The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-27
GEN. MERRITT HERE,
Famous New York Politician
Visiting Seattle.
MEMORABLE
CAREER.


Stopping at the Rainier hotel IL man who
has played famous part In New York state, and
also In National politics, General E. A. Merritt,
OF Potsdam- In company with Mrs. Merritt and
Miss J. e. Crane, he arrived in the city yester-
day afternoon from California, md in day or
two the party will start for the East
General Edwin Atkins Merritt has had bril-
liant career. Born In Sudbury, VT, in 1s2s, he
was early thrown on his own resources In 1871
he moved to st. Lawrence county, New York,
and became surveyor. He soon went into
local politics and after holding several minor
Offices, was elected ~ a Republican to the lower
branch OF the state legislature in 1859. His
record through the session was 20 creditable
that In l660 he was reelected
Then the civil war broke out, and he went to
the front, becoming quartermaster of the sixth
eth New York regiment. After service with the
Army Of the Potomac he was in sherman's great
Georgia campaign-the memorable march to the
sea-as commissary OF subsistence. Finally, on
January l, 1855, be was made quartermaster gen.
eral OF the state of New York. Then he super
intended the Soldiers Home in New York city,
and also established free agencies for the collec-
ton OF bounties, back pay and pensions that
were due New York volunteers In this way he
became very popular, almost the idol of the old
soldiers in the state.
In 1S69-70 he was naval officer of the port OF
New York: and during the years that followed
he was one of the leaders in the council Of the
New York Republicans As member of the con.
stitutional convention and as candidate for
state treasurer he took notable share in pol
itics till In 1877 President Hayes made him sur
veyor Of the port OF New York. year later he
was appointed collector TO succeed Chester A.
Arthur. This is the chief Federal appointment
In the state.
His advancement was opposed by Senator
Conkling and tho stalwart wing of the party;
but when in 1881 President Garfield appointed
800 Nh
succeed him, senator Conkling and Senator
Platt resigned their Offices and precipitated that
sharp fight in New York politics which to this
day has not wholly ended. 1t was not that
Conkling and Plat loved General Merritt more,
but that they loved Senator Robertson less, for
Robertson was one Of the bitterest of the So
called "half breeds
General Merritt brought the whole country into
turmoil OF politics in 1881, the year following q
presidential election. Conkling and Plat, feel
ing that Garfield had broken faith with them.
went back to Albany, and the senatorial contest
was bitterly waged for months while the nation
watched with eagernesg. The result was the
election OF Miller and Lapharn an senatorial de-
feat for Conkling, Plat and the stalwarts.
The assassination of President Garfield gave
tragic turn to affairs, and deepened the general
interest in the situation, for Arthur, whom
Merritt had succeeded, was thus elevated to the
presidency.
Meanwhile General Merritt had gone to Lon
don as consul general, the most lucrative of the
United States consular posts. There he served
until 1885. when President Cleveland appointed
Governor Waller. Of Connecticut.
Since 1856 he has been out of politics, and he
has not taken very active interest in business,
although he ID connected with his son in man.
aging the big Potsdam quarries. Today he IL a
man OF impressive presence, tall and broad
shouldered. His hair and full beard are almost
white, but his vigorous manner, his sharp blue
eyes, strong Roman nose and Arm mouth give
him still the appearance OF q man scarcely be.
yond middle age.
II do not talk politics any more" said he last
evening, "for am out of the game. The gener-
alton that knew and worked with and fought
with has passed away-Silas Wright, E. D. Nor
gan, Thurlow Weed, Senator Conkling and such
men q that. Those were epoch-making times
in the nation, and the names OF the nfen who
controlled political movements then will live
in history.
'sYou have Q great country here, land of
promise for young men, state with hopes OF
wonderful development In the years to come. I
can praise the Northwest almost without re-
serve. Iwish were in a position to come out
here and invest"