Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-12-07
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LONGsTREET's APPOINTMENT.


dent Mckinley appointed Gen. James
Longstreet to succeed Gen. Wade Hamp-
ton as commissioner of railroads. The
position is almost equivalent to a sine
cure. The salary IS 5000 per annum.
Attached to this is an allowance for eX-
penses that will keep q man In cigars.
The office of the commissioner is in Wash
ington and the commissioner is expected
TO be in it once or twice a year. When
the weather IS pleasant and congress
is TO meet in few weeks he Is expected
to take a run over the roads over which
the government has partial supervision.
Wade Hampton was appointed TO The po-
s'tio1 by President Cleveland very soon
after the crippled Confederate from South
Carolina was defeated for the senate.
His term of Office mas extended over n
period Of four years. His resignation
was not called for, but was voluntarily
given. II is the desire of the retiring
commissioner to return to his home and
there spend his declining days. He has
had enough of politics and political posi-
TORS. 1t Is said by some that ne will
be car didate for his old seat IN the
senate next year. but this is improbabl bic.
Even IL he were such. his chances of
election would be small. Hampton is a
gold Democrat. Tillman lives in South
Carolina and comes pretty near debating
as TO who her public servants shall be.
And he doesn't like Hampton.
1t VIII be remembered that Gen. Long
street married The state librarian of
Georgia in August. lie spent few days
among his fig trees and vineyards at his
nome In Gainesville But the surround
ings there did not seem to him to be
poetic enough. So down among the way
ing palms ana clinginG ECss. where
knocking birds sing far into the night and
whore there are TO hills to obscure the
sight OF the sea, went he and his bride.
1t IS said that he has gained much in
flesh and that he appears as feshy and
strong as when he fought by the side OF
Grant and in front OF Santa Anna in
Mexico more then half century ago.
Ills age Is now Sevcnty-siN years. His
nSure is slightly stopped, but his eye is
bright and lis speecE is strong. He
courted his present wife Just as the youth
does his sweetheart. He plays the guitar
and can sing. He loves poetry, and long
were tho passages read to the Georgia
maid. Around Atlanta the drives are
sr cCth and Iretty. Shinir lights led
the way to ice GREEN saloons, and he
knew his business. He was a lover, and
as the boys would say these DAYS, "he
wen out" Ard then the next thing he
knew was that the president had given
MIN position sought by many but de-
served by few. Loagstreet was one of
the few.
Ills appointment 10 n federal position
this time will not bring about the harsh
criticisms OF the Southern press. The
South has long since forgiven his divorce
from bourbonism. His neighbors now
look upon him and speak of him with
Kindness. He is no longer Stunned by So
ciety and reviled by his former friends.
But who can forget the remorseless at
tacks made on him and his character
few years ago. But ne bore it. Occa-
sionally he would reply 10 some of the
calumnieS. But these occasions were few.
lie rather passed them by In silence. In
letter written to newspaper man in
New Orleans ten years ago he said that
he waited for time. He knew that rea-
son would again take the place of the
passion of the South. His course had
been right. He had no apologies to make.
and he never made any. Four years ago
he attended reunion of Confederates at
New Orleans. Courtesy on the part of
the ex-ConfederateS demanded that he be
invited, and he was. They did not expect
his acceptance. 1t was the second morn
ing of the meeting when carriage drove
up to the hall entrance and the griZZled
veteran alig hted. He had no esco. (. Alone
he climbed the steps and alone walked
down the aisle TO where there was a va
cant seat. He had not proceeded far be-
fore the gallant eX-leader was recog
nlzed. There was the faintest sort of
cheer at first. Then the applause grew
into a demonstration. A rebel yell was
sounded from five thousand threats. Hats
few into the air. Disabled Confederates
forgot their infirmities and tried to reach
him. An old flag that he had fought
under at Chattanooga where hundreds OF
his men fell by the little pond near the
mountain side, was brought forward. The
lixy:1 f,
his eyes. Former friends grabbed his
hands Thus from one moment of pain
full anxiety he was transported into an
other on the wings of ineXpressible joy.
The South does not abuse him any
more.
Immediately after Gen. Grant had made
him surveyor of the port at New Orleans.
and after he had seen the criticisms of
papers, ne wrote TO X. RI. Taliafero OF
New Orleans the following: 'If there is
his former friends, printed in the news
any sense in keeping up this family quar-
rel l confess / am unable to see or APP
prcciate it. L believe that l fought for
our views as much as any one in the
land but 1 must say that when we laid
down our arms l ceased to fight. I asked
for peace. 1t is offered In the terms that
the victors see fit. tank that 1t is our
plain duty to accept and go to work to
restore the Union. Congress requires re-
construction upon republican basis. IL
the whites won't do this. the blacks Will.
We shall then be set aside or else eXpatri-
eted Then II seems plain to me that the
whites should do the work. Thus we will
get the best men in office.
mo one has worked more than I, nor
lost more.
II think the time hs $ come for peace
and / am not willing to lose more blood
or means in procuring 1t.
IF there are any in the country In
clincd to fight this question hope not to
be included in that number. I shall not
abuse them for their views. and / hope
that they will not deny me the right to
withdraw from the contest"
Gen. Grant had as much to do with
I.ongstreets becoming a Republican as
any one else They had been schoolmates
at West Point. had graduated the same
year and received their commissions at
the same time. They had fought among
the cactus bushes of Mexico and had
drunk mescai from the same jug u thou
sand times. Ii was at Jefferson barracks,
near st. Louis, that Longstreet intro
duced his cousin, Miss Julia Dent, to
Grant. and il was Longstreet himself who
told the young lady of the worth of his
friend. They were married. and the
Georgian was at the wedding. When they
next saw each other 1t was at Appomat-
toX. After the formaiities of the surren-
der wero over. Gen. Grant took Gen.
Longstreet to one side and said:
Julia wants to see you. Go home and
see your family aud then come to see me,
won't you?
Longstreet promised and he kept his