The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-09-21
From the Fairfax Herald.


From the Fairfax Herald.
The announcement of the Hon. Frank Hume
as an Independent Democratic candidate for
Congress brings the people of the Eighth Dis
trict face to face with the question whether
Hume or Lee shall represent them in the Con-
gress of the United States. 1t is question OF
more than ordinary Importance, and should be
considered seriously and dispassionately, and
with a due regard for the best interests of the
district. We know that intolerance is relic of
the clark agesn which has successfully with
stood the efforts of Christianity and civilization
for its suppression. 1t is more difficult to ap-
peal to some mems conviction than their preju-
dice, and even in this day and generation, and
in this grand old State OF ours, there are men
who deem it an objectionable sin for any one
to entertain opinions contrary to their own.
Nevertheless, we believe that the great body OF
our people are disposed to look at both sides
of a question and determine 1t according to It's
merits. To such we wish to present our con-
clusons. which have been reached after de.
lberate reflection, and which will be expressed
with proper regard for the opinions of Others,
but boldly maintained without the fear OF any.
We are fully persuaded that the best interests
of the district require that Mr.. Hume should be
elected. He would make an active, efficient,
and faithful Representative, accomplishing more
for his people in one term by his well-known sa-
gacity and energy, than his competitor would or
could in a lifetime. What the Eighth District
ness capacity and industry to represent her in
Congress-not a mere tigurehead to sit there
and do nothing, and have his "course 1ndorsed"
when another election rolls around, because
nothing else can be said of him. Compare our
condition with that of Montgomery County,
Md. contiguous to Washington. Land in that
county which few years ago was compare
lively valueless, is now being bought up ana
improved by Washington capitalists, VINO would
gladly invest on the Virginia side of the Potomac
were better facilities afforded for reaching the
city. But so long as the Potomac rolls between
us and the National Capital, with only the Long
and the Aoueduct bridges connecting us there
with-the former controlled by monopoly and
the latter rendered almost inaccessible by bad
roads during the winter season-we must expect
to lag behind in the march of Improvement and
development. Take two measures in which the
people of this district are specially interested,
viz: the Falls Church Electric Railway bill and
the Mount Vernon Avenue bill. Gentlemen in
terested in the former scheme have assured us
that the money was ready and waiting to build
the road the moment the bill was passed. but
either through the concealed opposition OF our
Representative or his inefficiency that measure,
like the Mount Vernon avenue bill, failed to
pass. 1t is safe to say that the passage of the
two bills named would in a very short while
enhance the value of property in Fairfax and
Alexandria Counties to the extent of at least
$1,000, 900. In addition to these there are other
bills pending looking to the entrance into the
District of Columbia of railroads which are de-
signed to run through our county, and which
would be of incalculable benefit to US, but
which are not passed because our Representa-
tive is either opposed to them or doesn't give
them proper attention.
The truth is, and there is no use trying to
conceal it, Gen. Lee, as successful Representa-
tive is stupendous failure. He might serve
dozen terms in Congress and would never ac-
complish anything. He has had the most Won
derful opportunities of any man in Virginia to
distinguish himself as soldier, statesman, and
agriculturist, and has proven lamentable fail
af11n no Nnntft ybatnr
promotion or distinction he has won has been
solely and exclusively due to the great fame and
merits of his illustrious father This is truth
plainly stated and conceded by ninety-nine hun
dredths of Gen. Lees supporters, whether he
realizes the fact himself or not. Let us begin at
the very threshold of his career in life Before he
was twenty-one years old and without having
had any experience or military training what
ever, he sought commmision as second lieu
tenant in the United States Army, and Gen.
Winfield Scott, who made the application for
him, thus wrote to the Hon. John b. Floyd the
then Secretary of War
HEADQUARTERS OF TTE MaA 4EMEs 3 1s57
Hon John b. Floyd, Secretaryof Var
lieufenances may be given to W. H. F. Lee son
of BreYet Colonel Robert e. Lee at present on
duty against the Comanches,
81 make this application mainly on the ex-
traordinary merits of the fatherthe very best
soldier ever saw in the field. do not
ask this commission as a favor. My ap-
plication is in the name of national justice, in
part payment (and but small part) OF the debt
due to the Invaluable services of Col. Lee.
~ have the honor to be- with high respect,
Your obedent servant,
"WINFIELD SCOTT"
Thus it will be seen that Gen. Lee owed his
first success, like all succeeding ones, to the
'eXtraordinary merits of his father,n and he
has, with persistency that is humiliating and
appalling, proceeded to collect for his own
benefit payment of the debt due to the ia
valuable services" of his distinguished parent.
Ambition is commendable thing, but with
rare opportunities in almost every avocation of
life, and having shown himself incapable of
distinguishing himself in any, it is about time
for him to give others chance to accomplish
something. He did the best he could during
the war, for which he deserves credit, but that
his services as soldier were brilliant or dis
tinguished, emitting him to other honors, we
fatty deny. If you mention the names of Stuart,
Hampton, Fitz Lee, Rosser, Ashby, Payne,
Mosby, or "Lige" White, every one will at once
know that you refer to brilliant and dashing
Confederate cavalry officer, but if you mention
the name of Gen. "Rooney" Lee beyond the
confines of his immediate neighborhood you
will be asked to what army he belonged or in
which branch he served. This is well-known
fact, and knocks the bottom out of the laud-
atory claims of certain of his supporters.
We have already shown that as a statesman
he has accomplished absolutely nothing. He
has been equally as great failure as an agricul-
turist With thousands of acres of land which,
under the intellipent manapement Of a nractical