The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-11
9ulegsou gntellieeafey,
THLDEN's IIEUTRNANT.
AZ !ArEnRsTINa SKErc'- OF ABgAM
s. HEwIll.
WAsHINoroy. Dec. 20.

WAsHINGToN. Dec. %.
Tbs political whirligig often throws
the calcium glare Of public attention
upon unexpected and unexpectant men.
So il has happened to Abram 8. Hewitt,
who, next TO Governor Tldeu, is perhaps
the most prominent Democrat to-day.
am not likely soon to forget my first meet.
ing with him. 1t WAS in the early days
Of the last session. The New York
World wanted bit Of news. Mr.. Hcw-
lit could give 1t. was delegated TO get
it. An evening trip TO his abiding place
in comfortable house on X street, the
Fifth avenue Of the city, was necessary.
pretty house it is, the end house of q
fine but s.-looking block. we'll back
from the street and beautifully located
on the top Of low terrace. A. wide,
hospitable- looking door opens ;n:o
wide, hespitable-lookipg hall, whose
furnishing bespeaks quiet comfort and al
adherence Of display. A door t. the
right, the first one. opens into the study.
The room bespcaks the scholar and the
literary worker at glance. An ample
table in the centre Of the room 10 always
buried beneath n jumbled mass of news
papers, books, manuscripts and mage
zines. On a working table, between the
two front windows, another tumble of
manuscripts, blank paper, two or three
books Of reference and small cleared
space, where man might possibly lay
sheet Of paper and write. Close to the
working table. movable book rack,
groaning under its weight Of law books.
Opposite to the hall door, an open fire.
place, in which few faggots are always
flicIering. On the walls, few ancient
portraits Of ancient people. 1t 10 speci-
men literary workshop, and its owner
looks most ut home when in it. In his
study, surrounded by group Of political
friends and co-workers, Mr. Hewitt APP
pears to the best advantage. A thin,
spare man, rather under the medium
height, with pronounced scholarly
stoop at the base Of the neck, tho head
always bowed as il ia deep meditation, &
shaggy full beard and moustache, ieas
yellow and ino.. gray than the hair, light
eyes, deep sunkcn and uauaily half bid
by looping eyelids, sallowness Of skin,
bcspeaking the confirmed dyspeptic.
Disorderly, but never Blovcn!y Of dress.
This is the outward picture; certainly it
is not the model for an Apollo Bclvidere,
but the outward picture does not paint
the inner man.
But / am wandering from that frst
meeting. which gave me very erroneous
impression OF Mr.. Hewitt. A stiG G"We.i,
sirr' was the first greeting, md, my
errand stated, q petulent TRADE against
newspapers in general. aud the World in
particular, followed. Toward the World,
then controlled by Nauton Marble, his
feeling seemed 40 exceeding bitter that
could not believe its alleged injustice to-
ward himself was this only or the chief
cause. The real reason never knew
until this winter.
HIS PACT RELATIoN5 WITH HIS PARTY.
The story is short one, aud as it
thrown light. on the predominant trait of
Mr.. Hewitt's character, it may ss Hell be
told. His ability and the slundnesu of
his political advice has long been known
to his Democratic colleagues in New
York State. But it 10 only very lately
that his counsele have been much hoed-
cd. The reason is simply that he has
quarrelled politically with nearly every
prominent Democrat in his own State, or
rather they have nearly all quarrelied
with him. It is said by New Yorkers
that the only prominent Democrat 10
New York State with whom he has not
Iuarrelled 10 Governor Tilden, who has
probably declined to fall out because he
has too much politics.! ;';sde.h and dinlo-
macy and appreciates the man Mt his full
value. For thcse political Incompatible.
ties there is one self-evldent reason.
Dyspeptic petulance may be the excuse,
but an inc0nvenient amount of honor for
party purposes is the primal cause. Mr..
Hewitt is the soul of honos. A dishon-
orable action is abhorrent to his whole
nature, and not all the exigencies of his.
parry for tho last half century combined
in ono conld induce him for moment to
even condone n measure which his own
delicate sense CT honor condemned. The
predominant trait Of his character holds
his personal friends TO him by golden,
cords, ard makes his enemies respect him,
but it makes him many enemiea. HAmopg
his political enemies may. he counted
Manton Marble, who quarrelled with him
on the question of free trade. On that
quarrel hangs the tale of my first meet
ing. Speaker Kerr had very high re-
gard for Mr.. Hewitt's ability and integri-
ty, and had decided, It In said, 20 give
him prominent place on one of the
leading committees. In looking after
tho makeup of the New York slate Man
ton Marble learned Of the intention, and
set to work 70 change il.
go earnest wan he that, he cana, ON TO.
Washingtnn, inhnfed psfSoAaiaisssS sly Tiss,ssF.
Kerr, after much persuasion accomplish.
ed his object, and the reault VISA that Nr.
Hewitts only committee sppointneusj
vas on tho committee on public buildings
and grounds, o place for 1hnndant leisure
and unn6tiSed stetion. On hearing
the story understood Mv. Heuitt'e anti,
pathy TO the World Of last vsintSf.S S-s'%
HOW HE GANG ro ,:if IiaE roan.
Events, however, discSncsrsed many
intriguea, and among other unlocked Cor
men brought MR. HeHitt 70 Ehe fore.
During the early weeks of the, session be
sat an observing but unobserved spectator
Of the House. and made but o IVery fcw
speeches, ane thesa mainly on ais pet
theory Tof' ir.~ace. These, ilsae all his
ea5= tf5 =Tsso ie-= Ed. ii n;;s Es;ss sse e =i.e e
both sides of the HG;ise prior TO thaielec.
ton wa3 to avoid a!l financial dahaso, ana
Mr., Hewitt's efforts wore cold :yhou ldesedi
as Were tho efFoFts Of oil Che taik9Fs.6 .6tii
the came Snbject. Tho lsat night .oS. tha
session brought MP. Hewitt, his cppoEtn.
nifty. and no mada the 'mcst Of it, alheie
and as much 10 his otgu
surprise as 10 tho surprise Of his frsendsI
the House and tho country at largo. Uh
that last night MR. kaRson made O most
virulent, unprovoked and baseieds attack
upon the peraenKf chaFacteg and rsgaonnl
record OF Agr. Tildefi. COZ had lost hts
temper and incurred the deserved censura
of atass HauRs by calling Agr. Knaaoa 8
liar. Blaine, who was leading the Re.
f,uh,fenfla sat tho oty,nt.tt, v,f A,,,