The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-17
TALBERT OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Something About the Congressman,
and His Predecessor.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Washington, March 4.-The Hon. Jasper
Talbert is a pronounced type of American
citizenship that is on top, not only in his
state of South Carolina, but in every one
of the cCtton states. He is not of the class
of Hayne. Of Calhoun, of McDuffie-men
who illustrated the highest order Of
American citizenship and American
sta tesmanship. Maybe after all the ideal
government among men was the "old
South" certainly it was honest to the
core and frugal. The tax-gatherer was al
most a stranger, and the boodler was I'M
known. But the old patriarchal system
has gone never to return, and the South
is a cook who can lick her fingers with
the best of them. Calhoun, Toombs, Yam
cey and Lamar would be statesmen out of
jobs if living to-day, and their jobs de-
pended on public sentiment in South Caro-
lima, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Mr.. Talbert is the farmer in Congress /;
he is also a politician, and no SLOUGH in
that line, either, doubt if even Lon Liv-
ingston can see a horny handed vote far
ther or has more virtuous suspicion of
your kid-glove vote. The Hon. Jasper
helped formulate the Ocala demands, so
it will be observed that when all the
clans have rendered ilustrious all the
Runnymedes the Hon. Talbert will be in
their midst.
Our South Carolina statesman is serving
his fourth term in Congress, and is a rath-
er active member. His habits are all that
could be desired He is not only without
vices, but he appears to be, and no doubt
is. a sincerely pious man. Since his first
| term Mr.. Talbert has paid great deal
of attention to pension legis alton. He was
a Confederate soldier, and a gallant one.
| If there is anything he hates more than a
| Plutocrat it is deserter and deserters
have pretty rough sailing pension
nights" in the American Congress when
| the Hon. Jasper is standing around. For
| that matter, I doubt if any other men,
| Der of the House has missed fewer sit
| tings than he. He sets about the work
Of legislation as though it was a job of
| maulng rails. Just now he is very much
| in evidence, that is, in demanding quo
runs at Friday night sessions. He is GER
| tain that he is embarrassing the wicked.
| He is very much mistaken. He is a Con-
| federate blocking pension legislation. What
| better club would a Republican of the
North with a large soldier constituency
want than that? The Hon. Norton of
| Ohio, is a Democrat, but he is for free
and unlimited pensions. The unpatriotic
conduct of his fellow Democrat from
| Edgefeld county has caused his Ohio
brother to shed bitter. salt tears of vexa-
ton Edgeheld county, South Carolina,
| remember.
| The immediate predecessor of Talbert in
| the House was a Southerner of the old
school-George D. Tillman, brother OF
| Ben. When a boy he was sent 10 Har-
ward. The story goes that as he passed
| through New York he bought literally OF
| silk underwear. That winter he narrowly
escaped pneumonia, and he never after
| ward wore underwear of any sort. In
deed it was said he would not even wear
socks. He was literally the sockless states
man, the first of that ilk. Like old Han
nibal Hamlin, the winter was never cold
| enough for him to wear an overcoat.
| The first time l ever saw Old George
was the last day of the session-or the
day before the last-1SS0, just after Gar
field had been nominated for President
| He desired to make speech and asked
| unanimous consent for that purpose. Tn
| fortunately he announced his theme. and
! that was Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler
| He also let it be known that he proposed
to use some rather harsh language. as no
| other would properly characterize the per
| son about whom he was going to talk.
| Gov Robinson, the greatest man Massa-
| chusetts has had in the House of Repre-
| sentatives since Father Hoar went to the
| Senate, objected. He understood that
| some member from his state was to be
| attacked, Tillman retorted: "The gentle
man is mistaken; l did not alude TO one
of the present delegation from Massachu-
| sets; l spoke of a statesman from that