The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-28
A CASTE FIGHT.
The Row Between MIR. Corcoran and Adj
miraI Lee-Anteeedents of the Former.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
departnlents

The Row Between MIR. Corcoran and Adj
miraI Lee-Anteeedents of the Former.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, April 27.-Mr. Corcoran, the
philanthropst wants to build an extension
to his splendid art gallery before he dies,
but there is little prospect that his wishes in
this respect will be gratiied. The lot upon
which he must build, if he builds at all, is
owned by Admiral Lee who will not treat
with the old man. Years ago Mr.. Corcoran
tried to buy the lot, and Admiral Lee fixed
price. The former thought it was an ex-
orbtant figure, and negotiations were
broken off under circumstances which an
gered the Admiral who swore the million
aire should never have it during the term of
his natural life, and he is keeping his word.
An occasional newspaper attack in papers
controlled by Mr.. Corcoran only makes the
owner the more stubborn.
what is the real cause of the bitterness
between the two men?'' asked a curious
stranger OF an old resident
at is a queer caste fight" was the answer.
admiral Lee is a representative of the very
bluest of the Washington blue-bloods He
is a patrician of the purest ray serene, and
looks down on Mr.. Corcoran as plebeian up
start. Mr. Corcoran was born in Georgetown
in 1900. His father was an Irish shoemaker,
and his antecedents are all common. He
got his early start by keeping country sup
ply store. Then, after while he went into
the banking business with Riggs and R. J.
Walker. His first big haul was made in the
placing Of the Mexican war loan. With the
money he made out of that deal
ne invested heavily in the out
skirts of Washington. He was
also concerned in the Cumberland canal.
For forty years he has fought improvements
in Washington, and although the growth of
the city has made him ten-millionaire, he
has relentlessly opposed every move looking
to taxing property for the creation of perma-
nent Improvements outside of certain line.
He was rank rebel, and lived in London
and Paris during most of the years of the
war of the rebellion. 1t was chiefly through
the exertion of Peabody, the deceased phi
lanthropist, and Mr.. Corcoran, that the Con-
federate loan was placed, and the Davis gov
eminent furnished with means to carry on
war against the Union. His. property was
coniscated and used by the government, but
it was subsequently turned over to him by
the vote of Charles Summer. who objected
to letting the testimony of Corcoran's sery-
ants be used against him, when the question
of his disloyal utterances was before SEN
ATE committee.
He is bitter old man. and still hates the
Republican party with rancorous hatred,
never mentioning the word Republican
without adding. the rascals.' While Con-
gress was quarreling over the presidency in
1867, Mr.. Corcoran started and ran news
paper in Washington called the Union, in
the interest of Tilden. 1t was Bourbon Dem
ocratic to the backbone, and its founder
every Saturday for three months. The day
Hayes took his oath of office he stopped the
paper, and gave the type to Dom Piatt.
The Corcoran Art Gallery is a lasting
monument to his generosity in that direc-
ton. Itrepresents an expenditure of about
$1000,000. The Louise Home haven
for old ladies of aristocratic line
age, but no cash, is another charity
that has cost him about half million. No
"oiuaN' NO haIter now ueserVlhS, can break
into the Louise Home unless labeled gen
teel.' He has endowed chairs in several
Southern colleges. His gifts, like those of
Peabody are mainly for Southern people,
and for gentle people, He is now a feeble
old man, but may live for ten years yet. He
is not cheerful companion, being suspi-
cious, and exacting to an exasperating,degree.
Violent and cranky as he is, Washington
people are rather proud of the old man ter
rible, and he isstill power in local affairs"