Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17
GEN, FREMONT'S VIEWS.
A Half Hours Chat With the Great
Pathfinder.
wHrrE-HArRKD BUT vIaoRoUs-HE rs GIVING TINE
TO LITERARY WORK AND Is THINKING MUCH ON
THE LABOR QUEsrIoN-rHE TARIFF AND THE
IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.


THE LABOR oUEsrIoN-rHE TARIFF AND THE
IMMIGRATION PROBLEM.
A STAR reporter called on Gen. John @. FIRE.
mont at Lieut. Fremonts the other evening, and
had pleasant talk Of half an hour or more In
spite Of his snow-white hair and whiskers the
general still has youthful freshness of COM
plexion, q clear, bright eye and the easy grace
OF manner and movement that is usual only in
youth and full vigor OF manhood He looks
ten or fifteen years younger than he is.
When the STAR reporter entered the drawing
room he saw the figure of q man with white
hair seated in an easy chair in the bay window.
In the growing twilight he looked like Q man
advanced in years and perhaps feeble. At the
announcement OF q visitor he arose, and as he
advanced to the middle of the room he
might have passed for man of forty-fye
vi rather slender build, above medium height,
his white hair parted high and combed back
from his forehead and temples, whiskers Just
parted at the chin and not of heavy growth,
with complexion not blotched by the finger
prints OF time, he is remarkably handsome
man, and his gentle manners and musical
voice suggest the courtier, while there is an
expression on his face that shows . stronger
character.
Seated within the recess Of the window with
The STAR man, he talked of men and affairs OF
the day, but modestly avoided talking Of him.
self. He takes deep interest in all national
affairs, and, thing which seems quite remark
able, he appears to be as far In advance Of
the common thought Of the day as he was
among the progressive ranks of thirty-five
years ago. He appears not to be satisfied to
look backward alta brilliant past, but, ignoring
that lis thinking ahead. The labor question is
literary work, In part probably on that subject.
MEN WHO RETIRE TOO SOON.
Speaking Of the interest he felt in national
affairs he said he did not think man should
lose this interest with his advancing years, but
that he should advance in thought with grow
Ing experience; that man should study and
work for bis country's good as long as life and
vigor OF mind was left him and that he
should gain something from long expe-
rience. MANY of our able men," he
said, ''step off the stage too soon, when they
might yet be OF service to their country. In
England it is not so, and it is not essential to
our progressive nature that it should be so
here. When was in England forty years ago
heard Gladstone make a speech. He
was then just on his first advance into
power, and l have watched his DEVELOPMENT
since. AS he has advanced in years he
has advanced in greatness and now in old age
he is at the zenith. / was at the lawyers club
when message from him spoken 10 a
small company by the phonograph. and it
seemed to me as that marvellous little instru-
ment spoke the words it had carried over the
ocean l could almost recognize his voice,
though 1T has been forty years since heard
him speak. When l go to the Capitol now
most OF the faces see there are, naturally, new
to me or are those have known only of latter
years, yet there are few OF those knew during
and before the war.
THE CHANGES OF POLITICS.
"My time is so occupied with private bust
hau v,of :. II
the important questions that come up from
time to time. keep the run OF political af-
fairs in general way and am particularly in
terested In a few. The republican party came
into existence suddenly on a single issue and
has had a brilliant career. That issue is now of
course, no longer an issue and other questions
come up from time to time upon which opiu-
ions NAV differ
Transition goes on, and in time there will be
complete change perhaps The labor question
Is, think, the question Of the hour; the most
important the country has to deal with. Its
the highest order. The time is drawing close
at hand when it must be dealt with in a spirit
OF broad patriotism. Trade and labor are the
questions of the times"
THE TARIFF.
The conversation turned to the tariff and the
general spoke guardedly on the subject. He
said he hardly knew just what he wanted
to be quoted as saying. He had not
read Mr.. McKinley's bill nor studied the SUBJ
express an opinion he would hold to.
He had not heard the speech of Mr.
Butterworth, but knew of it and was
inclined to take the same view Of the question
Mr. Butterworth took. 1--WE must have protec-
tion." he said, but conditions must be taken
into consideration, and there must be equality
and justice in the application Of the theory /
think agree with Mr.. Butterworth. He IN
doubleday has the right idea of the subject"
THE LABOR QUESTION
"The labor question" he continued, sis one
have given more attention to. 1t demands
attention. The interests of the laboring peo-
pie and OF capitalists alike make it necessary
that the subject should be dealt with wisely
The labor movement is progressive. Itstarted
from nothing and has reached great
importance. At first there was no
need for organizations. Later few
workingmen banded together for their mutual
good Now these organizations have grown
into great power. They send their representa-
tlves to Congress and influence the politics of
the whole country. 1t is movement of the
people The good or ill of the country de-
ponds much upon how it is directed. What is
for the good Of the workers of the country is
good for the whole country. and policy which
Is wise will be for the welfare alike of labor and
of capital-it cannot be to the permanent in
THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM
"A thing that occurs to me, and think il
will come about in time, is that immigration
might be stopped for say thirty years to give
the children OF foreign parentage time to grow
up and be educated into citizenship. The
adul. foreign population may not quite I'M
derstand and fully appreciate our institu-
tons, but their children raised in this
country, educated at our public schools-and
the school system should be extended and
broadened all the whie--the children so raised
m AXE the best of Americans, the best of citi-
zens They love this country, which is their
own, and they may be depended on always to
defend its institutions. With thirty years
Tor this class of citizens to grow up
and develop the nation Will be as
firm as a rock, and we will be for all time a
prosperous and glorious people, No foreign
immigration could hurt us after a generation
of pure Americans had been bred as our
fathers were bred. immigration must be sus-
pended for awhile to accomplish this and it
will be done. 1t will solve the labor problem"
THE RISING GENERATION.
While talking Of affairs Of the nation the
general was interrupted by bright boy Of
about ten, full of animal spirits, who came
into the room. Il got my ball,
grandpa" he cried, rushing up to the general.
Then seeing stranger was present he bowed,
but proceeded to call his grandfather's atten-
tion to the ball. ''See how nicely it is stitched
1t is league ball, and first rate one" The
general took the ball in his hand and examined
it carefully. YES" he said, ''it is a good
ball"
''Well, can climb out of the Window" the
boy asked. An indulgent smile came upon the
generals face as he patted the boy on the head
and told him to climb away. drop of eight