Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-02
Mise ON Lee.

Wise on Lee.
What about that Virginia Senator
ship-how was it Fitzhugh Lee was de-
feated, and who is Martin who beat
him -
Really" said John S. Wise, II don't
know much aboutNirgnia now. | am out
ofpolitics and practicing law, butt looks
like another case of Actnon eaten by
his own dogs. Filz was the coming
man when l was in politics and | was
the going man. Now Martin is the
coming man and Fitz is the going man.
hope Fitz will not find il rs lonesome
as did.
Then your sympatbies are with Gen.
Lee ~
Yes, rather; although don't know
why they should be. He knows he
drew my salary as Governor for four
years and never offered to pay il back
but | forgive him. He and his associ-
ates were the cause of my coming to
New York, and therein they did me an
everlasting kindness, however uninten-
tional."
why was he beaten ? He seemed
to be great favorite."
"He is a great favorte Without
much force, he is very attractive fell
low. His family is, Of course, of great
advantage 10 him. but in addition to
that Fitz Lee was dashing officer and
is man who, by his good fellowship
and attractive WAYS. has many friends
even my own family are fond Of him,
and like the fellow. He was beaten
by the very methods he employed
against his own adversaries. Any man
who deliberately sets in motion corrupt
Influences for his own advancement
must expect TO see them, in time, turn
ed upon himself. At first, when the
Martin people worked for the Lee
crowd, it was all satisfactory, but
the work was done most too tho
roughly. The republicans were de-
stroyed. Then the Martins doubtless,
reasoned that if their methods were so
effectual for Lee why would they not
be effectual for Martin against Lee,
and we see the result. l foresaw it.,
and predicted it long ago. When men
deliberately bnild up system Of fraud
they deserve little sympathy when tLey
are crushed by it. When Fitzhugh
Lee ran for Governor he had a rascally
deserter on the ticket with him for lieu
tenant-governor and an unknown pick
up for attorney-general. l ridiculed
the ticket and likened it to back
country team, with broken down
thoroughbred in the lead, piebald
steer in the shafts and yaller dorg trot-
ting under the wagon However, the
way it was driven it ran over me and
mashed me pretty fiat. Now the Eir.
ginia Bourbons seem to have butchered
the steer and are making the thorough
bred do the pulling, while the 'yaller
dorg' is riding
IS Martin the waller dorg variety"
II do not really know Intellectual
", presume, Martin is less unfit for
Senator than Lee. l have heard him
spoken of as good lawer, but l do not
remember having seen him but once.
He is an odd-looking fish, looks like an
Albino. An old schoolmate told me
he was at college with Us, but if be was
l don't remember him. l know moth
ing of his social position. and | do not
know who his people are. 1t is not a
good time for the James river low
ground folks, or the Episcopalians in
Virginia. The Ridge folks and Bap-
fists are on top there now. You may
not understand this expression, but g
Virginian will"
"But how did Martin undermine
Lee?"
Martin was q railroad attorney. He
befriended candidates before election.
When after election Fitz began 20 run
Martin was already elected. Do you
see? Fitz said TO them: 1t is Senate
or poor house for me- They said to
Fitz: 1t was poor honse for Us or Sen
ate for Martin and poorhouse for you.
As one of us had 10 90, and as we had
to decide which, you'll have to go.
But, ofcourse, Grover will not let him
go. Still it is no easy task for Grover.
Fitz is too poor TO 60 to Italy and too
decent for Honolulu. He's like many
another broken-down thoroughbred.
No good for work, expensive to keep
and TOO valuable to kill Seriously, |
am not only sorry for Fitz Lee, and |
hope he'll get something, but my heart
bleeds to see old Virginia's plight. 1t
all comes from corruption in election
methods winked at and condoned too
long by her best elements. A few
brave fellows are making fight for re-
form. Nav they win. but doubt if
they will The Richmond Times is
leading that fight.
Has not an investigation been order
ed by the legislature %
bah l read over the names on that
Joint committee. Half of those men
have been both promoters and benefi-
Charles of the very sort of frauds they
are to examine into and report upon.
That is mere whitewash. "-Nev York
Com. Id.
cop nCSpEESyA