The evening times., 1896-12-18
THE NODES
TY OF
HENDERSON.


HENDERSON,. esty. lie has re-
luctantly advised Mr..
Mckinley of his viii
itngness to accept Cabinet osition NOT
that Gel. william Fentress sought the place
of his own accord. Far from 1t. AT least
three county papers rushed to press and
declared that the country needed him. On
the same day, presumably, these same three
papers cashed money orders for extra
subscriptions. so popular was the boom for
the colonel with the Hon. william Fentress
Henderson. Following is in excerpt from
the letter he sent to the president-elect
II Is not through any superrluous con-
cert or transcC ndent egotlsIn that / send
these articles TO you, but because OF the
patriotic impulses that move Wlthlh my
bosom Tie South III eds recognition at
the hands OF the Republican party, SO as
TO foster and develop the spirit OF Amer,
can manhood and American wontanhood
in the land OF Dixie. If you see ut TO recog-
rlZe the wishes OF my friends and gratify
Their desires, | shall feel forced to sacri-
Tce the remainder or my life, as in the past.
The calm serenity with which the colonel
surveys bis own impulses could hardly be
surpassed. He looks his probable appoint
ment squarely i'll the face, and never flincheS
at the Thought of the S32, 900 four-year
sacrifice to the desires Of Rockbridge
county. We were not aware, colonel, that
the South needed anything Ito foster and
develop the spirit of American manhood
and American womanhoo1 in the land OF
Dixie" We had an impression the aforc-
said spirit Of American manhood and Ameri
can womauhood W as nowleremore Sacredly
conserved than in this very section of our
country. This is a blow below the Mason
and Dixon belt, Fentress; but, perhaps
you know best. Perhaps the very modesty
of your individual self finds collective ex-
preston in this failure to rightly appre-
oiate your own section
One more gem from the letter:
made the first Republican speech ever
made on the iJn day oil July, Ii TO, IN the
beautiful little town or Lexington zen.
fitzpatrick and all of his troops We're
present, and IL was considered by the
general to be the finest and best l mon
speech ever made by an = merican. Please
let me know 10y letter or wire what Your
intentions are in regard 10 tins matter.
Some of my friends are very anxious that
should accept "a foreign mission, but that
will be Impossible on account of my ex-
tenSvc farming interests. Keep me as
near home as ToSsitie, where l can 90
the most good for my country.
Yes, Fentrcss, do stay near home; stay
very near the farm. But it is quite proba-
BILE that Mr. Mckinley will accede TO this
request, and we will dwell on it at no
great length. We would merely sugges.
that perhaps the State portfolio, were it
not too insignificant consideration, might
appeal TO you as offering opportunities
worthy Of your distinguished consideration.
You might run up to Washington on the
early morning train, issue few interna-
tional edicts and return to spring plowing
in the early afternoon. CincInnatus, you
Will remember, di not disdain this sort of
thing.
As TO that speech Fentress, who is there
who does not remember it? Why should
you except by way OF emphasis, refer to an
oratorical axiom as significant in words
as was AppomattoN Court House IN deeds.
Nay, nay, Fentress, it is again your own
modesty that admits suspicion Of Mr..
McKinley's ignorance of your effort of
1865.
cne great thought escaped Mr.. Henderson
while he wrote the body of his epistle- We
quote it, rs lie wrote it, in postscript form.
In its short but carefully weighed words
lies the doom of weyler and the liberty Of
Cuba:
. "P. S.-we must rescue Cuba from the
clutches OF SPAIN