The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-02
KENTUCKY'S FAVORITE SON
BENJAMIR HELM BRISTOW FOR
President.


Prom ne Lssi,vne @rernde weekly.
Benjamin Helm Bristow was born in
Ektun, Todd county, Kentu Ky, In the month
OF July, 1852, and was the second OF family OF
four children. His father, Francis NJ. BIistow,
was wl.ey known throughout the state as
lawyer Of aoil' v, and the leading mind OF his
section. In 1s0O-t he represented tho Third Dis
trict OF Kentucky IN he Congress Of the Unitei
States. and held IN 'es OF responsibility and
honor at various times. lie was member OF
the Con, tltutlon Convention in 1850. which
framed the present State Constitution. lie
died during tlo war. His mother, Tho Is now
living n Elm n. WIS Emily Helm. daughter -
Hcujnmm Helm, OF Elzahethtown hcut lucky;
His Two sisters, Mrs. p,trce and MIS-. bi'l' anu
hi, brother. Frank bfistOw, also rosiue III b'k-
ton.
education m his native place. B'niarin entered
Jefferson College Mt Cam rsOufRh. iennsylVahin,
and vert dti,ventIy tnrnrsb the iurse OF study
there az, rlcd. His ability rs n dcbat,r 'incd
Tor him aofno dmration among his 81 1--mNcs
reor Il, scr,ins aneci ! lrntiIn.
On ica,lns college Ia 1915 he cptorcd tho law
ofiro Of his fifner at E'tton. and coutinurd tho
study nj practise IT iiw WIN his f,tncr ultu
1891, when he rcmo,rd to llopllinsgille, Chrs
4 ~ county, wt.r in ! a tncrsnip with Judge
X. l.. Pciree, he our -ucd his prOie- siun with RIA
sonable success. until the breaking out of toe
war, very soon ti"r which he entered thc United
States service - tdeutenau Colonel 0f t.r IWci-
ty-hfth Kentucky regiment. comm nded Nv Col.
Shackleford, aud DIST suishcd himsclffor coDl-
Fort DoncsOu, and pitt.bIrg Landing (ShIuhl.
Returning home IN 1872 he was active IN ras-
lng the Eighth Kentucky tayairy, with viii 10 ho
again enter, Il the service as Leuten nj Colo. 81.
and wa soon N lie Colonel. rnis regiml ntwa4 in
portion ~ the army which effected the "a lure
Of IN. lobr~ted Confederate raider, Gen. JUnn
IN THE STATE SENATE.
In the fall OF 1861 he was elected to the State
Senate from the llou>insyilie district OF Ken
tuckr. lie WIS on the Committee On Nuitar'
Afnrs, ard stood hv the { mon In those stormy
times Of lstil4-5 when he resigned his scat. and
located ~ Louisville to practisc his profession.
In lsl6 he was appointed ssist,nt l.. :. bis
trct Attorney for kentu,kv, and about. yeaf
thereaftcl succeeded Josnua rcvis Esq -
District Attorney. mis- office ne held NJ a time
when nothing tnt 'he most uuilinching courage
would have sustained an officer Of the tinted
States In the prosecution OF many case. grow
ins out Of the threatened conflict OF State with
The ability manifested In the administration
or the ONCE or District Attorney was what ilrst
country. TWAS while in this position that he
acquired that thorough kn9wledec OF the inter
so much service TO him nd the country. lie
resigned the Office OF Dietric, Attorney in $50,
snd formed NV p,rtnstsh'p WIN Cen J%n1
% LES tnSn ys" TO n t9' s 9ss al
that time created. After about two years
Of lilo 10 WASHINGTON, he resigned the
Office and retired TO private, life and tho
Judges OF the Supreme OR, held him IN hi "a
esteem Tor the ability DISPLAYED in The So
the winter of iSI4 Col. Bristow W $ nominated
for Attnfney-Goneral OF me United states 10
nominated lor chief Justice liut the n1rninl-
non ~ Williams not having been eonirmed'
Col BristoW Ill not Ia, bis seat.
SECRETARY ~ rHE rREAsrEY.
In June. 1874, after the onre Of Secretary Of
the lrensuty had been made vacant oY the res
va sni,r,scd Sy tha an 'a,r,nent of TX
Brstcw 10 this important place IN the Cabinet.
rom tnN oate, however lac nus without uodh''
hae ID Ia.
country. once f,irlN settled and made familiar
with tho machinery ~ this department hn be-
gan most sweeping and mex cradle warfare up
on the frauds which had cropt in to rob the
Government q lts revenue. aud As result gain
cd for hlmseli the most hearty hatred Of GER
tain bad neu, whose evil plans he hal dis 10Y.
cred ard msrclefsly struck down, Iu, won by 1t
cal parties and walks of life. Having begun lis
work 81 reform and confirmed those who hrat
sure the collection 81 m0ne! due the Govern
ment. information which had before been hid
Then began, really tho ii hl'ult part Of his work
for TO shield tbo Guiltvand throw SUSPICION on
the right track much OF the tiise was uinsled
WITH thetrue Information sent him, which he had
10 digest and SIT out Wax ON crooked ~hisky y
was soon commenced, but not TIL he was cor
tain Of his steps. In the face Of obstacles. such
as made even his fre DIS doubtful Of the pcssi-
war went on ; and before SIS telling stroke
that imnen7c structure Of fraud and CORRUPTION
lions OF revenue fell-snd TODAY the country
Looks IN nv Wonder on IT. STU cfHm9nG ra,9,. -
from all directions, Bri-tow will be
THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
Should ne receive the nomination Of HE party
his election will follow, a a natural sequence
OF all political rites, and even those OF no spe
cla political tene's, that II presented for the
election. Frmnc-s, ability efficiency states
manshp p. and unhinchng int gritty are such rare
qualities among promineu; mca, that the POS
session Of these in so eminent a degree by Mr.
Brstow will be sure u gain for MIN the votes OF
This IL tho nrst biographical sketch Of Col
Bristow ever printed and embraces ihe pginci
present time. We have aimed In ,,s reduction
at accuracy, clrarness, and oTevity' Father than
elaboration. Tho unObtrusive and retiring dis.
position OF this realty great man Is 80 wei
known that no nllusion need be here made to l.
more than 10 remarL that, by reason OF IT. tht
facts here presented are unknown save to thos'
whose lives nave more or hess been interw oven
with his. In the preparation Of this sketch VI
were folebiy strueN with the fact that no on,
even among his schoolmates ~ d relatives coulI
tell US murh about his early history or privat,
life. He In eniinenty modest man.
The great prominence 10 which he has attain
ed, BY the able and unn'nching performance Of
all duties imposed upon INN, together with tn,
fact that he has made success OF his attempt
TO get all the good there is IN our common enc
ny-whsAey the tAN, Out Of II, has led us u
gather ana publish the foregoing facts. our OBJ
iect is 10 nay Just tnbL.e to honesty and ab
w IN a public 0mcer' az shown IN surn strih,ni
contrast with tho fraud and corruption whicl
othels n ofiicsl positions have practised-onll
this aud nothing more.
MS FAMILY.
Mrs. Brttow Is noted among her friend
sveIywhsrc-in humble cottages and grand stat,
assemblies in Wa hinRton-foT her high quail
ties OF mind, uniform amiobly, aud graceful
appearance. Two children, a daughter aud
son, make up the family
One noticeable fact IN the career Of Col. Drls
tow Is, that he never sought an once iva
never even accused OF doing sol, ana Tssigne,
every civil once no ever acid with the eXcep
ton OF the present one. Should he resign hi
one II viii probably be, as in all Of tho others h.
has held, to MI higher one in the Government
he has So nobiy served.
jersey Demands BrIstOw.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir:
have noticed the articles In THE Sun In regart
to Secretary BrIstow VI a candidate for Presi
dent One suggests him as union candidate
for Democrats and Liberal Repu blicans; then
Hard Shell Democrat objects aud cites Greeley
failure az proof that twenty per cent. OF tn,
Democracy would vote for enc but a strsght
Democrat.
Now. We lerssymen intend to have "our cay
IN ms matter, whether II amounts o anything
nr not ana We want hrittow for the Repubicaf
candidate for President. Tho question oi
nominations does really rest In the hands Of tht