The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-17

gramme is an appeal to the consul When
Barker goes to Spanish officer he carries
with him a manner that rs natural and
which is as free and as independent as
characterizes the ordinary individual
when walking up to a bar and LAYING
down the price of little straight bour-
Don. Barker wouldn't kneel before the
most powerful potentate that reigns be-
tween sheol and Sheboygan and he
wouldn't do anything like kissing the
pope's toe for a kingdom. In slang par
lance he Is not that kind Of a huckle-
berry.
He has but little use for the system of
government that exists in Spain and her
provinces He is an aggressive democrat
When he speaks OF justice he does not
do so In careless and lifeless yay. inst
70 be repeated, but he intends IL as a
living idea which should be procured.
he mas no pliability and his nature per-
nits him 10 make and show but one char
aeter. He Is old-fashioned It's two 10
one that he would much prefer to sit
under the shade Of a big oak tree and
drink buttermilk while a negro boy As
Keeping the flies away with a turkey
wing ran than to dine within the gfIded
walls OF Delmonico's. He loves religions
worship, but he doesn't 20 to houses
wherein 10 pray that are richly car
peted and where the pews are upholst-
cred with velvet. Old-time hosannas are
more pleasing to Barker than trained ana
costly choirs, and Methodist halleIuiahs
more musical than organ KEYS that ara
touched by def fingers, which till the
aisles with symphonies soft and sweet
Grand operas and the like NAV pIease
some but Barker would hear more mel
ody listening to a country fiddler playine
'Cotton-Eyed Joe" or "Old Dan Tuc<
err" Bear oil for his boots. mutton suet
Ior ms chest when he has cold sassa-
tra5 tea for mis- blood quinine and faIan
HVgT-tngea hi
seven years ago Barker was a candidate
LOT faliroad commissioner In Mississippi
ne was then, as now, immensely popular
al over the state. 1t seemed for awhile
as II ne would have no great amount OF
trouble i'm receiving the nomination. Ruf
soon one Of the McI.aurins announced him
self as a candidate also. That of course
complicated matters. The convention met
and Barker was defeated A couple ~
days later talked with him and expressed
my surprise at the result.
oh, might have known better" said
he. Beat a McLaurln? How in sam HiII
are you going to do it2 Not long ago got
on train at Jackson, bound for Vicks-
burg. AS soon as I entered the coach I
saw two OF McLaurins brothers. Then 7
thought would change my mind and take
a run up 20 Yazoo City. Two more of the
boys were headed In the same direction
When the north-bound Illinois Central
came along another one Of 'em was IN the
smoker talking politics. Every train thar
passed through Jackson that day had a
McLaurin for passenger. Then I con-
cluded to get a buggy and make a trim
into the country Well, sir I hadn't got
more than three miles from town before I
met another one Of the brothers
A little while later Smith county had a
mass meeting to send delegates to the
state convention had thoroughly cam
vassed the county and was sure OF the
delegation. At noontime the meeting was
called to order, and without protest the
votes OF the county were instructed to be
cast for me. thanked my friends and
left TO catch train. A barbecue was In
progress, and couple Of hours later, at
ter most Of my friends had left the
grounds, whole covey Of the McLaurins
flew In upon the scene. They made an ap-
peal for reconsideration, and BY golly
they got II. The next thing done was to
have the few remaining fellows there to
change the instructions and make them
read for McLaurin instead OF for Barker
Beat a McL.aurln? Helenhighwater, how
are you going to do Il?
Some years had elapsed and had lost
sight OF Barker. A few months ago 1
rode horseback into the little town OF
Sagua la Grande. after having been In the
saddle for three days. After having rest
ed awhile at a little hotel started out to
have a look az the town. ! did not know
that the United States had a counsel thera
until / was almost Ia the shadow OF the
stars and stripes. / climbed rickety
stairway and opened door. Some one was
talking Ia manner that Indicated he
meant what he was saying. This much
/ heard
"Fight7 Why. d-m a. we've got fay
birds In Mississippi that, with their wings
cropped can whip any three spaniards
that ever swore an oath or told a lie And
that. mind you. includes nearly every
mothers son Of EN-"
I looked closer az the little man behind
the wire screen. II was Barker And he
Is there to-day ready 10 protect every
countryman OF his that happens down In
that God-forsaken district. even al the
risk OF his own life.
---s-o-e