The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1888-07-12

On Monday morning, July I'd, the
town OF Sheldon, Iowa, was quite heav'
lily damaged by fire, to the amount OF
about $4,000. 1t originated in the
hay loft of Senator Barrett's livery
barn, and before it could be checked.
destroyed some fifteen frame buildings,
and it Wa, only by IL great effort that
the north sido Of Main Street was say
I'd. It is supposed to be the work Of
an incendiary.
The enthusiasm which is springing
up in the Republican ranks all over
the country is indication Of success at
the November election, but it will not do
to let the work lag, for the Democratic
party is now within the trenches, and it
is eaiser to defend position than to
attack it. Gen. Ilarrison's name, his
record as a soldier, lawyer and states
man. is lending strength to the lsepub-
lican forces. That he is man of great
tact, and a man full of happy thoughts
and ready delivery, is manifest from
his responses to the many delegations,
excursion parties, etc., daily calling
upon him to offer him their congratu-
lations. 1t was the general talk and
wonder how Blaine could find fitting
response. both new and pleasing on
multitudes Of similar occasions, during
the campaign Of 1884, bnt if Harrison
continues as he has begun, he will full
lyequal the plumed knight in this line.
GENERAL JOHN c. FREMONT
To the Editor Of The Inquirer;
SIR: In common with many Others l
have felt that the series of papers on
the lite Of Abraham Lincoln in ,he
Century Magazine were very valuable
as we'll as interesting.
But the so-calltd ''history' in the
June issue Of that magazine seems to
Inc to call on American cItiz-ns To pro-
,est against such II bespa,reriag Of
General John &. Fremont as enters
largely into it.
Much OF il, we think. reads like the
illusions of ''cnp;rr!:e;Id' newspapers
OF the days referred to in the ''i.istory y
Mr.. Lincoln himself never questioned
Gen. Frpmont's patriotism and person
III integrity; and I've and many Of the
fOrrmos: men Of those times were equal
Iy clear that he was man of brilliant
abilities. Mr.. Lincoln and Others
doubted the wisdom of some of Ere
mont's acts; but if he did err he YVES
not the only man who made mistakes
in those cas-.
We brlievra fair history will yet show
that, excepting Mr.. Jay Cooke. there
is no man now living who did SO much
10 conquer the victory f"r freedom as
John G.. Fremont. am not alone III
these opinions. For some time have
been collecting material to support
thes4 suggestions. Ere long | intend
to put some of them where they may
have an opportunity to be reviewed be-
side the "history" above referred to.
GEO. MAY POWELL.
The above letter appeared in recent
number Of the Philadelphia Inquirer
We wish to endorse it and to add an
earnest word for Gen. Fremont. liz
was not only the Pathfinder, the fore
runner. the John the Baptist, Of the
American wilderness in a material
sense, but also in a political sense. He
went in advance IN the abolition con-
troversy and blazed path for the more
timid to follow. He was one Of the
first of the abolition candidates to ac-
cept Presidential nomination for the
principle. When the war for ab0
lition calue, he was one Of the first t(
stand out in defen ce of the Union, and
he was the first to issue the Emancipa
tion Proclamation. He took the risk
did the right thing at q great cost tc
his own personal popularity and prefer
ment, and again blazed a route for thu
government to follow. Not man,
months afterward Lincoln had to follow
him and issue the Emancipation Procla
nation, and from that time on victory
attended the Union arms everywhere
Fremont was one of the first of til,
Abolltionists and he is one of the very
last. Nearly all that splendid army o
martyrs have gone over to the "great
majority" but Fremont remains. II,
appeared at the Republican Convention
at Chicago recently. but did not NEE
with the reception he should have had
A pew race of youngsters were ther'
who ''knew not Joseph" He bega'
the work of abolition and he has livet
to see it through to the last. The frs
shall be last.
And we hope that Mr.. Powell will b'
able to show that the last shall be first
or among the first, in the history o
those who were great leaders in tn
Abolition Epoch.