The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-01-11
Auilsssna. gntelligsneer.
TILDEN'S LIEUTENANT.
AN INTERESTING SKETCH OF ABEAA
S. HEWITT.
WAsu1NGToN. Dec. &.

AN IN CnG0k4SNN 'OA&SA SAA "
S. HEWITT.
WASHINGTON. Dec. %.
The political whirligig often throws
the calcium glare of public attention
upon unexpected and unexpectant men.
So it has happened to Abram 8. Hewitt,
who. next to Governor Tilden, is perhaps
the most prominent Democrat to-day. l
am not likely soon to forget my 6rst meet
ing with him. 1t WAS in the early days
of the last session. The New York
World wanted bit of news. Mr.. Hew-
lit could give it. I was delegated to get
it. se An evening trip to his abiding place
in a comfortable house on K street, the
Fifth avenue of the city, was necessary.
A pretty house it is, the end house OF
fine but modest-looking block, well back
from the street and healthfully located
on the top of low terrace. a wide,
hospitable- looking door, opens into
wide, hospitable-looking hall, whose
furnishing bespeaks quiet comfort and an
abhorrence of display. A door to the
right. the first one, opens into the study.
The room bespeaks the scholar and the
literary worker at a glance. An ample
table in the centre of the room is always
buried beneath jumbled mass of news
papers. books, manuscripts and maga-
lines. On working table, between the
two front windows, another jumble 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
flickering. On the walls, few ancient
portraits of ancient people. 1t is sPecl'
men literary workshop, and its owner
looks most at home when;in it. In his
study, surrounded by group Of political
friends and co-workers, Mr. Hewitt ap-
pears to the best advantage. A thin,
spare man, rather under the medium
height, with q pronounced scholarly
stoop at the base of the neck, the head
always bowed as if in deep meditation, q
shaggy fall beard and moustache, less
yellow and more gray than the hair, light
ewes. deep sunken and usually half hid
by dooping eyelids, q sallowness of skin,
bespeaking the confirmed dyspeptic.
Disorderly, but never slovenly of dress.
This is the outward picture; certainly it
is not the model for an Apollo Belvidere,
but the outward picture does not paint
the inner man.
But am wandering from that first
meeting, which gave me q very erroneous
impression of Mr.. Hewitt. A sti& "Well,
sir!" was the first greeting, and, my
errand stated, petulent TRADE against
newspapers in general. and the Word IN
particular, followed. Toward the World,
then controlled by Msnton Marble, his
feeling seemed so exceeding bitter that l
could not believe its alleged injustice to.
ward himself was the only or the chief
cause. The real reason never knew
until this winter.
Hrs PAST RELATIONS WITH HIS PARTY.
The story is short one, and as it
thrown light on the predominant trait Of
Mr.. Hewitt's character, it may as well be
told. His ability and the saundness of
his political advice has long been known
to his Democratic colleagues in New
York State. But it is only very lately
that his counsels have been much hoed-
ed. The reason is simply that he has
ouarrelled politically with nearly every
prominent Democrat in his own State, or
rather they have nearly all quarrei!ed
with him. 1t is said by New Workers
that the only prominent Democrat IN
New York State with whom, he has not
ouarrelled lis Governor Tilden, who has
probably declined to fall out because he
has too much political wisdom anddiplo-
macy and appreciates the man at bis full
value. For these political Incompatible
ties there is one seif-evIdent reason.
Dyspeptic petulance may be the excuse,
but an inconvenient amount OF honor tor
party purposes is the primal cause. MIR.
Hewitt is the soul Of honor. A dishon-
orable action is abhorrent to his whole
nature, and not all the exigencies OF his
party for the last half century combined
in one could induce him fora moment to
even condone q measure which his own
delicate sense of honor condemned. This
predominant trait of his character holds
his personal friends to him by golden
cords, and makes his enemies respect him,
but makes him many enemies: Among
Mo,ter nIo % Ms-h,s who onarrelled with him
Manson as ..aa.;"n masG, W. af fras trade On that
osI Oh .ny 9a.a. Eaama the ~ taIe ofmv first meet
!uafiGas aaahss a Rerr had a verv hieh re-.
s, ,ns, 81 NJ Hew;t,,s ability and inteeri-
se and M had decided It ia said. to give
H., ~, " ,-or;nent njace on one of the
ioad;nr I a. conm;ttees In looking after
SarS tSa n,s te.un of ths New YORK slate Man.
tan sne 1 Ma.Sla IeornaJ of the ;ntent;on. and
:a5;a,aI,, eon 10y .1 sat ~ work tn chsnge 81
Sn s aa.nas. wa. s bs thst be came on to
Wo.y;amtnn w ys u" iabored nersonallv wiShsMr.
Tsrr affsr nnch nersnssion accomplish.
a T h;s % object and the result was that Mr..
Hewitt's only committee appointment
".s' aa" ~ o oay,n,;t..e an nnhj;c build;nya
was On sne eouini.see on 49,. S :. ~ ia;s,ss
ana gsounGs, Pseat;on P.ass ~: @1 On hsa,;ns
anu annotSsd udosseSod sssss NJ Hsw;t.;s Wi e anti.
Ine stoly unuosoeVe 49,