Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-31
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~ W. - Of the National
sesssl''''s'''s. Editorial Asso-
citation scout h
10 ~ p, from Washing
sys 5.9 j if{hnW fTy ton was an cx-
SStSifj iYiigt,iii5N5 Wiz ccedingly pleas
Y q. .... ! (. es-..-ss- ant one 1t did
t4sas'= ~ g -szss- not take Us long
10 lind that our party was a most con-
genial one. The Maine, Massachu
sets. aud Connecticut delegations &C.
cupied me same ear, and were soon
thoroughly acquainted with one another
Before Richmond WAS reached our party
presented much the appearance Of large
family. The entire ear In front Of us was
occupied by the Pennsy lvania delegation
royal good fellows too The ladies Of
the txo cars were soon visiting back aud
forth on tho most cordial terms The
Keystone car was lacking Il smoking
room. and the cordial invitation extended
its members TO make free use Of the one
in the New England car. brought US a
number of very pleasant visitors-and
some story telicfs who were fully able to
hold heir own with the lovers Of the
weed from New England
At about 7.30 the train pulled in to the
station AZ Richmond, where hot supper
was awaiting the party. This disposed
Of, the journey south was resumed.
While the ladies were making prepare
tions for the night, q party Of Pennsyl
vansns and New En9landers gathered In
the smoking room OF the Zambesi-the
New England car-for social chat 1t
was party distinguished not merely by
its hearty good fellowship; but also by its
personnel Among its members were
Senator Joseph Msccabe of Ma>sachu-
sets, one Of the rising young politicians
IN tie Old Bay state. and a prince of
good fellows Mr. Maccabe is q speaker
Of rare grace and force and it is not to he
wondered at that he was tho unanimous
choice Of tbs New England delegates for
the presidency of the association. even
from the commencement Of the trip
Another prominent member Of our little
smoking party that evening was senator
|. \, Cooper Of Pennsylvania, the able
editor OF the American, at Media 3Ir
Cooper IS the author of Cooper Ameri-
can Politics. the best work of its kind
that has ever been published in this
country, and is also well known as Sena
tor Quay's right hand man in Pennsvi-
vania politics. Indeed the writer has the
authority Of a prominent Pcnnsylvanian
n the statement that what Tom Cooper
docsn know about practical politics int
worth knowing. 1t is said that Mr
Cooper is the author Of that oft quoted
political phrase. =" am neither a prophet,
nor the son OF Il pruphct-only plain red
head Il man but hopeful"
Like all Pennsylvanians Mr.. Cooper
chorisht7 a deep and abiding affection for
the memory Of the late james e. Blaine
lie accompanied Mr. Blaine on his
famous ;our OF Pennsylvania, during his
presidential campaign, and his rcminis
ccnccs Of the stirring incidents Of that
trip and of the political elements that
entered into that ever memorable cam
paign were full Of absorbing interest to
his listeners. How naturally New Eng
land people aud Pcnnsylvanians fall TO
talking politics whenever they sit down
together The hat that Mr. Blaine wore
on The trip above referred to. became
considerably soilcd and battered by the
journey, and MIR. Cooper purchased u new
one and exchanged for it, The hat thus
secured he still keeps as bis most
cherished souvenir. The general political
situation, both foreign and domestic then
came in for more or less discussion and
the conversation driftcd by natural de-
grecs upon the question of who would he
the next Republican standard bearer
Here at least the whole party found itself
in hearty accord. Even the two Demo-
Gratis, who formed the exceptions to the
political rule that obtained i'll that small
nut select gathering. declared that If the
Republicans were to elect the next Prcsi-
dent-and they admitted that appearances
locked very much that way. they would
prefer Mr.. Reed to any other man Ii is
really astonishing how large hold Mr..
Reed has upon Republicans in all parts
Of the country-even here in the South
where the advocates Of other aspirants
have assured us that no Reed sentiment
could be found. My own observation has
led me to believe that if a poll of the
editors from all over the country now in
convention here were to DO taken on the
question of their preference Of candidates,
Mr.. Reed would lead the list more than
two to one.
But | am waDde ring away from the
route OF the delegates, ON their way South
1t was fully ten o'clock on the morning
Of the 18th before our train reached
savannah We were nearly famished and
lost no time in making our way to the
DeSoto hotel where snmptuous repast
was served US. This house may justly
take rank among the finest in the South
both as regards the service rendered. and
the prices charged for it. After breakfast
we strolled for while through the streets
Of this quaint old city. enjoying its
luxuriance of palms and palmettos, and
the characteristic designs OF its architec-
ture. From the looks of the streets we
should say that coloIed people constituted
nv far the larger portion Of its population.
They were everywhere 10 evidence, but
little less numerous than the loousts nf
Epyut and fully rs light hearted Ii