The New York herald., 1869-07-05
EX-PRESIDENT PIERCE
Hauipslsire--A Brief Visit by One Of the
Herald Reporters-The Ex-Chief Magis-
trate Indniges In Life Of Quiet Enjoy
nient and Perfect Freedom from all Public
Affairs.
CoNcoRp, n. H., July Q, 1889.

tfato lhohtBeS In lu8 0t QuIet Enjoy
ment and Perfect Freedom from all Public
Affairs ~
CONCORD N. H., July 3, 1892.
Probably not in the whole category Of distin-
guished men Of America can there be one found
who has slipped so suddenly and quietly from pp' c
into private lie as has General Tranklin erce or
tls city, once President OF The United States. He is
private citizen In every ssnse W the term, ana hs
! history since he vacated the White House Is in
remarkable and IA many respects, in pleasing con-
trast with that Oh some otners who have held "the
highest ONCE IN the gift OF free people," Since
ms retirement he has not uttered a single speech
upon current political AFFAIRS although immediately
succeeding his Presidential career he was somewhat
active III the politics Of his state, and to this
day he manifests lively interest everything per-
tanning TO the local welfare and prosperity OF this
section oi the country. whlch he has selected to
spend in quiet retirement the remainder of his days
! During The past two years tue health OF the GEN
eral has not been remarkably good but, with the
| exception OF about three weeks during the past
winter, he mas been able to ride and walk out almost
daily. during the interval referred to he quite
low tor several days, ana his med cal attendants
and his friends entertained serious fears OF the
suit. With careful nursing anu sKful treatment he
oyercame sickness whcn promised TO result fatally.
and he Is to-day In the enjoyment OF better physical
health than he possessed for years. In appear
ance he seems yOunger than when the Presidential
| mantle rested upon him. Those who remember
! hm in Washington would readily recognize
him In Concord, however for he maintains
| the smooth ana clean-shaved face which always
| one OF his characteristics, and his broadcloh
| and beaver are still OF the same spotess black and
the elegant AID tidy nt. Ills step is
sprlRhtly as tnat OF young man OF twenty and he
can handle the ribboas behind $3.50 trotter a
Drancnp with skill an a q
mt Chief Magistrate OF the nation. Those VINO have
entertained an idea that Mr. Pierce is old and nhrn,
or that his faculties have become in the least i'm
PARED never made greater mistake. He can well
eXcaim, In the language OF the song OF aye Ancient
Old Man, that "Although Pm OLD Pm OF the
Boys.n Sickness and advancing years have left
him one whit the worse, and 1t would seem froma
his every movement and every appearance that ho
is long time for this world yet.
The General is not only widower, but wiChous
any family whatever. Shortly after his election TO
the Presidency his only was killed by accident
| on New England railroad, and few years since
his wife passed away and left him alone in the world
He lives in tidy little cottage, at the upper end
OF Main street. upon an eminence commanding
beautiful and unobstructed view OF the placid Mef.
rlmacK, ana within an easy ten minutes walk oi the
central or business portion OF the town He owns
considerable valuable real estate In Concord aud
vicinity, and is also the possessor OF considerable
city, and consequently not so very valuable. Almost
every pleasant morning he may be seen trudgiug
brsky down the street In the direction or
The Post once Having obtained his mali
| matter, he retires to one corner OF the Post
Office rotunda and gives hasty perusa to his let
ters and then generally wends his way the publ
cation Office oil The Ne,o HAMPSHIRE Patriot, looks
upon local matters With Mr. Butterfeld the editor.
He goes home rather eisurely at about noon, and
hotels, looks over the registers and has social
chat with about everybody with whom he comes
In contact There IS nothing OF the snob or
the people he makes no distinction on account or
social Standing on account OF race color HIS
manners are genial and atiaDie with all, and his
courteous bearing has 30 endeared him to his fellow
citizens that 1t would be extremely dangerous Tor
stranger TO say anything damaging TO Mr.. Pierce In
know him most intimately DO not hesitate to assert
that II ne had the same millions he would be phi
lanthropst hardly second to George Peabody. He
spends not few OF his afternoons IN riding around
the environs OF the town. and he generally Is behind
equine that takes good care that he does not in
hale the dust OF any Others who may the road.
vicinity calls upon the General and he puts himself
TO great inconvenience to show the visitors hospl
tality and make their stay agreeable
have inrimated that Mr.. fierce Is not much con-
cerned about the public affairs OF the day,
This Is to great extent true for he very
try to the best Of his ability whe of its servants
he ought to expect the same from those who sue
the mark he is probably charitable enough to over.
look some Of the unwse actions OF other adminstra-
own forgotten. Although charity IL one OF the
uppermost and prominent characteristics OF the
to record the fact that he does not ulIy appreciate
and sincerely lament the reconstruction plumbers
which nave been made by the present adminstra-
uon he shares IN the very popular opinion that 50
far as practical reconstruction Is concerned there
has been but very little progress since that eyenrful
DAY when Lee gave up his sword TO Grant
under the Appomattox apple tree. What Mr..
Pierce, Pierce considers practical reconstruction is
ing but OF business throughout the South,
the full protection OF every citizen and effort or
some show of an effort for possible return to
specie. While entertaining such practical opinions
as these It is reasonable to suppose that he could
Congress which has almost completely ey o ignored
matters OF paramount interest to the country and
wasted It's time measures comparatively lnslgni-
fcant In the matter of the Alabama claims, found
that the ex-Presdent s something OF supporter OF
SON and Il Munster Motley snou d finally follow in
the wake OF the Maryland diplomat Mr.. Pierce
would not be much astonished lie does not believe
In any war with England account OF what the
Alabama has done, Tor he Is among those whose
knowledge and wisdom Of the present condition OF
afiairs IN this country teaches him that not
prepared for any such undertaking. In this particu-
lar he can, therefore, unLe with Grant In the
prayer OF ''Let US have peace.l
shall not violate General Pierce's conf
dence by making public any views which
he may entertain concerning AFFAIRS in Cuba at the
present time for he has been intent in procuring
the restoration OF his health to give 30 fresh sub
ject the attention which he claims II deserves before
an opinion IL expressed don't think, however
eonld be iar nom wrong II should say, In Mr..
Plerce's Dena11, tnat the United states governments
has acted very strangely in tue matter, from begiu-
ming to end. This Is rather an indefinite ex planaton
OF mans views, but cannot make them any
clearer, unless should make the bold assertion that
II Mr.. Pierce had been President the expedition cap.
tured in Long Island Sound the other day would
never have been molested ghis assertion however
l am not prepared 20 make, or even insnuate All.
though the ex-Presdent is a widower, / cannot re-
frain, In the capacity OF a faithful reporter
from bringing down upon MS head the
wrath OF Anna Dlckinson, susan B. Anthony.
Lucy stone, and In TACT, the whole battalion Of
strong-minded lem,nnes. This wrath will surely
come wnen they read IN the HERALD thai ne does
not believe In sympathlze with their movement
He cherishes the time.hoDored custom OF masculine
authority in pubic affairs and thus arrays himself
win the majority OF the sterner OF the country
III prononBcIng womaR's place almost anywhere ex.
cept al the ballot box, IN the Legislatures or IN
Congress.
These few facts concerning the only regularly
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