The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-22
A Democratic View of Secretary
BristoW.

n Otl1OCI dJlC VlCW VI pCOiVboiy
Bristow.
In the hall of representatives to-day, in
the open space behind the desks of the
members, there appeared solid, deter
mined looking man, who seemed to be per-
fectly at home on the floor and chatted and
shook hands with various congressman un-
til the gavel of the speaker pro teniporo
drove all gossippers to the cloak room. If
you were unfamiliar with him the whispers
of people along the galleries pointing the
stranger out to their companions would
have told you at once that 1t was Secretary
Bristow. To give the Washington readers
of the World an idea of his appearance, it
might be enough to say that something in
the secretary's looks, notwithstanding his
dark complexion, suggests Mr.. Adams, the
well known and everywhere respected head
of the Worlds Washington bureau. To
less fortunate people 1t may be well to
THROW out few hints as material for their
imagination. 1t is common notion that
great leaders should be of massive proper
lions, and notwithstanding the fact that
such men as Napoleon and Nelson were
almost az small and dclicstely organized
as women, the general opinion may
be assumed to have some foundation
in truth. Men of great executive
ability, great capacity for mental
or physical labor, power to influence and
control others, fortitude against every kind
| of opposition and readiness to deal with all
concrete forms Of matter and forget ab-
sractione, are commonly large, stOutly-
| built and vigorous, and strong ply sique
is often good substitute for the fire of
genius. To this class Bristow seems to
belong. He stands about five feet eleven
inches in hight and weighs over two hun
bred and twenty-five pounds, without ap
pearing in any way unwieldy. His head
s large and well developed, being especial
~ well rounded above the ears. The face
is not that of u scholar or a divine. 1t is
rather that of the manager of a great rail-
road or the proprietor of great manufac-
turing business, and at the present crisis of
affairs it is a most consoipg countenance
to see upon the secretary of the United
States treasury. The firm sweep of the
jaw gives promise of aggressive persever
ance, and there is about the whole man the
air of one engaged in severe contest, with
all the means OF winning it within his con
troll.
Brstow's sudden and rapid rise is one OF
the most curious events In our politics.
He was a Kentucky uuionist, who went in.
to the army and served through the wal
without gaining any especial distinction
coming out unnoticed among the multitude
of gallant colonies who returned to civi
!, life. He took up the practice of his pro
fession and gradually won esteem as {
sound lawyer, and was appointed United
States district attorney. From that posi-
ton he stepped into the office of solicitor
general, when that place was created il
the department Of justice, and when Will
ans was proposed for chief justice, Bris
tow was selected to succeed him in the at
torpey-g eneralsbip 1t was a petty schem,
J but fell to tie ground. In the neantim,
he had returned to his home in Louisvill,
and made no secret of the fact that he hat
-, little desire for official life at Washington
= There is every reason to believe that HI
had no knowledge of the president
intention to appoint him secretary Of tn
treasury, and when he saw his own nam
mentioned in the newspapers in connection
, with that office, he wrote to some of hi
friends, who were giving currency to re
ports of his advancement, telling them tina
there could bc no truth in such rumors an,
asking them to desist, as they were onl
making him ridiculous in the eyes of TIL
;" public. TO this day, Grants motive il
making such selection is a mystery, an,
his choice can only be explained by sup
posing that for moment the old unerrin
a instinct with which he used to pick out hi
t subordinate generals returned to him IN IN
nomination of civil officer. The ne>
; secretary learned the complicated details @
: his Office with wonderful readiness, an
C performed its trying duties with ease, in
| ,Nloi NAV i,n
, business habits and instincts soon enable
him to detect the abuses of his department
e and his aggressive honesty prompte
g him to reform them. There was
q score of petty cliques in the treasur
department which he broke throug
y before destroying the whisky ring. 1ha
: labor and the fame which he won in &C
;. complshng it need only be alluded t
here, for the news columns are full of tn
story. He stands now the foremost ma
: of the administration and the favorite car
y didate of the best elements of his party 70
d the presidency. He has not section be
r hind him like Blaine or Morton, but til
= sympatnies of all good citizens as distr
s guished from good psrtisans in the repul
Y lican ranks favor his ambition aud hi
d popularity at home is such that, if put int
the field, he would certainly reduce u,
> democratic majority In mat democratl
n stronghold, kentucky. His successful CT
! reer is due to the happy fortune whic
g placed him In official position and to th
9 courage and fidelity with which he pei
10 formed its duties. In a venal age he ha
J. been able to win glory by sterling integrit
and manly activity. He is not great mar
II perhaps, but he s bold, sound and pract
cal one.
:, 1t may not be inappropriate to add the
the rumors Of antagonism between Ii
president and his secretary of the treasury
;. though so confidently denied, are not bas'
u less, and Bristow will not finch, l thnl
o it crisis comes. Those who know hi
j. well say that he would surrender his pos
ia ton tomorrow on point of honor, u
% though to do so should probably destro
5 his presidential prospects but he will nj
l. GO out under fire. and Grant could NJ
y afford to dismiss him. The current
events runs smoothly, but the result of IL
, trial in st. Louis may bring break in Il
= surface. 4. 90.
n Washington, Feb. 10.