of the nation-freedom. That idea
appealed to the gallantry of the young
men. The contagion was irresistible,
and swept the north. This party is
founded on abstract financial questions, |
and can never succeed on that basis"
What will be the outcome of the pop |
llar labor movement
ut will result in a representation in
congress of the lower classes. Large
numbers of our people are suffering. |
They want men in the national legisla- |
Lure who will consider this a matter of
vital importance, and discuss it with a |
view to seek n remedy. For the last few
years now congress has been legislating
on financial questions, promising better
times, but they have not come These
people want a remedy for this state of
things. They hardly know how to bring
1t about, but they want men who will
represent them and try to alleviate their
case: 1t will all be done peaceably. We
shall have no trouble. The people are
the French. 1t will be done by ballot.
1t may be accomplished within the linn
its and under the banner of any party,
but think that hereafter the masses of
the people will be heard more and more
in the conduct of our national affairs"
After some further conversation with
the veteran on kindred topics, the inter
view closed. General Fremont is an
old man now, some 65 years of age. He
looks in the best of health and spirits.
His hair and beard are snowy white, yet,
with all these marks of time upon him,
he is as sprightly as ever, and is evident
ly close student of the signs of the
times. The recognition of his valuable
services to the country by President
Hayes will be regarded by the public as
a worthy token of appreciation of great
mans achievements. The party leave
this morning by way of the Chicago and
Northwestern for Salt Lake, whence they
go south to their new hOme.-Cnicago
1nter-Ocean.