Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-11-23
Interview with MIR. Barbour
[Gath in Cincinnati Enquirer.]

lHaLn Ill SluCluHasi EuNulrer.l
You have noticed that John s. Barbour,
Chairman Of the democratic State commit
tee of Virginia, expressed himself with
moderate discountenaace Of the President.
I had better opportunity to converse with
him than almost any other person. since
was on the train between New York and
Baltimore with him. At Baltimore family
delegation came in to greet him he had re-
Gently lost his wife who was MARYLAND
lady of ancient family. At Washington the
depot was filled with Virginans, and band
OF music had come to serenade Mr.. Barbour,
He represents in the present Congress the
Alexandria district which is opposite Wash.
ington city and covers the land OF the Wash
iugtons, Fairfaxes and other old families.
He represents nearly all the battle ground
OF the war, between Washington and Rich
mond, extending from Frederick shurg to
and including the great valley and Win
chester city. Mr.. Barbour was born in 1920
and has been in public life since 1917. For
thirty -four years he has been the President
of the railroad between Alexandria and
North Carolina. He went into politics late
in life and owes his prominence to his an.
cestors, his moderation aud his practical
executive sense. He somewhat resembles
Thomas Jefferson, for which he accounts by
saying that many of the people of the red
lands of Virginia look alike. He is about
Jefer5on's size, tall, we'll: formed with blue
eyes and skin that is delicate. DELAYING
to 60 to Europe until his life has matured,
Mr.. Barbour was not very active traveller.
He visited Ministers Phelps and Robert Nc
Lane, and spent most OF his time in the
British Kingdom. His conversation with
me was neither public nor private, but pure
ly incidental. His remarks about tbs Presi-
dent were to the following effect:
He is not among the people, nor inter
ested enough in other public men who have
recently come from the people. The head
OF the Government is not the place fer q
recluse. The tendency Of Mr. Cleveland is
to become more and more unsocial, and he
can only redeem himself by mngling with
persons in the channels of affairs. He must
be like the executive of railroad or any
other large human concern, approachable to
his equals and compromising that the &C
tive laborers and leaders of his party have as
much interest as himself in the Govern
ment."
Mr.. Barbour was not az didactic as I have
reported him, but this idea, expressed with.
out either emphasis or passion, uuderlay bis
views. Referring to the Cabinet, he said:
1.-The President should have taken his exc
cutive officers from the public centers and
currents, and not have gone to the United
States Senate and displaced there gentle
men who had been Senators so long that
they had lost insensiby their class connee.
ton with the people. The Senate somewha
resembles the Supreme Court; after man
has been there period of years he losses
identity with the multitude and is something
of privileged class, like peer in Europe.
Your Administration is always vitalized ard
popular and efficient if it receives the latest
impression from the crowd"
Mr.. Barbour might have pointed this re.
mark by reference to the Administration
his family had served under, that OF John
Quincy Adams, which kept recluse and was
forced out of office by q popular movement
which put in Andrew Jackson. He saiG:
Mr. Cleyeaud's II esSages utterances
and remarks are Indicative of a man who
takes but little interest in any person or
particular matter. His remarks are all OF q
general character. He treats public bust,
ness somewhat az il men were a bore to him
and be was merely called upon in an edi-
torlai or dldactic way to pass comment.
Since he has been President he has given no
warm impulses or earnest support to any
thing in particular. His Administration is
without incident and without much feeling"
| What do you think about this new labor
movement in virginia."
The labor movement could not have &C.
complished the late result entirely, FOR ycu
take the Richmond district which has the
most laborers in it, and you will find that
the regular party candidate got large ma.
jority. This movement appears to nave set
IN about Lynchburg and the south west
Unquestionably Cleveland's election and
subsequent course have given certain in
difference to the voters, enough to account
for reverse in case the other party re-
ceives an unexpected impetus"
| asked Mr.. Barbour which portion Of
Virginia was in the best condition. He
said the most prosperous part of the State,
next TO the great Valley of the Shenandoah
was Southwestern Virginia, which bids fair
to be vigorous and influential district. Re-
ierring to the public debt Of Virginia, he
SAID that not much had been done toward
paying 1t oil. Under the Malone govern
ment it had been scaled down to something
like $50, OOO,O 00 ard there it remained.
speaking of the foreign ministers, Mr..
Barbour said he had called ut the American
Legation in London. 1t seemed 10 give him
| ~ W ltul ludG N1F, IL 6iDS WAS
an admirer Of every thing an that side of
the water He said that it was q sad con-
dition of public life when an American min
lister to England was the supple sympa.
thizer with whatever was governmental
and organic there, instead of watching the
popular changes with any sympathy. AS
to Robert McLane, he said that NfcLane
was probably the best equipped public man
We could have. He was thorouphIv or.
quainted with the state of affairs, was in.
qulsitive about them, and, speaking the Ian
guage like native, was presentabe every.
where. He intimated that Robert MeLane
inherited most of the family force which he
derived from father who had been Score.
tary of State and grandfather who had
been both Revolutionary officer and pub
lie official. Mr.. Barbour said that he liked
Edinburgh very much as e city, its fine
prospects, intellectual society and heartiness
making good impression upon him. He
spent some time in Dublin, and found
things there in a very sad condition Of
| wealth or hopefulness Vet tha,o soon,.;