National Republican., 1883-07-09
TIE NAN ON THE AVENUE.
small Talk About Men and Measure,

Small Talk About Men and Measures.
Cen Frank Wolford, representative from
the eleventh Kentucky district, is described
as a wiry, nervous little old man with pecu-
liar long nose that looks like abeak and bold,
prominent hawk eyes This odd facial COM
bination taken in connection with forward
stoop of the shoulders and q fashion Of cx-
tending his long arms and gaunt talon-like
hands, gives to him the appearance OF q bird
| Of prey getting ready to fly
"He Is one Of the best types Of tho true
mountain orator ever saw" said Kentucky
| friend, to tho Man on the Avenue. He made
q record during tho war as man Of indomi-
table courage. As colonel Of tho second Ken
lucky cavalry (federal) he made himself o
terror to tho confederates throughout Ken
lucky and Tennessee He had regi-
ment of mountainous like himself
one Of the best bodies of men in
the service. Twas in the confederate army,
and our command never began march that
we we're not confronted by old Wolford. We
had to lick him regularly every morning all
one summer His riders would make stand
and fight like the devil, and then when they
found themselves outnumbered they would
scatter, and come together that night to re-
sumo the fun the next day. / never saw
such command in my life. At
the close of the war old Wolford settled
down and became q democrat, and most OF
his men did the same thing. When the dem
ocrats gave him the nomination for congress
last fall, tho republican state committee sent
Gen. Speed Fry up into his district to ooun-
| teract the influences of old Wolfords war
record. Fry started of, intending to remain
in the district six weeks and speak wherever
Wolford did. He was back in four Days.
"'What's the matter, GeneralP p asked the
chairman, in surprise, as he stalked in, black
as o thunder cloud.
"Matter! Why matter enough If yon
want man to 60 into the eleventh district
to talk against that - old scoundrel Wolford
you will have to find somebody beside me.
I'm done. When l agreed to stump the dis
trict supposed would have sensible men
to talk to; instead, find them all a lot of
blankoty blanked fools, and liars, and scoun-
drels.'
"Didn't they treat you right2''
"Treat me right! Oh, yes, they treated
me right. They treated me like
a prince. When 1 reached the
first town, old wolford met mo with
a cordial welcome, and to my surprise he gave
tho opening and closing of the joint discus
sion. | spoke for one hour and half on
national issues-the tariff, finances, and the
standing of the parties and dwelt with
special emphasis on the magnanimity shown
by the federal government in its treatment
of the confederatcs at the close of the war.
About half of my audience had served In the
confederate army, and 1 saw was producing
q good impression.
"Now what do you suppose that old hook
nosed rascal of Wolford did? Why no got
up and began talking, never paying the
slightest attention to what had said on ma.
tional issues, but after brief introduction
taking up my. good will plea. Don't you be-
lieve word Gen. Fry has told you about the
magnaminity of the federal government and
the republican party he shrieked. It's all
a lie. What did they do with Gen. Lee after
the surrender of Appomattox? Why they
! took him out and hung him right between
the lines in plain "
"Hold on shouted, that is not tfue
: Gen. Wolford, you know you are pervertint
facts
!, q" Instantly two or three Of the old 2t
!. cavalry boys sprang to their feet and swor
that they had been on the ground and seer
Gen. Lee hung, one of them remarking witt
a swagger that if anybody questioned tn
statement he would have to chew on the bar
; rel of six shooter
"What did they do with jeff Davis afte
, he had surrendered p continued old Wolford
why they tied 1,s0o pounds of iron to hi
legs, threw him into dungeon and starve
him for eight months and then took him ou
and hung him. That's what they did wit
5 him. A hi Of magnanimous governmen
. that
: az interrupted to say that jeff Davis wa
alive now and healthy, but two OF three 2
=. cavalry liars stood up and swore they ha
Il seen him hung, and thai If any man dispute
it they would make him eat his words or 81
Q inches Of cold steel. And there the old scoul
/, drel stood, hanging Alex. Stephens Lon
!. street, Joe Johnston, Hampton, and every col
federate of prominence he could think OF, an
10 proving what he said by eye witnesses fro
n the Cd Kentucky cavalry. What show did
have talking to such crowd of Ananiases
that? If old Walford had said the republica
ic party had crucifled Christ and drawn al
quartered the disciples every man in his res
ys ment would have made affidavit to the &C
're rectness OF the statement. l quit then al
%. there. II you ever get me up there
81, en- those mountains again you May shoot me.
be ass
rer In the cou rse of conversation with
Oh attaohe Of the French legation, a well ed
~, NO. Gated and clever gentleman of extensi
travel and opportunity for observation,
bA said;
"You ask mo what they think Of De L.
seps's Panama canal scheme in France. Th
think that De Lesseps has mado great m
take to say the least. Speaking plain
they regard the project as o failure. Notl'
,ch than $l5o,00o,0oo has been expended alreaC
re- as there is nothing to show for the mon
m. Not foot Of the canal has been dug.
} iS Lesseps spent 100000 or $5,OoO,oOO bull
his ing hospitals, millions more in 4
'si sn aries of large and expensive co
sslf of engineers and houses for men g
ur- officers, $1sOOo,oOo or $2o,oo0,ooO for
But Panama railway, and vast sums for dred
6e and machinery purchased in tho Uni
'ore States. The funds of the company are J
m a,n about exhausted, and now an effort is max
.el. to build up another company on the ruins
,ra- the one now in existence. 1t is proposed
nge. buy up the old stock at ton cents on the
lar and subscribe money to go ON with
ARRA Aaln