, 1876-03-18
CHARACTERS At WASHINGTON,
SecretarN RrIstos,.

|
ult., in the opeE space behind the desks o
the members, there appeared a solid deter
mined-looking man, who seemed TO be per
fectly at home On the floor and ehA,ted ani
shook hands with various Congressman unit
the gaVel of the Speaker pro tempore drov,
ali gossippers to the clOak-room. If yor
were unfamiliar with him the whispers o
people along the galleries pointing the stran
ger out 10 their companions would have tolJ
you at once that 1t Was Secretary Bristow
To give the Washington readers OF Tie oyls
an idea OF his appearance, It might be enough
to say that something in tho Secretary
looks, notwithstanding his dark complexion,
suggests Mr. Adams, the well-known and
everywhere respected head of The BOrid' 8
Washington bureau To less fortunate peo-
pie it may be well 20 throw ont few hints
as material for their Imagination. II is 3
common notion that great leaders should be
of massive prop rtious, and notwithstanding
the fact that such men as Napoleon and Nell
son were almost as small and dUlicately or
ganized as women, the general opinion may
be assumed to have sUme foundation IL truth.
Men of great executive ability, great capacity
for mental or physical labor, power TO inhu-
euee and control others, fortitude against
every bind Of opposition and Readiness to
deal with all concrete forms OF matter and
forget abstraCtiOns, are commonly large,
stuutly-built and vigorous, and a strong ply
sique Is often good substitute for the fire OF
genius To this class Bristow seems TO be-
long lie stands about five feet eleven inches
in height and weighs over two hundred and
twenty-five pounds, without appearing IN
any way uuwieldy. His head is large and
well developed, beng especially well rounded
above the ears. The face is not that Of a
scholar or Il divine. Il is rather that OF the
manager Of a great railroad OF the proprietor
of q great manufacturing business, snC at
the present crisis Of affairs 1t is q most con-
soling countenance 10 see upon the Secretary
of the Tinted States Treasury. The firm
sweep Of the jaw gives promise of aggressive
perseverance, and there Is about the whole
man the air of one engaged in a severe con-
test, with ali the means Of winning 1t within
liz ---.--I
Bristow's sudden and rapid rise is one Of
the most curious events in our politics. He
was a Kentucky Unionis., who went into the
army and served through the war without
gaining any special distinction, coming out
unnoticed among the multitude Of gallant
colouels who returned to civil life. He took
up he practice Of his profession and gradually
won esteem a. d sound lawyer, and was aP-
puinted United States District Attorney.
From that position he stepped into the office
Of Solicitor-G General, when that place was Gre
nted in the Department Of Justice, and when
Williams was proposed for Chief Justice,
I Eri.,ovy was selected 10 succeed in the AttOr-
nev-General,hip. 1t was a pretty scheme,
but fslI to the ground. In the meantime ne
Lad returned 10 his home in Louisville and
made no sec-et Of the fact that he had little
desire for official life at Washington. There
i every reason 10 believe that he had no
knowledge Of the Pre5.ent's intention to
appoint him Secretary If the Treasury, and
: ,.-, -. mo mon nfionpd In the
newspapers in connection with that office, he
wrote TO some Of his friends, who were glV-
ing currency TO reports Of his advancement
telling them that there could be no truth IN
such runors and asking them to desist, as
they were only making him ridiculous IN the
eyes Of the public To this day, Grant mo-
tive in making such a selection Is a mystery
and his choice can only be explained BY sup
no.ino, that for moment the old unerrIng
Instinct with which be used to pick out his
subordinate geter4Is returned to him In the
nomination of 4 civil officer. The new Sec
ra,srv learned the complicated details OF his
,4F;,a with wonderful readiness, and performed
its irving duties with ease, IN PLAIN unpre-
,s,,ti1us vvav His thorough business habits
e,d instincts soon enabled him to detect the
abuses Of his department, and his sgSlt-s'
honesty prompted him 10 reform them. Ihefe
was a score of petty cllques IN the treasury
DEPARTMENT which be broke through before
: destroying the whiskey ring. That lAUol
a,d the fame which he won IN accomplish
ir,r II need only be alluded TO here, Tor the
: ,a,,s columns are full OF the story lie
} s,apIs nov the foremost man OF the admins
: r., ion and the fayorite candidate OF the best
, elements Of his party Tor the fres!GehcE'
r Hs b,. not 4. section behind him Ike Blame
= or Morton, bus the syinpa'h'es OF All g'Ou
E citizen. as Distinguished from good PartlsAn'
G IN the r-oublican ranks favor his ambition
e nd his popularity at home Is such that, Il
e mt into the field, be would certainly reduce
( h damocratic majority in the democTsn'
1 stronghold, Keniucky- His successful ca
g reer Is due - the happy fortune when P!'ce1
n him in official position and 10 the co1fsg'
4 and Hislity with which he performed ms
: Jutias In 4 venal age he has been soie 'l
: v,in yJorv by sterling integrity and manly sct
ivitv lie is not a great man. perhaps, Du'
h "a a bold. sound and practical one.
II may not be iuaPprOpriate: to AGA INA Una
a the runaors of snragOnisn between the ffesl !
8eBtgpd hi. Secretary of the Treasury, though
- confidently denied, are not basel=ss' anc
G Rri.tow viii not finch, think, II crisn
( cons- Tboss who know hirn well say ina
h. wapli surrender his position tomorrow ol
. q po,at Of honor, although 10 do 80 1houle
ur1bably destroy his Presidential prospects IS
u but he will not 90 out under hre' sna oGt Orah ran
: cmuld not stsord 10 dismiss hin- Inc cui
n rznt Of events runs smoothly oas lAe ts-dI -,
Of The trisl in ST. LOUIS ma! Otins
? IN the surface.
E The total Indebtedness Of Chicago
: is s26, 100000, and the people, oI
b he first day of January, were slV'
< O00 600 in arrears on tax payments