The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-09-21
WHAT GRESHAM DECLINED,
Refusing Fat Onces for the sake of His
Friends,
Cath" in ". Y. Tribune,

1
hear that Judge Gresham, the Postmas.
ter General, was under an engagement TO
become the law partner of the Hon. Joseph
Mcdonald, when be was summoned into
President Arthur's Cabinet and had to OBJ
tain McDonald's consent before he could
relinquish the profitable railway and other
practice OF "Saddler Joe" which my inform.
ant said was worth last year $4,000.
Judge Horace Russell said TO me nearly as
follows last week: II think Gresham has the
Presidential timber in him, if anybody has,
In Arthur's Cabinet. He Is of the typical
Kentucky. sired Indiana appearance, with
brown eyes, which, when he gets mad, en-
large and seem to carry fire. Yet withal his
temper is something cool, and his reputation
as soldier was that of being deadly cool in
battle. His manly, serious, faithful, yet
hardly docile qualities, for he has will and
decision in abundance, obtained Grants re-
spect, and Gresham being dangerously
wounded in the war and poor at the close of
1t, Grant offered him the Collectorship of
the port of New Orleans after he became
President. No. said Gresham, Il am poor,
but shall stick TO the law He went to
work, never looking back in his dark days on
the tempting thing he had refused, and once
fellow attorney, to whom Gresham had no
especial obligation, asked him to go on to
Long Branch and apply to Grant for the Uni
ted al Atfnrpavabip Of Tpdia,o Co. th;.
friend. Gresham came. Grant said: NO,
have already selected man. Very well,'
Gresham said, turning away. Hold on =
said Grant; don't you want TO know his
name" If you choose, General but it was
not my business to ask The name of the
man | selected as soon as this vacancy was
broached,' said Grant, was Walter Gresh-
am Gresham replied, with slight flush:
General, wish you had nominated me as
soon as you thought of me. desired above
all things in the world this Office. 1t Is in
line with my profession and my nature also.'
'Well,' said Grant, 'yop have got it, 'Oh.
no, General, think too much Of the people
of Indiana to incur their suspicion that /
came on another mans errand and served
my own 4 will not appoint the man you
represent exclaimed Grant; Il meant the
place for YOU General Grant, said Gresh-
am, dearly as would have appreciated the
place had You given 1t TO me, no considera-
tiou would allow me to take it now
"The next opportunity Gresham had,"
ail Ind L. i. -.
Supreme Court Of the United States, u place
said to have been worth S25, 900 and a life
place. That might have suited him well,
but he happened to know that his law part
ner, Judge Otto desired TO have it. He has
son named Otto Gresham. He went to
work and helped Otto get 1t and be happy.
Grant was disappointed again. There Gresh-
am had successfully sacrificed to self-respect
OR chiVally three great positions. Suddenly
Grant telegraphed him, "There is vacancy
for United States Judge of Indiana. / shall
send in your name and ] want no nonsense
about it, Gresham had meantime become
an experienced lawyer by sacrificing and he
was ripe for the place. He was offered
splendid legal connections in Chicago, when
suddenly he received the proffer of Post
master General. Arthur. with too cool re-
gard for the privileges of Senators, sent the
name of Gresham first to Ben Harrison, his
rival, thus blending condescension and a
bowstr!ng." Said | &: "Then Gresham would
make good Presidential s:uff?" ayes; but
suppose Arthur wants to run. In that case
Gresham would not take it,"
To the above may add, of my own knowl-
edge, that Mr.. Gresham learned enough ex-
ecutive skill in the army to see that Secreta-
ry Folger does not enough delegate his work
to others, but sits up nights and Sundays
doing mere clerks part, which he should
demand to be done as we'll by subordinate.