The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-21

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NEW YORK. Nov Ex-senator George F.
Hoar's Autobiography of Seventy Years"
was issued to-day by Charles Seribner's
Sons. The two good-sized volumes into
which the venerable senator from Massa-
chusetts has compressed the recolleetions
OF his long and distinguished career are.
as was anticipated, a valuable and inter-
esting contribution TO the political history
OF the country, and the memories of his
wide and often close acquaintance with the
foremost men OF letters of his time have
also furnished many delightful chapters
Those who anticipated that Senator Hoar
would reveal the inside secrets Of the mo-
msntous events his career has covered will
be disappointed. While he explains the
motives that governed him in his attitude
In certain matters Of historic moment he
has carefully refrained from oyerstepping
the correct bounds Of his position. There
are no secrets divuIged in the "Autobogra-
ply Of Seventy Years" In his scholarly
style Mr.. Hoar has told the story Of a fun
life. 1t is freely enlivened with anecdotes
OF the great men Of his time. most OF them
printed for the first time. 1t reflects the
intimate associations with the leading fig
ures OF the country which he enjoyed. and
he has unfolded memory's pages until at
times he recalls men, great in their day,
but now unknown to the average reader.
The thirty-two chapters of the first vol
ume cover the period from his boyhood in
Concord to the national convention OF 1885,
The chapter titles, such as Famous Con-
cord Men," Harvard Sixty Years Ago"
Foundation OF the Republican Party.
Sumner ard Wilson," 1.-The House OF Rep
resentatives in 1862" Reconstruction"
The Electoral Commission" THE Bel
KNAPP Impeachment" ETC., give idea of
the extent Of Senator Hoars work.
OF his boyhood in Concord Mr.. Hoar
writes entertaingly of the famous men that
town sheltered. recalling many anecdotes
of them. One OF Edward Everett is new.
AT the Concord celebration IN 1850 the great
orator turned in the midst of his speech
and addressed Amos Baker and Jonathan
Harrington, two veterans Of the revolu-
ton. At once they both stood up and
Mr.. Everett said. with fine dramatic eff
feet. sit, venerable friends. II is for US
to stand in your presence" After the pro-
ceedngs were over, old Amos Baker was
heard to say to somebody. What do you
suppose Squire Everett meant? He came
10 US before his speech and told us TO
stand up when he spoke TO us and when
II.
STORY OF GENERAL GRANT.
Mr.. Hoar also contributed this story of
General Grant. the occasion being a bril-
liant dinner at which were present many
distinguished men. Commodore Alden had
remarked there nothing he disHked
more than a subordinate who always
obeyed orders. what is that you are say
ing, commodore said President Grant
across the table The commodore repeated
what he had said. There is good deal OF
truth in what you say" said General Grant.
"One of the virtues Of General Sheridan
was that he knew when to act without
ders. just before the surrender OF Lee
from which he learned that Lee had ordered
MS supplies TO certain place Ii was on
the other side OF the river. where he could
get no communication from until the
next morning. General Sheridan pushed on
nj once without orders, got to the place fif-
teen minutes before the rebels and cap
tured the supplies. After the surrender was
concluded the first thing General Lee asked
me for was rations for his men. 1 issued
70 them the same provisions which Sher-
idan had captured. Now, If Sheridan, as
most men would have done, had he waited
for orders from me- Lee would have got
or" listened with wonder at the gener-
Gus modesty which. before that brilliant
company, could move one of the brightest
!aurels from his own brow and place it on
the brow OF Sheridan.
In brief sketches Mr.. H0ar has estimated
the more prominent men with whom he
to them. The chapter on reconstruction is
especially interesting. He says:
,.s IL was the S desire OF many Republican
eral Grant. that there should be provision
Tor the national charge for the education of
black and white, far as the States were
unable or unwilling to afford il, such as
had been provided for in the States OF the
North for all their citizens. 1t was never
contemplated by them To give the right to
vote 10 4 large number of illiterate citi-
Eens without ample provision for their edu-
cation at the public charge. General Grant
accompanied his official announcement to
Congress OF the adoption of the fifteenth
amendment with an earnest recommended
ton OF such a provision. Earnest efforts
Were made to accomplish this result by
liberal grants from the national treasury.
Many liberal and patriotic Southern Demo-
Gratis supported IL. But IL was defeated by
the timidity or mistaken notions OF
economy Of Northern statesmen. In my
opinion this defeat accounts for the fall
ure OF the policy OF reconstruction so far
as II has failed do not believe that self
be maintained long In any Northern State.
or in any country IN the world without am
pie provision for public education"
Mr.. Hoar then discusses the negro QueS-
ton briefly and expresses the belief that
reconstruction has not been a failure. con-
sludins with these words: Let us not be
have existed from the foundation eff the
world. are not TO be cured in the lifetime
- construction were controlled by the ire
sistible logic OF events; by power higher
than their own I could see alternative
then, and see no alternative now better
than which was adopted"
ESTIMATE OF BLAINE.
Senator Hoar thus speaks Of James G.
Blaine: James q. Blaine was a man of
many faults and many infirmities. But his
life is part OF the history of his coun-
try. 1t win be better for his reputation that
The chapter Of that history which relates to
him shall be written by historian with
q full and clear sense OF those faults and
infirmities. concealing nothing and extern
uating nothing. But also let him set nought
down In malice. Mr. Blaine was bril-
liant and able man. lovabe. patriotic. far
seeing, kind. He acted In a great way un-
der great responsibilities He was wise and
prudent when wisdom and prudence were
demanded. II he had attained to the su-
preme object or his ambition and reached
the goal OF presidency. IL his life had been
spared to complete his term. IL would have
been a most honorable period, in my
opinion, In the history OF the country. No
man has lived In this country since Daniel
Webster died. save Mckinley alone, who
had so large a number of devoted friends
and admirers IN all parts of the country .
The autobiography touches with a singu-
larly gentle pen most of the men il men,
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