The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-10-25
SAM IL. M'LIN.
Death OF the Famous Florida Returning
BOarder.
tFrom the Atlanta Constitution.

uercd convection or even debated WIN MIN
self the propriety OF changing base He was
a Republican by choice and conviction ana
sympathy, and if there ever was an intelligent
man in the South who became Republican
through unselfish and impcrsonal motives sam
McLin was that man. He was never looked
on as a possible convert to Democracy or con-
servatism. He did not 90 into the mlre OF
politics; he was never one of those dcspicable
men who forced the race issue on his people,
he was not active in any of the movements OF
the campaign, and yet there was not a more
offensive man or one more profoundly hated
in the Republican ranks. 1t was his cold ug-
ly, defiant manner that brought down curses
on his head. lll,natured and Informed, dys-
pcptic and unsocial, venomous and fearless OF
speech, literally contcmnng and desplsing the
teachings and practices of Democracy-he
walked through the city of his home a pariah
and an oucast. Nothing could have pleased
him better. He disdalned the oily methods
of his associates, who made of politics pro-
fession, and asplrcd to have it said that, barr
ing their politics, they were fine fellows He
hated Democracy and was perfectly willing
that Democracy should hate him. He had
several personal difficulties, and accepted ply
steal punishment with pretty much the same
fine dlsdain that he took his social ostracism.
The fiery and irasclble Judge Cooke, who, as
attorney. general, lived for a year or so in a
state-house without being on speaking terms
with one of its inmates, from Governor Stcarns
down, once assaulted McLin with a stick, and
hardly forced him into the palpable necessity
of running from the blows that were raned
about his shoulders.
THE DESTINIEs OF AMERICA IN HIS HANDS,
This was the sort of man, therefore, that on
tI,, Oft 1,nr Il mad nt ha
had the destiny of America in his hands-that
in his thin and talon-like fingers was the one
vote that would make or unmake president
1t was testimony to the mans firmness and
his stubbornness Of the most convincing char
acter that not a single man of the crowd that
about the Florida capital ever be
lieved for one single moment of all the weary
weeks of the returning board sessions that
there was the slightest possible chance for his
counting that vote in favor of the Democrats
Many theories were entertained as to Cowgirl,
the Only and atlnblc colleague of McI.in. Gov.
Walker, OF Florida, believed that he WAS Il
gentleman, and would through his fine in.
stlncts, revolt at the dirty work before him
This theory was based as far as could be learn
ed upon the sole fact that Cowgirl was grand
nephew Of the great Clayton, Of Delaware,
and was entertained only by Gov. Walker
There were others who held that Cowgirl was
corrupt and could be bought. OF these was
Manton Marble, who with the clumsiness of a
bad man trying to put pretty phase on
doubtful experiment, used to visit HIM and
talk of money to him. There were others who
thought that he was sociabe and ambitious of
himself Adhering to tins theo-
nv was Gen. Barlow, who wasted many sweet
hour of converse on Cowgirl But McLin was
never accused Of being gentleman enough to
be purchased or social enough to be approach
ed. He was given up to be fanatic, pure and
mplc-sct in his head and deranged in his
bowels. 1t was known that he was just as
sure to decide all points for the Republicans
and to cast the vote for Hayes as If he had
been a castirOn man, with heart Of marble
and brain of sponge, and had been wound
up to his metallic insides for the mechanical
performance of that thing. The argument of
the Democratic counsel was never addressed
to him. He sat while argument was being
made with his tense wrinkled face held tightly
IN his hand, and, when the argument was
closed, rose and quietly voted for the Republi-
can side, with the air of one who had been
wantony delayed in the performance of a.
plain and righteous duty. He never waived
one shade from this course, and he would
have died at the stake before he would have
shabby clothes, and his still shabbier face, his
ccvetous manner as he salked to his chosen
work, actually became invested with a sort of
llgnlty by those who knew of the unconqucr-
able resolution that burned in his breast
His life since the close of his work on the
board has been one of inetlable sad
ness. He had been promised by Hayes any
sort of prcferment he might want. He went
% Washington to have this promise fulfilled |
After stumbling and cvasive course, induced
~ the bitter personal hostility Of Senator Con
,vcr the president appointed him Judge of
New Mexico. He went ut once to his appoint. |
nent, and probably sat in Judgment on one or
wO cases. When his name came before the |
enate Conovcr succeeded in having his con
irmatiOn beaten. He was therefore recalled
rom his far-off location. He came back and
begged that he be paid his salary for the
month or two he had served, and his expenses
o and from his post, which amounted to
bout $500 and which he had paid ont of his |
canty means. He was denied even this, and
vas left in an attic in Washington in an al
most starving condition. While in this attic
he was discovered by one Alfred Morton, who
lad been in charge of the detectives st work
or the Republicans in Florida. In talking
With this man he confessed that he had dis
covered the facts in the session of the return
NO board that convinced him that the state
eally went for Tilden, and that If the work
vas to be done over he would be compelled to
ote to give 1t to Tildcn. This detective was
hen working in the interest of Conkling, who
vas seeking to overthrow the administration
# Mr. Hayes. He at once carried this news to
lis patron, and from this clew was begun the
work that resulted IN the confession of the
principal actors in the Florida fraud of 1876, |
nd that, when published in the New York
Yerald ON the Goth Of April 1878, made such
profound impression. The publication of
his statement of McLin's of course estranged
lin from the administration, and he left
Washington broken in soul and body, and
ought retreat on the st, Johns. 4 mortal
disease had by this time seized him, and he
ank rapidly under It's ravages His son, a
boy, was killed by a blow with a
baseball bat in Thomasville, Va. Since then
re has lived in unmixed Indebtedness and