National Republican., 1885-11-21
Chnnges of Hnlf n Century.

Changes of Half Century.
Mr.. William Hunters temporary absence
from his post as second assistant secretary |
Of state, by reason of III health has elected |
many newspaper comments on the very eX-
ceptional length of his term Of services |
coupled with earnest tributes to the worth |
Of the venerable official.
In older countries and under monarchical |
systems Of government long terms of con-
tinuous service in the same department are
not so unusual as to excite surprise or call
for remarks. But in such countries changes
in habits and modes Of life are infrequent.
The son follows the occupation OF his
father; his home was the abode Of his re-
mote ancestors. Villages and hamlets ap-
pear to have been finished centuries ago,
aud one feels the general prevalence OF an
air of ponderous consorvatism-a silent but
effective protest against change. "Tis as
the general pulse Of life stood still aud
nature made q pause"
But IN this changeful new world of ours,
this land where instability is the rule;
where the condition of one generation
gives no hint MS to what the next may be
or do; where the son Of the laborer is as
| likely to attain the highest honors as the
| heir of millionaire; where the rich man Of
to-day is the pauper of tomorrow; where
| the home is disassoCiatcd with the idea OF
stability; where one changes his occupation
as readily as his coat; where the sDoils
system in politics has generally obtained,
and places have been given as rewards for
party services not always honest; in this
republic where change follows change with
whirl that bewilders our European visit
ors, 1t is strange that we find in November,
1855, an honored official serving his country
in the sarse department which he entered IN
May, 1s29-flty.six and a half years ago!
The young and middle-aged cannot ap-
preciate the changes that have been wrought
in the United States since that May morn
ing on which William Hunter entered upon
his Official career. The record of what he
has seen and heard Of public men and pub
lie events would make series of volumes
more interesting than any romance and as
valuable as the works of our greatest au-
thors. In this connection 1t may not be
impertinent to suggest that, as we are
coming upon time when there is likely to
he something like stability in the tenure of
departmental positions, 1t would be well
for the younger clerks to keep daily jour
nails Of what transpires around them, so
that the generations which follow them
may have more abundant and reliable in
formation Of their recent past than we
have Of ours.
In May, 1920, President Andrew Jack
sons first term had just begun. 1t was an
era Of intense political feeling and there
were giants in those days who waged polit-
ical warfare in no boyish way. The at
tempt at nullification by South Carolina
, and the war on the National Bank are but
fading traditions in the minds Of the pres.
ent generation, yet they stirred the hearts OF
3 our fathers to their profoundest depths
! Among the distinguished men then in pub
lie life were Calhoun, Clay, Webster, Ben
ton, and John Quincy Adams with many
; others whose names fill large space In oul
political history.
3 The population Of the United States W.T.,
then only about 100000. Mr.. Hunter
has witnessed its almost quintuplicaton
) Then, and for years thereafter, Ohio was 81
far west that New England emigrants start
lug lOT llul lhuu VI pIOluloC udut u hui
s good-by to the friends and scenes of home
. Great cities are standing to-day where tn
= Indians were hunting buffalo at that time
6 States have grown up where then wer
only prairies and forests. The war wit
Z Mexico, the discovery Of gold in California
the war Of the rebellion, emancipation, er
. ranchisement-these are part only Of tn
2 great events Of our national history tina
> have passed under the eye of this faithful
. servant of the republic,
The last of the men who were at tn
. front when young Hunter fell in near til
@ rear has passed of the stage. OF the siN
o teen Presidents whom he has known, onl
= three survive. OF those who held that o
> fee prior to 1877 not one remains, and {
the four who have since filled that static
one is missing. One after another nearl
all the great men Of ante-bellum times an
those who were most conspicuous durin
. the era of our great civil strife have joine
: 'the innumerable caravan that move
m toward the realm where each shall TAX
IA his chamber In the silent halls of death.".
10 Not steamship had ever plowed IL
ir ocean, not locomotive had ever drawn
" train, lightning had not been harnessed, G,
10 had not superseded oil and candles--nC
A. one of the great discoveries that have mac
II this age 'the age of invention"-was know
le in 1929. The country as it is, with |
Of measureless wealth, with its magnificent
b. velopment, its marvellous progress in man
" features, commerce, science, art literatur
Id and all else that denotes the upward elm
To ing Of the mind may be said TO have be-
K created since the official life of Secreta
r. William Hunter began.
Is 1t possible that the same rate of a
vancement can be maintained for the ne
On ffty-six years? WIN the youth of to-da
mt grown gray in 1871, recall the supersedt
is telegraph, electric light steamship, al
n railroad Of 1885 us we now recall the mi
e. coach, the whale oil lamp or tallow dip, al
mt the slow-sailing vessels Of 1922 VIII d
Of country grow in wealth and refinement,
be science and art, In the amplitude Of its ed
at cational appliances In the near future rs
he has grown in the recent pastY VIII Il
IA press maintain It's rate of progress9 Is
nv not quite as likely that we are now on u
10, crest Of wayc-that our successors will
~ in the depression between the wave ju
1t dying out and the one that is to follow
,a
A. Trade of the Three Americas.
in Mr.. Romero, the Mexican minister
1l.a ,,Nt ta1 Il. t,,Na 4.