The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-02-19

g. ~ N q
OF all the men who filed the Presidential
chair, none were worthy Of more honor, and
the enduring affections Of great people.
He was pure and incorruptible in private
and public life.
The following gives an insight into the
character Of the late ex-President Pierce,
and partially rights the memory Of a much
slahdered statesman. It appeared recently
in the columns of the Christian at WorL: Z
Ifirst saw Washington city in September,
1852. It had been MY desire from child
hood The city appeared like the aeblfS
whicha hurricane had dropped along the
way as it went screaming and writhing
down the Potomac. But It was the capital,
the seat Of power that j. 70 sway the des-
TIMES Of a continent. 9tf - 1lhii oal
II was here first saw President Pierce.
He behaved in his social habits and private
conduct like a Christian. He was more
orthodox and devout than most men Of our
public men. For example, he would have
no unnecessary work or visiting done at the
White House on the Christian Sabbath. His
notions in thisrespect were quite puritanical,
and on the morning of the Christian Sabbath,
or forty), the humblest and the highest, were
gathered in the library, and there the Prea-
dent read the Scriptures and offered up q
prayer. He was fond Of meetings for prayer I;
he was, withal, great church-goer. Always
once, generally twice, and not unfrequently
three times, would he be found IN the sane
tuaries Of the city on the same day. He was
liberal, and visited the different churches,
thus by his presence supporting public wor-
ship, and by his example stimulating others
70 do likewise. For, in Washington. Il
must be said, that wherever the President
goes, there follows the crowd Of those who
arc always hanging about the skirts Of
power.
In the early period Of his public life be
had unfortunately contracted drinking
habits, which had made him bad renoWn.
And after he got to be President, though
sober as q judge, fused 70 bed bis adverse
RES very cruelty revived the story, charging
him with the fragrant repetition Of his old
odense. He spoke Of this frankly and
freely, and always said: This Is thepen-
atty Of former indiscreti0n. / bear It Pc
tiently, for lhnTe once given occasion that
it could be said He would have thought
himself diseraced forever Il he he'd yielded
70 this inhmity while Ia the Presidential
once. BE could not drink st al without
pd Be- exposition b himself, and
1..heliG E|nr Is free from chicansly Ga
as.he purest Nazarite that ever
11e W. - elegant speaker one 81 tie
llt ever heard. BE delivered BIS inal-
rlIE1t without notes. He was fond Of NH
losophy and theological discussion. His
views on topics Of this sort were singulnrlv
clear and generally sound But be could
not Be persuaded 20 make public pfofos-
1i0a Of his belief By putting himself ~
conneciiOn with any Protestant christian
Church, and think e Vas bit 4 compara-
lively short time before his death that he
wm finally confined IL the Episc6psI
Church.
How Ear nhell We ply into the secret siorv
81 this mans Lief He told ne fhinas "a
con1dence-snatcbe1 81 lis childhood
bis thinkingz and atpIfin1 when b6v.
bis college dagl, his Slddg 81 ii,1 law, lis
practice ID IIs native town. rs fmnrc1rIonr
e. ceTiaih 'IeVigal meeting. held g tie
winter 81 1894, how ho vas elected - Cen.
erers e re age 81 fWenfy-nInr, bis journey
20 New York, and fhe dinner there With
political friends I Uz8fIIe sd point d
bis divergence from tie path 81 iernrel.
area. New York vas the trap lhef ca1e