Savannah morning news., 1885-10-22
PREACHERS IN POLITICS.
MINISTER TO SPAIN CURRY EX-
PLAINS HIS POSITION.

r,tsrrss of His Connection with Ander-
ng3t5e Prison Faise--A Beiever in
po,.t rights, Regardless of Religious
nsnominatl ons-N othiog TO Say About
.be spanish Commercial Treaty.
w.saYXGroN, Oct. 2l.---Rev. DR.. Curry,
o. newly appointed Minister to Spain,
.-art the day at the state Department,
,55a-e he had a consultation with the Sec
,.t.ry and Assistant SECRETARIES Of state,
NTH his Predecessor, Gen. Foster, and
7-,+b Mir. Williams, United States Consul
General TO Cuba. 10 a reporter of the
Associated Press Or. Curry said he ex-
peeted to leave for his post on Nov. 3.
.,It ia said. sir" remark ID the reporter,
u+bst.vOu we're once IN command at AM
ders4nville and we're in part responsible
for the cruelty practiced towards Federal
prsoners.'
NEVER IN ANDERSONVILLE.
oI never was in Andersonville in my
gfa - reDlied DR.. Curry. land | never had
Command of the Federal prisoners IN my
Hfa except sucn a. l captured myself, and
those | turned over at once. | cannot
imagine how such a story got its start.
snail be glad if you will make my denial
broad and mphatlc-"
"Tha critics of your appointment" con-
tinued the reporter, question the pro-
lriev of sending a Baptist clergy nan as
national represe ntative near a court SO
strongly Catholic as that OF spain"
THE CRITICISM UNJUST.
: The criticism is unjust" was the re-
olv. ..lr would be a strange thing if the
strongest denomination IN the country
YOU know We are the str0ngest-were to
adfsoualifed for diplomatic Ollces on re-
lGou- grounds A mans religion, J hold,
ia thing between his God and himself,
and one with which the government has
uotbfng TO do, am a little surprised at
+Be criticism. too. The hardest struggle
ever mad when 1 was in political lite
was as q candidate for the Legislature III
Alabama during the Know Nothing ex-
element.
THE ISSUES.
"The issues. you remember, were two
nre a proposition TO deny to foreigners
tae privilege Of naturalization after six
years residenC-. and the other proposition
10 dIsquahfy Rom manisIs from holding
Office. Ny county was a pivotal one,
and nv com mpetitOr the ablest man on
fbat side OF the State. My success was
very gratifying"
Were you an anti-knoWnOthing"
yes, | was a chan piOn--L cannot say
of the Catholics, but Of the principle Of
Americanism, which is embodied in the
constitution, Of equal rights and privi-
leges for all.''
NO OBJECTION BY SPAIN.
"Of course, YOU anticipate no objections
rom the Spaniards to your recepuon|
Certainly not. The Spanish govern
ment knows that my mission has nothing
20 do with religion.
Il am very much gratified by two
things-j may say three things" con-
tinued DR.. Curry. When | was objected
to on the ground Of being unknown, so
strong Republican paper as the PrOVi-
dence Journal vouched for me and said
was all ri ht.
Mr.. wAsHBURN's ENDORSEMENT.
"Again Mr.. Washburn's card was ex-
ceedugly gratifying, coming from Re-
publican leader, himself having been
eight years foreign Minister, but the ex-
pressi0ns of approval from the colored
people South nave been exceedingly
hearty aud pleasing. Ny long connection
with the Peabody fuod has made me
widely known among them, and they have
taken pains to express their approval of
my appointment"
"snal YOU renew negotiations for a
treaty with Spain 20
81 can say nothing upon that subject
natter