New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-09-08
HAMILTON FISH.

The death of Hamilton Fish rcvlves memo
,es Of 4 pecularly interesting and trying period
of our history, and recalls the great debt OF
public gratitude due to him for providing an
honorable solution OF one OF the most serious
difficulties in which the Republic has been III
volyed. In accomplishing the arbitration OF
the Alabama claims after the johnson treaty
had been rejected by the Senate, and IN the
face of public feeling here and in Great Britain
heated TO an intensity that rendered war much
more easy to provoke than was peace to OBJ
tain, Hamilton Fish performed a service for
tho United States and for the race and the
world the value of which is not easily expressed
in words. -.
Mr.. Fish was a New Yorker BY birth
and descent he inherited the Amercansm
of those who founded this city and this
State and of those who brought them through
revolution into independence. lie inherited
taste for public affairs, and received that tram
ing which developed his great abilities Tor ad-
ministration and diplomacy. 1T illustrates IN
an especially interesting way the amazing
growth of New-Y orl within the period OF
lifetime to recall that Hamilton Fish was born
here at time when there was practically no
settlement beyond Chambers street when the
old CITY Hall was building, when the residence
portion of the town was in Wall street, IN Pearl
street and along Broadway, and many years
before the great artificial waterways OF the
State had been begun. lie lived to see the
city increase in population from less than
roc, 900 to nearly twenty times that number,
AMI from a struggling little community of
merchants and shipOwners to a metropolis OF
e. l.. ,.npf Of
this wonderful development, and his character
and abilities have contributed to give New
| York its place in the Nation, as they have to
give the Nation its place in the world
| Mr. FishS career in public life was divided
into two distinct periods lie had been Gov
ernor of Newly ork and Senator of the United
States before the war; and had then arrived at
an age when it was agreeable to him. as it is to
most men Of quiet tastes, studious habits and
| wealth. to retire from the turmoil of political
| life. During the war and throughout the Adj
| mnstration of Mr. Johnson, while he took
| his share as o citizen an the controversies OF
that period of magnificent strife and splendid
| achievement he was not a partisan leader nor
occupied officially with affairs. His sudden
recall to the labors of a responsible statesman
occurred almost Immediately after President
Grants first inauguration and upon the retire
ment of Mr. Washburne from the Secretary
ship of State and his departure as Minister to
France. Mr.. Fish's nomination to succeed Sec
rotary Washbune surprising as it was, pos
sibly not less to himself than to the politicians
of the day, was soon seen to be one Of Presi-
dent Grants most fortunate appointments.
Secretary of less tact, of less skill in quoting
the excited sensibilties of the people or Of less
ability in appealing by his acts and PROPOSE
| tons to that conservative common sense which,
after all, has always won the day in every
great crisis in the affairs of our country, could
| scarcely have p.loted tho Administration
through the embarassmlnts that crowded
upon it.
Mr. Fish will rank in history with Jefrer-
son. John Quincy Adams. w ebster Marcy and
Blaine as among the greatest of our Secrc-
taries of State. Ills diplomacy not only
successful in its immediate object. but has been
INDICATED in It's wisdom by lasting results of
high utility. And it must have produced a
grateful feeling in his honored old age to
watch the benefcent Opel alton of the treaties
he had dictated and the international relations
he had established