The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-05-29
AIRY TONGUES.

AIRY TONGUES.
Among the distinguished visitors to the Gap
during the week were Gen. and Mrs. b. IL.
Bristow, of New York, Mr.. and Mrs. Saml
FELTON,, President of the East Tenn. Va. Ga.
railroad, the Queen & Crescent and of two
other lines, Major and Mrs. H. c. Mcdowell,
Hon. w. J. Coombs, Congressman Elect from
Brooklyn, n. Y, and his daughter, Mrs. Sidney
Allan: Fox, and Dir. G.. Garstin Smith, the
Southern representative of the Age of Steel.
The Bristow, FELTON, and Mcdowell party came
in special car over the L. & n. R. R., visited
the Gap and Wild Cat Summit and drove
around the city.
The presence of Gen. Bristow recalls very
interesting period in the political history OF the
country. Gen. Bristow is kentuckian by
birth; he fought in the Federal army during
the war, was United States District Attorney
for the District of Kentucky, Secretary of the
Treasury under Grant, had strong following
for the Presidential nomination, and has since
become leading member of the New York
bar. He is large, broad shouldered,
heavy set man, with strong face
and an uncommonly big head. AS Dis
trict Attorney he was conscientious official,
and boon friend to the Judge, the Hon. Bland
Ballard, man with very small head, but as
clear as bell, quick, and with one of those
legal minds that cut through the most intricate
maze Of legal complications and, discardins all
irrelevant issues, 60 straight to the point with
an almost infallible accuracy. Bishop Dudley
in jeu d'espa1t, describing the members of
the Conversation Club of Louisville, said Of
him:
The upright Judge, with ermnc ne'cr dcfled,
Who spoke the truth tho fortune frowncd or sniPd;
Tho parties strore, yet all his justice trusted
And know the balances were swell adjusted"
Tho fury's storm was ringing through the land,
1t could not loose the grasp OF Billiards. hand:
Nor cen the light of lawyers highest prize,
Pierce through the banslage Ger the Judges eyes.
The last two lines referred to the fact that
Judge Billiards. name had been mentioned in
connection with seat on the Supreme Bench,
but objection was raised that he was not SUI
icicntlv pronounced in his views in regard to
the Republican construction of the Constitu-
ton of the United States. He would make no
effort to counteract this objection and he vas
not appointed.
When Gen. Brstow became Secretary of the
Treasury, he found there existed gigantic
and powerful whisky ring with vast ramifca-
tions, IN which were q number of Grants
warmest personal friends, who had been rob-
bling the Government, He at once determined
to expnse the conspiracy and CONVICT the cnl=
-prits. At first Grant could not or would not
believe in their guilt, and regarded the prose-
cution with disfaYor. Bristow felt the pres,
sure of this disfayor heavily. Grant became
cool toward him; and though it was then that
the President used the famous words "let no
guilty man escape" he WAS 10th to believe the
men who had so long enjoyed his confidence
capable of abusingi it. But Bristow was so I'M
compromising and relentless in his efforts to
bring the perpetrators of the frauds to justice,
that q large reform element of the Republi-
can party began to rally to him, to draw COM
parsons between the Secretary aud his chief
which were pnfavorable to the latter, and his
name was loudly brnted for the succession:
This widencd the breach between the Presi-
dent and Bristow, aud, their relations becoming
unpleasant, the Secretary resigned. Gen.
Bristow then went to New York, where he at
once rose to the first rank ut the bar, and has
for years enjoyed very lucrative practice.
He has great influence with number of large
capitalists, is known to be incompatible, and
of sound judgment and gets fees that would
open Daniel Webster's eyes as big as dinner
plates. In politics he has ceased to be Q par
tisan. Though his antecedents were strongly
Republican, his mind was too broad and his
character tooindependent to permit of slav-.
ish support of platforms, much of which he
knew tobe hypocrisy while much more was vic-
ious and unpatriotic. Led his clear convic
tions of duty he has for years occupied mid
die aud conservative position, equally removed
from, the biathering financial yagaries which
seemed to haFe becams dominant with the
Democracy on the one hand, and the waste and
corruption of the Republicans on the other.
He was drawnclpsely to Cleveland during the
Presidential campaign which resulted in his
election and is known TO hare had influence with
his administration. Indeed be was q mug.
wump SO far as that term implied courage OF
thought and Independence Of action.
Tho friends Of Mr.. Victor Newcomb will be-
glad 10 learn that his health has been restored
AMI Tint he again appears in the Office OF his
brokers ii New York. Mr.. Newcomb left Louis
vile some ten years ago, after making . mill
lion or more By q series of brilliant strokes IN
railroad combination, the i. q NJ. Of which be
mas preside forming the basis Of his opera
sious, Insanity has beer an hereditary malady
ID bis family and for tho past tsso ears he
has been suffering greatly asd. # was thought.