Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-12-29
TWO S0UTHERNERS
Old Time Leaders Who Have Recent
ly Passed Away.
EI-SENATORS BROWN AND ALCORN
Similarity and Points of Difference
in Their Careers.
RESULTS OF THEIR WORK

cles that the dawn of new conditions and
new alignments in the south has witnessed
the death of two Of the foremost Of the old
time leaders Of that section, who figured
prominently in affairs at the time the con-
ditions now passing first took shape. Ex-
Senator Joseph e. Brown of Georgia and
ex-senator James l.. Alcorn Of Mississippi
have gone to the grave within few weeks
Of each other. Both. in their day, were
commanding figures in the politics of the
south. Both served the coffederacy zeal
ously, and both were intensely southern in
all Of their sympathies and associations.
Both were men of superior natural gifts,
and both received the best finish the best
schools in the country afforded, Both ac-
Quired wealth Ex-senator Brown was the
richest man in Georgia when he died, his
estate footing up nearly 100000. EX-Sen-
ator Alcorn was the largest and most sue
cessful cotton planter in Mississippi, and
during his closing days supported style or
living strongly resembling that of an En-
glish baron of old. An active man, mounted
on good horse, could hardly, even by fast
riding, inspect the estate in whole day.
DiHered In Personal Appearance.
Although so much alike in their business
sagacity and success, and in close agree
ment at one time on the more important
public questions, these two men had moth
ing in common In personal appearance or
in social characteristics. Mr.. Brown was
the more familiar figure in Washington, be-
cause of his later and longer service in the
Senate. His deliberate movements, his
grave face, his patriarchal snow-white
beard, made it diihcult to associate him
with controlling political power among
people whose later productions and heroes
were the fiery Grady and Fhe fervid
Gordon. But for forty years this man,
without dash or eloquence of any kind:
With only the genius Of common sense
and everyday business methods at his
command; had held his own with, and
sometimes overborne at the polls, the most
brillianrof his contemporaries.
Mr.. Aleorn, on the other hand. gave rea-
son in his very appearance and carriage
for the great place he had won. Large of
stature, eloquent of speech. with a fine
fund Of humOr and a captivating personal
attention. either on the stump or in the
Senate. He had great personal courage
and self-commsnd as WELL
Their Course just After the War.
These two men achieved their greatest
prominence Immediately after the war,
and by a course so bold as to bring them
for some years Into the bitterest opposition
to those with whom during the war they
had acted with the closest brotherly &C
cord. When hostihties were brought to
close, both men accepted the result in the
thorough cooperation, politically and
otherwise with the> dominant party for
the rehabilitation OF the south.
With characteristic energy and courage,
having decided upon their course, both
Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Alcorn started upon 1t
without hesitation. Both became republi-
cans and offered for office. Both were
furiously assailed By their former political
associates and comrades in arms. General
Longstreet IT will be remembered, took
the same course, and, at much later day
and under different circumstances, General
Malone went over to the republicans. But
as nothing to that NANTES tedNn the cases
of Mr.. Brown and Mr.. AlcorrN Longstreet
and Malone had repute principally as sol
diers. and their accountabiltyAwas that Of
plain, blunt men, with but LINN tod expert
ence in civil affairs. But Mr.. Drown and
Mr.. Alcorn were skilled incElvil affairs;
were men of experience in 6gse. and had
beeI leaders of their people f1ef9re the war.
They became subjects of Me>fiercest at
lacks, both in southern newspapers and at
the southern fireSideS.
Brown rs n Republican and Democrat
But neither man turned back. Mr. Brown
put himself at the head of the republican
party in Georgia, and supported Gen. Grant
for the presidency in 1868. In the winter
Of that year he was a candidate before tie
republican legislature for United States
Senator. but was defeated by Joshua Hill,
who had been a Union man during the war.
Mr.. Brown was then appointed by the re-
publican governor, Bullock, chief justice of
the supreme court of the state, and held
that office until 1870, when he resigned to
take charge As president OF an important
system of southern railroads. Meanwhile
the democracy had regained control of the
state, was beginning to administer it's af-
fairs aggressively. and in 1872 Mr.. Brown
renewed affiliations with his former poiiti-
cal associates. He came to the Senate as
a democrat, by appointment to succeed
Gen. Gordon. and was afterward twice
elected to that office.
Mr.. Alcorn's Difficulties.
The difficulties encountered by Mr.. AL
corn in Mississippi were even greater than
those with which Mr.. Brown was contend
ing in Georgia. The democratic opposition
was less formidable, but the party Of which
Mr.. Alcorn found himself at the head was
very hard to manage. Among the white
leaders he was the only man of prominence
thoroughly identified with the interests of
the state. His old friends and associates
had not only declined to follow. him into
the republican camp, but We're holding
aloof from him and would render him no
assistance of any kind He ran for gov
ernor and was elected, but his party insist
ed on sending him to the Senate ard he
consented to resign the one office and ac-
cept the other. 7 his he afterward came to
regard as the mistake of his life. His orig
inal purpose in going into the republican
party mad been to serve his state and had
he remained at the head of affairs at home
he could have exercised a restraining if
not a controlling, influence over his politi-
cal associates. But Senator he found
himself powerless to shape matters in Mis-
sissippi, and the republican administrator
there was a failure. Unwise and reckless
legislation was enacted, dangerous race an
tagonisms grew up and the gravest crisis
was precipitated. iAs soon as his term as
Senator expired Mr.. Alcorn returned home
offered himself for governor upon a plat
fern promising q correction of the evils
complained Of and made a vigorous can
vass. But 1t was too late. He had lest his
hold on his own party without having won
over any democrats, and the extreme wing
Of the republicans carried the day. This
practically closed Mr.. Alcorn's political
career. 40 -
Unlike Mr. Brown, he did not return 20
the camp of his old associates, but re-
NAMED a republican to the end. He es-
sayed however no further active leader
ship AS the years rolled by the rancor of
the old controversy died out, and the most
cordial social relations with his old-time
frie nds were re-establshed. At the time of
his death he was one of the most pic
turesque figures and one Of the most pop
ular men in Mississippi
What Might Have Been.
- H..