The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-23

lations ever made. Critical minuti;e
aside. II is good performance In
department where nowadays there
are few who would even care to
launch upon such venture.
Powell CIayton's Peppery Book ON
"RecOnstruction" in Arkansas.
When the veteran spectator Of the
great American game OF politics takes
up Cen POWELL CLAYToN's book, The
Aftermath Of the Cirii War, in Arkdn-
sds tThe Neale Publishing Company,
literary criteria will rest in the twi-
light zone Of his mind. Strong stun
is what he will look for and find.
Powell Clayton. born at Bethel. Della
ware county, Pennsylvania, August Z.
1888. went to Kansas in the sos, took
part in the Free Soil movement, be-
came City Engineer OF Leavenworth
and went into the war as Captain in
the First Kansas Infantry. In SO
he led an expedition from Helena, Ark,
| up the White River. smashed a band
of guerrillas and destroyed Confed-
crate stores. In "a he commanded
In another similar and similarly sue
cessful undertaking In the region OF
Pine Bluff. Coming out Of the war
a Brigadier-General. he bought a
plantation in Arkansas and began
growing cotton.
by his own statement. he had at
this time no thought of going into
politics; hut persecution by Demo-
cratic neighbors, involving malicious
r N in ~
him. that II that party got control Of
the state Government ii would become
impossible for a Union man to live in
the State in peace. and in 1867 he
Joined in the organization OF a State
Republican party. became it's Guber-
material nominee and was elected.
From 1868 tn 1871 he was Governor:
from 1871 to 1877 he represented Ar
kansas in the United States Senate.
For forty years he was member OF
his party's national committee. from
1872 to 1912 delegate to every one
Of its national conventions; In 1850,
at Chicago. he was one of Grant
steadfast BOG. In 1896. as boss Of
the talk department" officially head
of the speakers bureau, ne made a hi
by playing up boy orator" rivalling
in suasive eloquence and excelln.
in respect OF sense him "of tho
Platte" Mckinley appointed him
Minister to Mexico. and during his
term the legation was exalted to the
rank of embassy; Gen. Clayton was
at its head until 1908. when he re-
signed His latter years were devoted
to the making Of this bouncing book
mn in i..
the great majority" to which most
of those who strut or stink through
the pages of his book had preceded
him.
Always a 'stalwart" and aggressive
Republican, it Is not for the softer
virtues that Powell Clayton Is to he
admired. After you" was not his
motto. A man Of affairs, ne was
thoroughly practical" He took care
Of himself. While he was Governor
of Arkansas he was in business in the
state and was accused OF mixing his
AFFAIRS. public and private. Impeach-
ment failed against him in Little Rock.
investigation in Washington. While
he was Ambassador to Mexico he was
accused Of specializing in mining in
terests. to the possible. not proved
prejudice OF his fitness to guard the
interests of Americans in trouble: in
one remembered instance leading 10 an
assault in the Senate chamber OF a
certain gentleman from Indiana by a
certain gentleman from Texas. A GER
tain gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA
took the matter up. resolved to make
"A mot night upon the Ambassador.
The three Senators were all, like the
ruclear personality in the teapot tenn
pest Republicans. These are old, far
off things: the details do not matter
now, even as affecting the right of
State Executives to do business in
their States and of diplomats to be-
come involved in commercial or in
dustrial enterprise in the countries to
which they are accredited. In Gen.
Clayton's case II was upon the pro-
prieties rather than rights and duties
that the discussion turned. He was
copious'y criticised, and he prints the
criticisms of his enemies apparently
with the same fulness and freedom
from illusory refraction with which
he presents his own case. Now that
the controversies are all deceased and
decently inferred there Is abundant
entertainment and some amusement i'm
recalling the scenes of the old, bitter
fields of battle. There is also much en-
tightening reconstruction, in this
book, Of issues long since settled but
of immortal memory for their in
fuence in solidifying the principles of
American government. It. would not