New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-07
ANSWERING LONGSTREET.
COLONEL A: E. BUCK, OF ATLANTA, AG
GRIEvED AT THE GENERALS LETTER.
THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GEORGIA REPUBLICA3
STATE COMMITTEE EXPLAINS AND DEFENDS
HIS POLITICAL POLICY-HE HAS NO

HIS POLITICAL POLICY-HE HAS NO
ANIMos1TY AGAINST LoNGsTREEr:
Washington April 5.-Coloncl a. F.. Buck, o. 40
lanta, chairman Of the Georgia Republican stateTom
mittce who has been in this city for the last few
DAYS feels aggricved at the reflection cast upon MIN
and his management OF the party in Georgia In
recent letter published by General Longstrcet SPEAK
ing to-day OF the hostile letter. Colonel Buck said
General Longstreet's attack on me and the course
have pursued for some years as chairman OF the
Republican state Committee OF Georgia, coming as 1t
does from a Of National reputation, and one
honored by the country In the past by reason OF tho
position he took at the South during the Reconstruct
ton period, calls for reply. l can best make
that reply by going back over the history OF our
political relations for the last nine years General
Longstrcct having removed from Louisiana n Georgia
in 1881, and having been appointed United states
Marshal I, with others, desired that he should become
the head Of the party in the state.
"The party then In factions, and the state
Committee, of which not then a member. with
view to strengthening the organization met to
form executive committee. which would give
additional strength and bring harmony among all
elements waited upon by a subcommittee
with a request that i assume the head OF Such
Executive Committee. This | declined to do. and
urged that General LOngstreet be placed there IN
which case would serve with him in company with
other persons, whom / named. That not satisfying
the state Committee, again urged to become
the head Of the committee, to which replied.
having consulted General Longstrcct. and he assent
Ing thereto. that IL they would put number OF per-
the committee with General Longstreet and
myself allowing such committee to name its chair.
man. would call such committee together. and We
could elect Longstrcct chairman. That done.
made the call for a meeting Of the committee, and
tho General having gone to his home in Gainesville, I
wrote to him what had been done, and urged him
to como to the meeting OF the committee, to which
he replied that he would be present.
son the day Of the meeting he to Atlanta.
and although the meeting Of the committee was held
In the same building In which his Office. he do
cllncd to meet the committee, on the
plea that lie not feeling we'll enough.
Against my desire / then made chairman Of tho
new State Committee. Longstrcet and two
Others refused to accept the programme adopted,
and henceforth would take part in the counsels
OF the party or recognize its organization. In tho
spring Of 1884 they undertook to start white
mems pzty,' but the movement collapsed.
Nothing more heard Of General Longstreet po-
lltically until the summer Of 1885, when the party
making effort to present state ticket for the
elections Of that year. The General and Others in
various parts OF the state written to. with
view Of getting them to stand for the various state
Offices. Being asked to become candidate for Gov
the General declined, the ground. as recol-
hopelcSsness Of the
Immediately after the November election rnmors
set aoat that Longstree was to take charge Of
affairs in Georgia. that there an antaconsm be-
tween him and my self. that was hostile to him. ana
that his friends were to rally for the mastery under
his leadership. All this. far as was concerned
was false. and / announced had no feelings
hostile to him aid expressed none: and when IT was
stated that the General had voted for Democratic
member OF Congress and had not voted the Repubi-
can electoral ticket. refused to accept the statements
as true and did so only the facts being conclusvey
shown.
Feeling kindly toward the General personally. on
coming TO Washington in December OF that year,
I'm an interview with General Malone, Longstreets
case was discussed and agreed that he ought TO Do
provided with some lucrative Office, and decided 50
10 recommend a month later. in conversation "itn
General Harrison at Indianapolis, on his incidentally
mentioning Longstrcet's name, took OCCASION TO say
that all the newspaper accounts he might have seen
OF my antagonsm Of unfriendly feeling existing
between the General ard myself were untrue 50 lar
as | was concerned and also expressed To tho
President elect my great desire that the General should
be appointed to palce suited to his rccoShized
deserts because OF the position he took IN lo"'|"S
I'm behalf OF the Government in Its policy OF he'oh'
struction in the SOUTH Since then have constantly
favored his selection for some appropriate federn
Office and have tried to come TO some ainicablc
political understanding with him. but In vain
The General complains of want OF recognition OK
HIS recommendations. lie unfortunately recomlnchden
70 some of the most Important omces
in the state avowed Democrats declaring them
10 be good Republicans. In other cases men OF little
value to any party or any were certified AZ
Republicans worthy of confidence and trust WHO
I'm few cases he recommended fair Republicans.
His recommendations. however were mainly mric
In hostility to the party organization In the state'
The General complains OF the appointment OF so many
carpet baggcrs- and negroes IN Georgia, by mo
Republican Administration. OF the hundreds OF posi-
masters appointed In Georgia by this Administrations
only four arc colored men. OF men OF northern
birth appointed po,tmasters. can recall ONLY seven.
all OF whom have been fully identified with the bus'
ness interests Of the state for many years.
In the Department Of Justice, Of the two United
state, Attorneys and their assistants the United states
Marshas and half hundred duputics no colored man
has been appointed and recall only ono
man Of Northern birth. In the Internal Revenue and
Customs service I'm Georgia, except a, storekeepers
and gaugcrs can recall only three coorcd persons
appointed and there few, II any, men of Northern
birth But there will be found many eX-Confederate
soldiers In all branches Of the public service in Georgia.
now true Republicans standing loyalty by the party.
In making recommendations, / have endeavored to
express the desire best sentiment of the party
and IL appointments have been made of persons have
recommended they were made the party's account.
not on mine. and | thought, for the good OF the
service assume no control Of, do / attempt To
dictate to. the party nor presume upon any personal
influence with the Administration.
THAT | have striven to strengthen the party In
Georgia Is well known that l have NOE
yet accomplished much is true and largely 50
because such men as the General do nothing, prac-
tcaIy TO advance party interests In the calls for
conventions have invited all men, regardless OF past
political affiliations, who believed In Republican prin-
cipes 10 come in through open doors No ole has
been repealed. The counsel and support Of all good
men are sought In the early summer OF 1e5e, con-
ceiyinc the idea of having Mr.. Mckinley. Of Ohio dis
cuss the tariff question at our Southern Chautauqu9
for the advancement of party interests brought 10
,hout through the aid Of friends connected with tho
Chautau1ua Association. coming TO Washington for
Mr. Nc knley His speech had marked and
widespread influence. and there seemed to be q pur
nose of many TrOtcctiOnsts 10 break from the or
rnnlzcd freeradc Democracy
Others, with myself. had for years been working
upon the problem OF dyNing the white and colored
Vote TO secure honest elections thereby and get rid