New-York tribune., 1886-02-14
TWO SOUTHERN SENATORS.
BROWN, OF GEORGIA, AND BECK, OF KEN
TUCKY.

Rrovn-od Toe" Brown, as he is Familiarity called
is one OF the conspicuous figures on the floor OF
the Senate He looks eighty years OF age though III
reality he is but sxty-iye There is certain patriarch
al look about him which at once attracts attention lie
has long slyery beard; the top Of his head is almost
bald and his hair is OF that smooth lank and oily kind
which in the popular mind is generally associated with
a certain Odor OF sanctity. His enemies say that lie
looks like Mormon His friends pretend to see in him
a second Abraham 1t is hardly necessary for me TO say
that he is neither the one nor tho other
Joe" Brown, though a Baptist is finn believer in
his own destiny Among all the Democratic Senators
he is to- day the only who thinks that he will yet
called III on To occupy White House His ambition is
bOundeSs and surpassed Only by his egotlSm. Cool
discreet patient and calculating he ha, all the attributes
OF a successful intriguer. lie Is born schemer In
Georgia he /, boss" Nothing Is done there whOrt his
consent The political fortunes OF every public man IN
the state are in his keeping nile makes and unmakcs
them a. he secs tit II woud not be wise in young
mau lust entering pubic lie to incur the enmity Of
"Joe - Brown IIe has crushed more than one In his
day.
Senator Brown one OF the few Southern men prom-
nent in public life who can lay any claim to being self
made. lie is native OF south carolina, though the
greater part OF lis bOyhood spent in the mountains
OF northeastern Georgia, where his father owned small
iarm Here he abored in the field and attended stock
until he was nineteen years OF age In the winter time
he managed attend distant country school whore he
learned how to read and write; bat beyond this nothing
lie haG heard, however OF Calhoun Academy IN South
Carolina an institution OF learning under the charge OF
Wesley Ievcrett. His ambition was 10 enter 1t for a
term But how was he To do tl lTe had no money IIo
had no friends le hal no clothing, cvcn except the
sult he wore on his back. His worldly possessions con-
sisted in "a yoke Of steers; that was all But he had
courage and the determination To succeed lie set out
with the oxen, accompanied BY his younger BROTHER
James, now eminent lawyer at Canton Georgia, to
ride alternately his fathers plough and drive the
steers and 10 carry pack tho horse after the main part
o the tourney was complecd-a distance OF about 1870
miles lie sold his steers after arrival tor eight months
board entered tie school and went in debt tor tuition
III, earnest manner gained him credit ana friends Al
e end OF h. boald contract lie returned 20 his home
and taught three months school, with the proceeds OF
which he ai h- tuition debt. and had some money left
20 apply to the expenses OF another torn. From this
time on lie taucht school aud went to tho Academy,
Alternately; paving tor his own tuition with the money
hc had earned as . teacher. Through the kindness OF
friend who advanced hin the money, he was able 10
attend the law school ut Nale in l~lj Being graduated
amopr the highest in his class he returned 10 his home
and began the practise OF the law. Twelve years later
ne was elected Governor OF Georgia.
This remarkable political success In man so young
attracted universal attention. Joe " Browns sub-c-
ouent career only increased the wonder OF politicians
While his methods were not always tac best or the
uu.r, nobody ever doubted his sa-acty AMI shrowd-
ness lie proved himself a trimmer OF unusual re-
sources Indeed. senator ingalls, in one OF his savage
onsaught- an Joe" Brown IN the Senate, compaIed
Linn under the Thin eui-c Of the senator from asha
10 cautug and -auctim"nionS hypocrite who was
forever washing III. hands with ysblessap in impor
ccrtibc water" referring thereby 10 habi. old Joe
Brown has OF constantly rahbne h' hands when he Il
addressing the senate. Mr.. in.IS too denounced his
colleague from Gcor.ia sti under the gus" ot the
senator from ALASKA" as tho urIah IIccp OF tho
9 90
81 yelling political Peck,rin who had hecu all sides
OF every political question who hal belonged To every
rotral party IN IN, NE time dnd belonged 10 none that
he did not betrdy" Th, dcunnctIon OF joe Browns
not altogether unjust. II ,harartcrLHs IN brOal mon
ncr hi. ways ana methods But 1t WAS not my purpose
10 enter into review ~ senator Browns public and pol
it,al he II rather to point ont the dlcntes he
In his youth and the success "hch attended
him I'm later years.
Like many othcr mon In public lie who have been
extraordinarily successful. Joe" Brown has had the
assistance and counsel OF faithful and sympathetic
wife Mrs Brown. In her way, IS typical southern
Noinan. She is the daughter of Baptist clergyman
recently heard story about her which illustrates not
only ner own peculiar shrewdness, bot also shows what
power old Joe Brown is IN Georgia politics lie
came to the Senate originally appointed by the GOV
cruor 20 m vacancy caused by the resignation Of Con
craI Gordon. 10 but natural in HIM that he should
pretend not to the honor In ac 1t was given ont
that he would not candidate ior reelection To the
Senate so. before the Legislature met the friends OF
other asprAnts camo Washington To hnd ont II the
report was true. They couldn't get word ont OF the oil
man however and were u good deal bcwlldcrcd. They
called uuon Mrs Brown 10 pay their respects, when She
asked them what they were doing IN WashnstOn They
frankly told her tnat the object Of their visit was to
ascertain whether Mr.. Brown would be candidate be-
fore the Legislature, or not.
You nigh: have saved your ear fare" she replied
a I...1 11.,st l.f1I .f.,s
Senator Beck Is as unlike joe" Brown in everything
~ can we'll be imagined Though OF abont the same
age with tho Georgia Senator, looks nearly twenty
years younger lie IN the iull strength OF his
manhood. He has strongly marked face, ull curly
head Of hair strong frame, and robust constitution.
The energy he Ius into his speeches something te-
mendous His whole body shakes rs lac emphasizes with
sweeping movements OF his arms the arguments he hurs
at his opponents lie Is always in earnest. His fund
OF huuor Is small He Is Sc0tchman and popularity
OF this foreign born statesman is that he lets no oppor
unty escape to denouncc everything that foreign
I'M. American This weakness frequently gives his
adversares an opening. Otherwise It Is difficult TO get
at him. Beck j. - wrllIntOrmed man. lie u c.eyor
csreciay in making figures 1T his side OF case.
Finance Is his strong pOnt silver his hobby lc VIII
talk on either by the hour always enertainingy, some
times with effect Often losing his temper hc never
foreers the amenities OF Senatorial debate. In this
respect he shows wonderful self cOptrol, and might
serve as a pattern to many OF his colleagues.
Having lived the best years OF his lie In Kentucky
Beck is ~ well posted horses and their racing records
AZ any man the state. lie knows the pedigree Of all
the noted horses OF the country. horse race VIII
draw him away from his seat IN the Senate any day.
oven though silver debate is on At the Ivy CITY races
he is regular attendant. II mistake not he Is one OF
the stewards OF the club In his bets he Is as cautious as
a scotchman generally is 81 bet in the French
mutuas will satisfy him; and it ought TO, for, here,
man who ventures "a whole s. bill horse race Is sus-
pected OF being aungcr." Wast ngton may remark
in passing Is poor field for the bOomakcrs. who gen
no money here, but because nobody seems WILING 10
bet. But 20 return 10 Beck. He and Congressman
wilkins. OF Ohio, talking at Weckers over some
business matters the other day, when the kentuckian
cspIed "a picture OF a horse hanging on the wall:
" There" he exclaimed with rapture. - picture or
Lexington the graCiest horse tha; ever sOcd on Iour
feet" .,,. . -
t,ln ,n1s hc "A frnIlcr a runnerT