The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-06-28
Bristow's Lost opportunity.

BristOw's Lost opportunity.
Mr.. Bristow has left the place in the cab
net, in which he has drawn to himself so
much ofthe public attention for the last two
years, and returned to his home in Ken
lucky. and it is scarcely an .exsggsrstion
to say that his name is heard
no more among men. From
the moment that his presidential as
pirstions came to nsught in the nomins-
ton of Governor Hayes he has droppsd
completely out of sight. His resignst ,on
was looked for, and took place with scarcely
a consequent ripple on the surface OF
public opinion, and he has returned to the
West, seemingly to lead a life of
inconspicuous retirement, untroubled by
any calls to public position. This seems
strange and premature termination to a
career that commenced so suspiciously as
that of Mr.. Bristow in the administration
OF President Grant; but it is one strictly
in harmony with the stern logic of po-
litical cause and effect. Mr.. Bristow has
lost his hold upon the good will of the
people and sacrificed the prestige given
him by his successful prosecution of the
whisky ring, by an inability to rise to
the full dignity of the situation in which
be was placed and to grasp the oppor-
tunity offered him to place himself at
the head of a popular movement.
All honor should be given Mr.. Bristow for
the vigor and energy with which be exc
cuted needed reforms in his department
He did no more than his duty, but it is
rare for a Radical official to come within
gun shot of doing so much as that. By
his exceptional conduct in this respect he
made himself the most conspicuous figure
in the government, and excited hopes that
he possessed characteristics that would en-
able him to make the work of reform reach
further than to mere matters OF routine,
and the prevention of common, open steal
ing. A large party in the country looked
to him as the possible representative
ana leader in a work of real reform; as one
who would not hesitate to prosecute the
work of purificstion even at the expense
of party; who would boldly use the infiu-
ence given him by series of fortunate
circumstances to disrupt political organ
ization that had become hopelessly given
over to corrupt practices and lead the bet
ter elements OF it to fresh and purer
political Affiliations. This expectation
Mr.. Bristow has wholly disappointed, and
in consequence has lost all the prominence
given him as the quasi-representstive OF
the reform movement. He has been
nil a N w
offered him to make OF himself
great popular leader. and in conse quence
the country has rejected bis leadership and
be has relocated himselft to the obscurity of
private life. Several times has the oppor-
tunity been presented to the ex-secretary
to break loose from party lines and place
himself. at the head of a great reform move
ment. Especially might he have done
this with success when, in the full tide of
the whisky prosecutions, the sdministra-
ton interfered to thwsrt his Efforts by
the removal ofGenersl Henderson as coun-
sci for the government at st. Louis. There
were several later occasions when
Bristow and bis reform scheu es
were systematically thwarted end
checked by the administration. If
upon any of these he had broken loose
from his party and the government that
hsmpsred him in his work of reform, he
might have become the leader of a move
meut for general and complete reform thst
would have swept the country. But he
has missed his opportunity. His presi-
Dental ambition and desire to turn his re-
form achievements to his personal gain
have made him timid. He has chung to a
corrupt aud falling party until be has lost
the popular confidence, and with 1t his
only strength, and has in conse
quence of this loss been driven
from the position he sacrificed his
self respect to retain. With all its respect
for Mr. Bristow's achievements the coun
try plainly sees where be has fallen shortoi
the capabilities of his situation, and his de-
psrture from public life will be looked
upon as the merited fall OF would-he PC