The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-17
GEN. LAWTON AT HOME.
THE MINISTER TO AUSTRIA
WARMLY WELCOMED.

To Remain in Savannah Probably a
Month-what He Says About Life in
Vienna-His Return 70 This Country
and His Experiences With Inter-
viewers Meeting With Blaine
and His Views of the St. Louis
Ticket.
Minister Lawton reached his home in
Savannah yesterday on his first furlough
since he has been at the Austrian capital,
Gen. Lawton, accompanied by his wife, ar
rived in New York June 4, by the French
line They were met by Alex r. Lawton,
Jr., Esq. Before coming TO Savannah they
visited their daughter, Mrs Mac&all, in
Philadelphia. Last night the family resi-
dence at No. 81 Whitaker, was lighted up
and looked homelike, and friends were call
ing and paying their respects and congratu-
lating the home corners. With simplicity
purely American, Gen. Lawton himself
answered the bell, last night, when MORN
ING NEWS reporter called.
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
The general was looking well. 1--WE left
our little home" he says, $50 that we could
come right in when we returned, and to-
day we moved inn Gen. Lawtons expert
ence with the interviewers and editors of
the north seems to have been such as to
make him rather averse TO being the sub
ject of formal interview, but at his old
home, and among old friends who called,
he chatted very pleasantly without at
tempting to prevent the reporters from ask
ing an occasional question and noting what
ever would be of interest to the public.
In the course of the conversation the Gen.
eral said that he had a pleasant voyage
homeward Ii is he believes, the custom
.haf,
in European travel, but he preferred to
come home and spend his time in his own
country, and among his relatives and
friends. Nor did he say this in disparage-
ment of Austria, for its people. he said, have
treated him with signal kindness, and the
Austrians are an atfable, polite and an
amiable people. He expects to return to
his post in about a month, or whenever
the government requires his presence at
Vienna.
Referring to Austria in connection with
its healthfulness, the general said that
while the winters are severe there and the
climate at that season is bad on throat
affections, his health and that of his family
has been good. The Austrians are health
full and rudy people. the men robust and
manly and the women handsome and fair.
IN THE HANDS OF THE PHILIsTINEs.
Gen. Lawton gave a very amusing &C
count of how he was besieged by the re-
porters when he landed in New York.
They crowded around him and wanted TO
know the state of Blaines health
whether Blaine would accept the
nomination if rendered by the Chicago
convention, and especially thew wanted
Gen. Lawton's opinion as to whether
Blaine would accept after his last letter Of
declination from Paris. Gen. Lawton said
there was but one answer that be could
make TO that interrogatory, and that was
that as Blaine's Paris letter had been made
public after the general had sailed for New
York, and as he had Just reached New
York, he was wholly ignorant that Blaine
had written another letter, and the re-
porters ought to know more about that than
himself
The reporters evidently left the general
then, and the next morning he says the big
dallies came out with interviews, no two Of
which were alike, and one paper editorially
quoted him as saying that Blaine was
physical wreck. or words to that effect
land the language quoted editorially," said
Gen LawtOn, was not the language in
their own printed interviews. In fact, the
misquotation was so manifest that was
compelled to write a statement to that
effect
MEETING Mr. BLAINE ABROAD,
Gen Lawton then went on to say that he
met Mr.. Blaine. but two or three times
when he was insEurope. The day after he
arrived in London on his way to his post at
Vienna he had met Mr.. Blaine in a social
way, and IN Italy the coincidence again
occurred of meeting Mr.. Blaine, where they
were guests at the same house At neither
of these places would it have been courteous
TO have discussed with Mr.. Blaine the con-
dition of the health Of the latter, or to talk
politics, and neither subject was brought
up.
Having met Mr. Blaine in public life at
Washington some years ago, Gen. Lawton
says that the ex-senator has aged very
much In the past ten years, but that he is
physically infrm for his age Gen Lawton
says he has never said to any reporter, and
he has no means of knowing the condition
of his health. or what Mr.. Blaine would or
would not do If nominated at Chicago.
Gen. Lawton was asked his views Of the
ticket nominated at St. Louis. In reply he
said that he did not care to be drawn into
a discussion of party politics so soon upon
his arrival home, but he would saw that in
his opinion IL is good ticket and strong
ticket, and if the American people do not
lose their judgment it will be a successful
ticket.
THE PEACE OF EUROPE.
Gen. Lawton was asked what effect. in
his opinion, the death Emperor Frederick,
of Germany, would have upon the peace of
Europe He said that he thought there
will be no divided counsels now. Emperor
William is the personal friend of
Bismarck, and their policy is one The
death Of Frederick, therefore, he thinks
will have no immediate effect calculated
TO change the pacific relations among the
nations of Europe. The long illness OF
Frederick prevented him from asserting
himself, so that whatever his policy might
have been was conjectural, but with
William he was known 10 be the friend of
Bismarck. there would be no divided
counsels and Germany, the most powerful
nation Of Europe, would maintain her
power, and the empire would be at peace.
Gen. Lawton, while north, attended the
annual meeting of graduates at West Point.
He spent two days in Washington, calling
officially upon President Cleveland and Sec
rotary Bayard, and making friendly calls
in some Of the other departments Of tbe