The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1876-05-18
BristOw as a Bully.

parry Dlnclnnati Oommetclal-
BristOw as a Bully.
Small men cannot stand prosper
ity Dressed up in little author
ity, they cut up ali sorts of fantas-
tic capers. This is illustrated in
the conduct of Secretary Bristow.
The sudden prominence which has
been given him has turned his
head, and he is hectoring every
body that crosses his path.
Even the President of the United
States, the creator Of this creature,
has not escaped Bristow's insolence.
The conduct of Bristow toward
John n. Bright, member of congress
from Tennessee, was that of blus-
tering bully. While the case of
the bark Mary Merritt was under
consideration, Secretary Bristow
was present, not as a witness, but
as counsel for himself pending the
examination of other witnesses
The chairman of the committee is a
mild-mannered, courteous and ut
terly inoffensive gentleman-Mr.
Bright, of Tennessee. Bristow sat
at the lower end of the table, fac
ing the chairman, and while he did
not interrupt the examination. his
air and manner was one which, If
it did not impress the beholder as
an air of studied insolence and con-
tempt, would certainly not lead to
the impression that the secretary OF
the treasury was imbued with a due
re- pect for the representatives OF
the people. When the examina.
ton was concluded the committee
rose and Judge Bright went over to
the secretary, who by that time had
risen from his seat and stood neal
the door smoothing the fingers o
his glove, and held out his hand
Bristow turned his broad, feshl
face full upon the venerable Ten
nesseean, and bending his small
keen gray eyes upon him, said
"Sir. l do not wish to shake hands
with you" Judge Bright was aston
ished for a moment, and then re
plied: "Mr. Secretary, I am simply
doing my duty. I shall endeavol
To deal with you in this matter mere
| ly as it may be developed by in
vestigation. But I assure yon, sir
| was wholly unprepared for sucl
an afront at your hands" MI
BristoW's retort was inaudible as h.
turned toward the door. Then h
turned back and said that he de
not object to the ordinary method
Of investigation, and would not con
slider the ordinary action in an,
personal light. But" he added
Il think you have gone beyond til
ordinary methods Of congressiona
inquiry and taken a course which in
dicates personal feeling. There
fore 1 feel like meeting you in til
same spirit" Mr.. Bright said h
2 had been actuated by a desire t
e probe the thing to the bottom. H
: had understood that the seeretar
r desired the inquiry (Mr. Bristo
S interrupted him to say that this Wa
e correct), and in pursuance of d,
T sire to meet the wishes of the SCI
retary, he { Mr.. Bright had sougl
# all possible means eliciting testim'
e ny, and had sought to learn all tha
; was to be learned concerning the a
fair. But he disclaimed eherishiI
= any personal feeling, and added tn
) he had been gratuitously and, as
e thought, hagrantiy afFronted by Il
= secretary, his personal feeling {
n ward him had been one of kindne
# and, in some respects,of admiratio
j. These are the facts Of the case as
= ported by a correspondent to Il
: st. Louis Times, and they show tn
m Secretary Bristow is nothing but 1
a. inflated gas-bag. He demanded
] most rigid investigation, and
Is accommodating him he becomes
~ solent toward the commits
John NJ. Bright, the chairman
the committee, represents the Fa
ie etteville district IN this State, Al
= is a gentleman of great courte
" and would be the last to offend a
one, and Bristow's conduct towa
him shows that he is utterly u
worthy of the prominence viii
y = has been given his name.-Msmp
appeal.