National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-05-27
DOWN in ALABAMA.
A GLANCE AROUND MONTGOMERY.
The Old Secession Capitol-Tho City and It's sur-
rOundlnss-Jeif Davis and "reminiscences
Tho Political SItuation-Ths
Coming Campaign.
Special Correspondence ofTnr Rrrun1IcAu

= Special Correspondence ofTHE REPUBLICAN.
= MoSTGoMERY, Ala, May 2O.-A pleasant ride
from Atlanta, Ga, of between six and seven hours
duration, over the Western Railroad Of Alabama
brought me to this place late on Thursday even
ing. The route carried me through or along thu
edge Of fine agricultural country, the soil grudu
ally changing from red to whitish sandy clay
and the crops Of oats (now being cuO wheat corn
, and cotton observed indicated plentiful harvfsu
In most localities. Newman, Ca, West Point, upor
the line between that State and Alabama, ant
opolika are all nourishing towns each containing
r should judge, between two and three thousanC
inhabitants.
! AFTER LEAVING WEST POINT
! the general appearance Of the country changes
perccpubly, falling froma gently rolling upland
to low and comparatively level expHnse o
J prairie, brok u, however, here and there by tho
small streams tributary TO tho Alabama River
which drains this region. The next day nfter my
arrival here proceeded to interview the brethren
whom found earnest in the cause of good gov.
crnmcnt, and Astounding In faith and good works
Later on, under the guidance Of Pc master Buck
, Icy, was driven through the principal streets
and subsequently visited the state House, from
whence n fire view OF Alabama's capital and its
surroundings is to DO obtained.
MONTGOMERY, WHICH GAINED
considerable nOtoriety something over twenty
years ago because Of its having been, so TO speak
the birth. place Of the so.clled confcder ate states
government, Is stnted upon the east bank of the
Alabama River not far from the head OF nayiga.
tion and has u population Of about 5000. The
business portion of the city occupies n broad,
level, and rather low plateau extending west.
ming iu MI eaSterly direction for some distance,
doubles back upon itself, thus forming long,
slender loop, which inclOses tract of land oppO-
site of considerable extent, rich in soil aud btai-
tiiul TO look upon, but liable to overflow En-
yoiopins The business center, as i were, upon the
north, east and south Is scmicirculnr ridge, or,
| rather u succession Of hills, which terminate In
tho remainder OF the city Is built.
THE STREETS ARE REGULARLY LAID OFT
and, considering all things are kept in excellent
condition. They are mostly un paved. but appear
free from dust. Many of them are filed in, chiefly
with coarse gravel and some shells. Numerous
handsome private residences are to be seen, nnd in
some instances great taste has been displayed, not
only In architectural design, tut H's5 in so
eating them that all the natural advantages of
tuatiOn arc now fully utilized There is an
abundance Of shade furnished by n variety of
trees Cumlnun TO this section. what is known nS
!he water oak seeming to predomina'c, and az
that goodly portion of the buildings Ure almost
hidden from eyen II bird'Seye view. There nrc
ings erected for business purposes arc ha rdly
worthy Ufso handsome city as this
| THE CITY RAIL-, IL WHICH
are located the post Office the United States court
rOOm clerks, marshnl's and district attorneys
offices of the National Government. Is u plain,
rough, rcd-brick structure, possibly large aud
|
was originally dedicated, but it is far from being
M element Of beauty in the general make. up, aud
building s demasded by t tbe Federal Iusncss
, this place, and which should be built speedily.
city-hall The State capitol, which stands upon
the high ground to the eastward, looking down
! upon the 81 y presents fine appearance from a
distance, although It is devoid Of sll ornamental
! ton. IL Is built Of brick, covered outside with a
white stucco, and surmounted by an observatory
Hotel accommodations are limited. The Ex-
change, whieh has II Genital lotation, and is con
sider.d the best is noted as having been the one
, from
WHENCE JEFF DAVIS DIRECTED
the telegram ordering Beauresafd to open fire
upon Fort sumter in 1861. In business point OF
ygw Mongomery Is now at its worst Trade Is
: chants look hopefully forward to the tall when
V their harvest time will commence, Tho farmers
TOO, as they gaze over their fields of grain and cot
Ion all promising iair returns for their labor and
ut.puts, so about their work cheerfully, nj.
though TO most of them the last few mouths have
r been exceedingly trying ones. There are few
manufacturing enterprises here, cotton factory,
two cott9n;saed oil mills, an oil rennsry.and iot
but yet, owing to the extent and fertility of the
: agricultural territory, of which 1t is the center,
5 mcrcial importance, and will have little, If any,
difficulty In maintainins i,sproperposition among
the business marts of the South. This letter could
not be considered complete without some refer
ence being made TO
TIE POLITICAL SITUATION,
which, as in Georgia and other States have
l visited is rather mixed. With anything like a
free ballot aud flir count Alabama would take her
place at once among the Republican states. But
under the existing condition of things IL Is doubt
| ful IL the Bourbon power can be oyerthTown, eN-
cept by The cooperation of all who nre IN favor Of
their former party affiliations That there is a
considerable LibeIal element at work in the State
cannot be denied. Only within the last few days
Democratic county convention lin the Hon. II,
A. Herbert's district promulgated officially a
series of resolutions, which show the present
DRIFT OF PUBLIC OPINION
| To-. \
lished
Whereas, upon tho purity of the ballotbox depends
the perpetulty Of our free Institutions; and whereas,
favor ofa" free ballot aud iir coun;p and whefcas
o nw P ha rnsss G be- in the
Resoiped That Il Is the sense fthe lie nocratlc and
present election law Of Alabama should be repeated
state convention, 70 be held in the city OF Mont,
gomery June demand pledge rom said tate con
ee"naed @ in power rspesi aa slseto% % PAW at T thG
next session Of the General Assembly, and enact an
election law that viii insure fairness and prevent
fraud.
laws complained Of are the work Of the party
dominant here, and, further, that their repeal
must necessarily deprive the
BoURBoss OF THE PRINCIPAL MACHINERY
through which they maintain themselves in office,
the voice of even single county in favor OF such
repeal is an evidence that liberalism is not myth
in Alabama. And the Republicans whom have
met here are not unmindful of This fact. find
them unanimously IN favor of any movement
whlcn VIII teAu 10 tue dAihtvBrtllOn ana eventual
overthrow of Bourbonism. But yet there Is an
equal unanimity in the opinion that the orgnnlza-
ton OF the Republican, party must be main aimed
/, intact Upon this point there Is no dissent from
any one and am satisfied that with such men as
Judge Bruce, Judge buckley, the present post.
master, United States Marshal osborn, and Deputy
Marshal Jost, Register scott and Receiver Slro-
bach, of the Land ONCE Collector of Internal Row.
emue Rapicr, United States Clerk Of Court Dim
mick, and Others whom l could name, all active
workers.
THE NEXT CAMPAIGN
will prove most trying one to the opposition
even under the most favorable conditions they
cnn manufacture. The outlook is hopeful for The
friends of gotd government, and | should not be
surprised If the Republicans made some gains
especially If the liberal Democrats cooperate as
they ought, against the common enemy. The
| United States court, Judge Bruce presiding, Is In
session, and engaged i'll trying cases chiefly for
violations of the timber laws have found the
Judge, us well as the other officials,
SOUND AND THOROUGH GOING REPUBLICAN;
and all of them heartily indorse the course of THE
| NATIONAL REPUBLICAN touching Southern affairs,
which Is II sufficient commendatiOn of the views
they entertain. came near forgetting TO mention
that have met here several Wasnngtonians,
among them General Albert Pike and Mr.. William
NJ. Ireland, who arc here oil business connected
with the Masonic fraternity, and jerome j. Hinds
who Is travelling on his own account | shou d not
be Bit surprised If tho latter hud in view some
J political spirations-perhaps ho would even run
! Tor Congress In the Selma District, where he
claims hls residence If he could get the chance,
Nous reirOns. The weather is quite pleasant
quite cool for tho season, and rather dry, but Il
rain Is threatening and will come in good time, rs
the crops, especially corn and cotton, are sadly in
need OF IL, My next letter will probably be from
some point in Nurh Carolina, the location OF
which am unable Ms yet TO determine.
a Girl Who Saved a Mans Life.