Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-09-08
Ea-Sscretay Of State Hamilton
Fish Stricken Down.
CLOSE FRIEND OF GEN. GRANT


AatfF o1s no of4aatt 1o4ntrs 11A o14
aes rseksd his vital forces. and two or
three mouths ago Ia became apparent
thai be sss slosly passing away. A
slight kidnsy trouble aggravated the
weakness that came with Old age.
Mr. Fizh sas born in the city Of New
York on August > 1904 lie was the
soa q Col Nicholas Fish. colonial
osheeF q ths revolutionary var. tho
warm friond q Washington and Alex
ansier Hamilton. after xhoa he was
namesL iiis mother Was the d2ugh-
Ter % sturdy ODD PETER Stuyscsant.
aud on her side he was a hneal
Descendant and heir Of the last Dutch
colonial governor u New York Before
he vss ~ years u zge ne had graduated
With high honors az Columbia college.
and three yeafs later with every prom.
iEs ~ q brilliant career-n be was admitted
n practice law az the bar % HE native
state. hut the love of political iife was
stronger IA toe naan than professional
zeal and NJ The first opportunity which
presrnfed ilself he leapsd into the arena
of politics vita the energy and nilen u
q Younx lion. A splendid presence.
fascinating naBnor. rare tact thorough
going iDiegFity. oratoricai g1fts Of no
nlean order and boundlcss and IN
qaenchaoie ambition we're the broad
granite upon which be began 10 build
tne suForstructure q his career.
Governor or New York
In ls19 he found himself IN the guber-
natctiaf CHAIR d the empire state. Here
he acquitted himself With distinction
aud drznity. no breath OF scandal ever
arising 81 disturb the serenity and sta
biiity - his administration. Two years
later he was eiecteli United states sena-
tor foe New York. and for the next SIX
years rs political activities were dis
played ia fhe koen sunlight OF natio1al
publicity on Capitol hilL Here. Too. hs
kept his political faith unbroken and
his name unsfuncd lie vas DO incon-
siderate factor Ia the debates antCe-
iirerations of body which knew the
vast learning Of Webster and the daz-
zing oratory oi Clay.
a ith sffe expiration of his senatorial
term the current Of his activities Was
diverted for term into a nes channel
The eoadintor u Seward and Corwin
and Crttenden. not yet fifty years OF
age. retired frou political life. Wealth.
literary tastes. desire for culture. the
fascinations of foreign travel carried him
nxay from bic old associations and kept
him for several years IA strange lands.
In 80. when the war of the rebellion
terminated. Sir. fish seemed 10 belong
% another generation. HIS name Was
rarely n ever seen IN the columns Of
the New York press. he was in no
sense a political force or factor And in
lsl<l. when General Grants administra-
too came into power. be was merely a
respectable. retired. middle aged gentle
man. living among his trees and shrubs
and devonng himself 10 the pursuits Of
farmer and domestic Joys
Called to the Cabinet
When the tlule came % form a new
cabinet Grant was much embarrassed
b. tae desire ~ r. H. Washburne of Ill
in0is % bc a member ~ the administra
too. Waahburne vas Grants personal
friend. add had ioyaliy supported him
during the var. But Grant felt that the
relations between them were 80 ciose
taat u Washburne remained IA the cab
met the country would feel that the adj
minlstfation wts really in hts hands
Any such suspicion would have been in
toierable % a man II Grants proud and
sensitive spirit As a compromise the
president offered Mr.. Washburne the
mission "a France. This be accepted on
the conditiob very perplexing one as
Il, Turned out that heshouid lie allowed
g. hoii FOR a short time the portfolio u
secretary q the state. Grants acquies-
crncc proved - be a mistake The al.
ministrsfion started OF like a balky
team. The other nominees % the cab.
iset RANK chafecl under the arrangement.
The senate refused 70 confirm one of the
nominations The situation vas aRk
ward
Ia the mlist - the excitement ami
confusion Genersi Grant sent private
mrssaea 70 Ne. Fish wifh the urgen,
request that be should accrpt The r,osi-
tion q Secretary - state Mr. Fish vas
disposed 81 decline tie had. he wrote.
mo AMBITION 70 embark again upon tho
etorray sea - politics" he preferred
The tiurements and duties n home aud
private ife General t.rart said. Il
put q % you - a matter of pubic duty
and personal frirndship~ Fi-h replied
~Why a matter = public dutyi Am
a neces<ary mani General Grants
answer satisfied Mr.. Fieh that the al
nliaiatrafiou was IN danger q collapse
froa the dissolution - the cabinet IN
u Erss days of Formation. Mr. Fish no
krxcr hesifafsd tie sccepted the
portfolio sad went to Wsshington.
appoinse,f q goasms-sioner.
n tfe early part q issf Grant sp
rclniesi slsa ore .of the commissioners
oe TIC tarf q the united States %
nesotiaie the trsafy II Washington
wHs.h 49, s'enesf ~ hiu an May -
ttst year Sc rfT~cied settlement of
tee s,rE staaiiin1 sesferh boundary dis-
rHta. kiefnE tac teiaad - san Juan 81
tie Jniiei states. sud successfully re-
sIsfsri an efert - treat Britain -
efsnze t1a teFue ~ the extradifinn
tfeafy - municipal isxsiation N the
settlroteot q thr Aiahansa question.
n pfcsalnd the acceptance q dc
trias ~ he Geneva trif1nal securing
the Lnife1 STATES a1aire es ciai.n. fnr is
.frtet itmasee afislng cut q fenisn
rse4s - Guitar dlit 'tersng sxpeditious
u <esanitr ls11 he neeesiats,i rish
Admsral f'oie Spanish minister Al
"a azhinsfen. the ~effisrnent q The @Fir.
ainlas 4aeetieu4
tanslisbafr So F~esisi~ns.
Fsu rer.ocs srs aware how sioss NJ
Ffsh csHr a. hfsae rrtetiert ~ the
fnst-si Stafes foiifies ras hi<h ia tte
re~uhtelr tarfs ~ 1875 fnrr1 tae
.ss.s ser.o d; Dfant thefe h91 ftsen a
groap "a bnaianf yaacz ieaslers erns-
a,us ffil &C arniitfra. Faet ar-alanz -
- - rr-r.1iertisi st.-reee a tie
rrrat .aoiaib ~ "a. tssse rseiis ep'a-
irn taf rrfrr4 z'si Iafa 1et-tlsfn