The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-19
BENJAMIN II. BRISTOW.

mination Of Mr. Bristow to retire from the
cabinet during the present week. He has
done great work, and has earned his rest.
His determination has no political signiti-
cance whatever, and he has scrupulously
avoided giving it the least appearance
thereof. Rarely, If ever before, has a
cabinet officer 80 speedily leaped from
comparative obscurity to national fame
as has been the lease with MIR. Bristow.
Never before has it happened that public
off Ger, whose advent was received with so
much of misgiving, doubt and fear, has re-
tired, after only two years of service, pos
sessed OF 20 larg, share of the public con-
adence and respect Ivy honestly and faith
fully doing bis duty.
1t is simple thing to do ones duty, but
the popular estimation in which Mr. Bris-
tow il held, to-day, shows how little we
look for ii in public life, how rarely we
find it there. Regardless of self or party,
Mr.. Biistow has administered the affairs
of the treasury department, and he stands,
to-day, The best beloved, the most highly
respected OF American statesmen. He as
sumed. Office at time when the machinery
for the collection of the internal revenue
WAS controlled by corrupt ring, when the
revenues cf the country were diverted
from the public treasury, and used for he
enrichir of individuals and the corrupting
Of the elective franchise; when the whisky
ring was apparently imrregnably lntrench-
ed in power, debating appointments to Of
fee, controlling nominations, and purchas-
ing elections aud be leaves it with hon
esty and efficiency the sole tests for ap-
pointments to that branch of the civil ser
vice administered by him, with the revenue
honestly collected and economically ex-
pended, aud with the whisky ring ground
to powder and rendered harmless for evil.
lie took Office at time when the hope of
resuming specie payments was dim, indeii-
mite, uncertain; he leaves 1t with day alb
solutely fixed for return to specie pay
ments, and a great party irrevocably
pledged that there shall be no delay therein.
All this he accomplished, perhaps not
single handed and alone, but his name will
be the great central figure around which
the country will, hereafter, group the vari
Gus scenes in the history of a return tC
honest money, pure civil service, and ar
honest and economical administration OF
the government.
Having accomplished this much in one
department Of the government, it was nat
ura that the people should look to him tc
carry OF the same good work in all the de-
partments Of the government. But The
reward was not for him personally, in The
shape OF higher political position. HI
taught the country that it had conscience
he showed it that there was a higher plane o.
public life than that we had become accus
toned to in these latter days; he demonstrat
ed Tat reform in the administration of TIT
government was possible and his pam'
became the ralying cry for all those wht
honestly believed in, and labored for, hon
est men in office, honest money, and ,
pure and economical administration of TIL
government. His public services, the force
of his example, the splendid results of sim
ply doing bis duty, enabled the republican
party 10 lift itself out of the groves il
which it had so long been running, enabled
it to send bummers, self seekers and mere
politicians to the rear, "smashed the ma
chine" and gave the country so good
pure and honest man as Rutherford b
Hayes for its next president.
The nomination of Rutherford B. Hayc
for president of the listed States, and o
William A. Wheeler for vice-president, is
in one sense, the work of Mr.. Bristow, an
is primarily due to him and his friends
They are the representatives of the senti
ments and principles of government o
which Mr.. Bristow is the embodiment
They arc Of the same school of polite
and represent the views and opinions @
his friends as decidedly as they do not tn
views, opinions and political modes of MI
Blaine, of Mr.. Conkling and of Mr.. MOI
ton. To them, when the nomination {
Mr.. Bristow became impossible, his friend
and supporters naturally turned, and the
votes and influence secured their electio
as the standard bearers of the party, as ii
true representatives. of that reform whic
the times demand and the country need!
In doing this, they did as Mr.. Bristo
would have wished. He never sought ii
presidential office for himself; he woul
enter into no combinations to obtain il
he declined to say the word which woul
have placed him there; but, on the col
tIary, when his own success seemed NJ
only possible but probable, he urged h
friends and supporter to drop his nan
and unite on Rutherford b. Hayes-ar
this will be remembered as not the least {
his unselfsh services to his country.
He returns to private life, but not to ol
Ocurity. His gratfed countrymen, his d
voted fellow-citizens of Kentucky, will n,
suffer him to remain in retirement Il
many years. Inc country could lily a
ford permanent loss Of his services.
the meanwhile, the country has an oppo
tunity TO show its appreciation of hin
Of the good work he has performe
of the reform he has achieved in polite
and of his unseash patriotism and dev
ton to its best interests, by uniting in {
earnest, hearty support of Rutherford
Hayes as the representative of honesty al
efficiency in the public service, pure al
economical administration of the COVER
ment, honest money and sacred maint
nance of national faith and honor,
The eldest daughter of Gen. Robert (
Schenck, ex-United States minister to En-
land, 10 to be married in Ohio, next Be