Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-19

What He Said to a Colored Journalist VIII
Was a Fellow Passenger.


What He Said to a Colored Journalist Who
Was a Fellow Passenger.
The New York Sun today publishes an inter
view had by I. Thomas Fortune, a well-known
colored journalist, with ex-senator Hampton.
Mr.. Fortune writes from Petersburg Va, and
says:
As the Coast Line limited express slowly
crawled out of the Baltimore and Potomac depot
at Washington the other morning l became
conscious of two interesting facts. Gen. VIM
Malone of Virginia and Gen. Wade Hampton
of South Carolina were passengers with me-
Further, found to my surprise that Gen.
Hampton and myself occupied the same sec
ton in the Pullman sleeping car. Gen. Malone
and his family occupied the section opposite to
us. He got off at Alexandria. He does not
spend much time at his Petersburg home now.
but he lives at the national capital and makes
frequent excursions to Alexandria. Every one
with whom l have conversed appears TO be-
lieve that the political grip OF the famous read
juster has been loosened, and color is given to
this opinion by the fact that he is no longer
active in affairs the fourth Congress district,
where there is war to the knife between him
and Col. James ID. Brady. the collector of in
ternal revenue and member of the national re-
publican committee, and Congressman John
| swear by.
Gen. Malone does not appear to have grown
old fast during the past eight years. His long
hair and expansive beard are slightly streaked
with gray. but his step is quick and light, and
| he seems on mighty good terms with himself
His overcoat was heavily fringed with black
| fur, he wore a cream-colored SLOUGH hat and
his CATERS were low cut. setting off his very
| small foot and exceedingly high instep.
After we passed Alexandria / took nv seat
Il l.. Al. l. a n
he would talk on general politics, he had
| just terminated his long senatorial career.
! He was not at all averse. He is a very venera-
| BILE and dignlfied-looking man. His snow
white hair, Burnside whiskers and black
SLOUGH hat gave him patriarchal appearance
| He wore a suit of gray.
Il am in favor of the free coinage Of silver Z"
he said. 1T should be of the full standard
measure. however. / don't think the silver
question will be one Of the leading questions
| in the campaign next year 1 think the next
Congress will dispose of the matter. There is
| such a general demand for legislation favorable
\ to silver that it cannot be disregarded. No,
do not think it will play much of a part in the
next campaign"
'What about the Farmers Alliance"
"Well, it will not amount to much in the
politics of the future because its schemes are
| impracticable and because it is manipulated by
demagogues. have always been in favor of
| the farmers having more organization among
themselves for their own benefit. / am a
| farmer myself and naturally sympathize with
| the farmers. l want to see them prosper and
am in favor of any organization among them
that will effect this result. do not think that
anything in this line can be accomplished by
| the Farmers Alliance. On the contrary, /
| think that it will work great damage to the in
terest of the farmers. The Legislative relief
| they seek is class legislation of the simplest
kind. and that sort of legislation is always OBJ
| jectionable on general principles and at yari-
| ance with our theories of government"
What influence would such legislation as
| the Farmers Alliance demand have upon our
| system of governments"
If il were possible TO conceive of any such
| legislation as the subtreasury, the bonded
| ware house and other schemes it would inevi-
| tably lead us into endless confusion and ulti-
| mate bankruptcy. There could not possibly
be any other result from it. But it does not
seem probable to me that any such legislation
| is at all possible"
General. how do you account for the fact
| that the south, which has always been opposed
| to class legislation and paternalism in govern
| ment. has gone mad over the Farmers Alliance
| schemes
Il cannot explain the matter" Senator
/ Hampton replied. The farmers have had a
hard time of it during the past few years. They
| have not made any money. They are burdened
| with debt. They want relief, and, unfortu-
nately imagine they can secure it from the
| general government"
what influence will the Farmers Alliance
exercise upon the presidential election next
year?'
VERY little, if any, National elections are
only affected by national issues. The issues
raised by the alliance are local and class rather
/ than national. l do not think the presidential
question of next year will be materially affected
| by any action the Farmers Alliance may take
The fight will be between the two old parties,
| as usual.
Presidential candidates? Well, il New York
goes to the convention with solid delegation
it will get the nomination; if not the nomina-
ton will 60 to the west"
What western man have you in your mind,
eyer"
"Oh, none in particular The most obscure
man in a break away from the fsvorites usu-
ally captures the honor"
''What do you think of Gov Campbell OF
Ohio, Gov. Gray Of Indiana, ex Congressman
William r. Morrison and Gen. John N. Palmer
| of ulinois!''
'They are all good men; but I have nothing
to say as to their candidacy further than il
New York does not present . solid front in the
convention the nomination will 60 to western
| man."
''wh.t about the spsakership Of the next
House,
81 think il will be Q mistake to elect south
ern man as Speaker. l think some good north
ern or western man should be selected. thini
| the democratic party made great mistake In the
Fiftieth Congress by electing q southern mar
as speaker OF the House and by giving the
principal chairmsnships Of committees Il
southern men. Again, think the democratic
party made a mistake in the campaign Of 1851
by flooding the north with southern speakers
1t is bad policy. The voters resent it. II
we should resent it. We know more about oul
own affairs than outsiders do. think the
northern voters resented the fact Of our send.
| ing them southern speakers 10 instruct them