Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-07-06

was n grand SpcctECle 10 WitncrS a.
counter between I'm and ConkHng.
may add that in such clashes ! never
saw Ben. Hill worsted. His equipment
for these mastcrful Intellectual battles
was complete. He was armed AT an
points and always ready for the Tray,
When he died no senator stood ahead OF
him In forensic or parliamentary reputd-
ton, and vast indeed must have beeh
HE trophies. when no less a person thah
Mr.. ingalls, almost exhausted his rch
vocabulary in pralslng the mighty ana
splendid brain-powcr OF this Iltiah-hhe
Georgian The one dscordant note IN
that corruscating cuology was what may
be called It's echo Of Robert lnger-oIl
which wronged the confession OF iaitn
that patheticaly came from the manu-
mind and heart Of the dying Hili' Wheh
tongue and Lips were Involuntary NUT
Certainly the most dramatic episode oil
that time was Mr. Hil's attack upon
General Malone. when that agitauhg
person appeared as a Readjuster seha,
tor from Virginia, but, to all intehts anu
purposes a Republican. i happeneu u
$50 TO Mr.. HIS committee-room beiorf
the meeting OF the Senate. ire btor-
gian was stretched at fun length on
lounge. apparently asleep. but really IN
profound meditation He was intended
formulating in his mind what he intend
ed To say I'm the Senate. His only per
plexity was as to Mahone's actual STA
tus In the organization OF that body. 30
his speech was tentative at first but Whan
the disguise fell from the General or
was ruthlessly torn from him " grew
more and more terrific. The General
is as slender as an point. ana
a tiny man physically. When II was re-
ported that he had received a fiesh-wound
during the war no one could credit the
rumOr. for the question arose where was
there any flesh mutilated? 1t must be
confessed that Malone took the castiga-
ton pluckily. and replied with pert IN
cisiveness. He was an intrepid man.
brave soldier. and a wiry Antagonist
Resides he held the balance OF power
in the Senate. or, as an Old Irish friend
of mine would express 1t, possessed the
KEYS Of the Dardanelles." II must be
said to General Mahone's credit. and may
be gracefully declared at this time. when,
like Mr.. ingalls,. he is "a statesman re-
tired from business" that not one word
has ever been quoted as coming from him
vindictiveIy about Ben Hill. and yet there
was sore temptation in that regard when
the tongue of the celebrated Georgian had
been awfully silenced. and the giant. like
a Druid oak. laid low.
HILL AND STEPHENS.
Mr.. Hill and Mr. Stephens had ben
ancient adversaries in political life. When
these eagles crossed in the air there was
not always a peaceful gyration. At times
they were brought by events into tenn
porary concord. but. at other seasons,
oratOrically or in an epistolary fashion.
they arraigned each other in terrible
elimination and termination Not lonS
after my advent at Washington they had
Just emerged from Il vitriolic newspaper
controversy. which seemed 10 preclude
IL, Ill. . Ton, 1 -
intimate .dth both Of these great men,
and regretted their attitude toward one
another. Providentially. | hit upon plan
TO reconcile them. | would OPPORTUNITY
mention TO Mr. Stephens all Of the kind
things that Mr. Hill said of him. The
same course was pursued with regard %
Mr. Hi. one day, in the cloak-rJOm or
the Senate. | asked Mr.. Hill to become
friendly with Mr. Stephens. / had no au-
thority to make the overture. but was
determined 10 do $, on my own account.
! saw that Mr. Hin. flushed with re-
cent magnificent parliamentary triumph in
the Senate. was benignly disposed to-
ward all the world. So. in substance.
said. Senator, you should END
your variance with Mr. stephens.
Hin replied: How am TO
do 500" | rejoined: you are the
younger man and should make the first
advance You are run o! he. Strength,
and victor. NJ. Stephens is old, crippled,
and not given to perpetuated revenge.
lie has a tender heart. Go over to the
House. meet him as If casually. while he
IL wheeling himself I'm his chair. Put out
your hand in cordial greeting. He Will
understand your action. and. / think.
reciprocate it," To my delight, Mr.. Hill
said: Il don't know how Stephens will
receive me. hut VIII do as you suggest"
He was as good as his word. and promptly
went over 10 the House. smilingly met
Mr.. Stephens. held out his hand. which
was instantly grasped. and the feul,
without another word beyond salutation,
was extinct. From that time forth. with
out ntermis sion. Hin and stephens were
afrectionate friends / little imagined
at the time that reconciliatiO was &C
complished by such humble instrument
tally that Stephens would outlive Mr.
Hill and send him loving messages in the
last days Of his more youthful colleague.
These messages | bore TO the MORALLY
stricken statesman, and thank God for
inspiring me To bring them together in
bonds OF affection, which endured to the
last.
MELANCHOLY.
once. happening 80 be at the New York
Hotel ] saw Mr.. Hill at a distant table
IN the dining-roOm. Instinctiyely, | went
TO his side, but remarked an unusual r.