The National tribune., 1901-02-07

the week washing IN the East hOOnl, OF
Dolly Madison packed off the state papers
and the portrait of Washington, before the
British torch left the White House in
ruins; or the days when the Kitchen
Cabinet" learned the back way of entrance
into the Presidents holy of holies, or Har-
riet lane brought again into the drawing
rooms of the Executive Mansion the
splendOr of courts, and entertained the
then Prince of Wales, now King Of Eng
land, you can pass from one historic room
into another and find each one present
reality; pregnant with history.
Is there a son or daughter of America
who will forget the lonely man, S0rrowful
at heart, who bore the Nations burdens,
and in his lonely midnight walks from the
White House to the War Department,
with the stars for his guide and the whis-
pering leaves overhead for his company,
20 get the latest news from the front"
often returning q sadder man. And then
the Green Rooml Who will forget where
be last looked upon the beautiful form and
features of his beloved Willie-pride of his
heart. Here the body, covered with flow
ers, rested for burial, and, saddest of all
recollections, was this great, noble soul
going out of these portals and not return
ing. All this we remember. And now
these corridors, these stately drawing
rooms that have witnessed the coming in
and going out of the men and women who
have been at the head of the Nation, Of
hcialiy for half a century, are individual
lied by the General whom Providence Sc
lected to take the people through the
wilderness into the land of promise, and
deliver intact his country TO the man who
had stood through the storms at the helm
and directed the ship of state.
Gen. and Mrs Grant were no exception
TO the rne that had governed the White
House. There was domestic atmosphere
which permeated the place. The wreckage
after the storm had not all been cleared
away, and the President and Congress
had many knOtty question TO untangle
The first event that signalized the new Ad-
miniStration was the completion of the
Pacific Railroad. On the 10th of May,
1869, appropriate ceremonies We're held at
Ogden, when the golden spike was driven
that united the Union Pacific with the
Central Pacific Railroad, when the great
steel highway of the Nation Joined the At
lantic to the Pacific Ocean.
In the Autumn of 1869 occurred the
greatest financial excitement this country
had ever known.
A company of New York spectators,
headed by Jay Gould and James Fisk,
Jr, succeeded in producing a corner in the
gold market. There was hardly bust
ness interest in the city that was not
brought TO the verge of ruin. At one time
during the war dollar in gold was worth
2S6 cents in paper currency. But after
the Government had been re-established, in
1869 the ratio Of gold to the greenback had
fallen from about 130 to 100.
In the banks of New York there were
S15.09U,000 in gold, and in the Sub-Treas-
ury of New York S1O0,000,000 more. The
plan of the operators was to get control
by purchase of the greater part of the 15,-
OOl,O00; then, having control of the mar
ket, TO advance the price of gold to a fabu-
ious figure; then sell out that which they
held, and retire from the field of slaughter
with their accumulated millions.
Having made careful preparations as
Generals who 90 to war, the work of pur-
chase began the 18th of September and at
the same time they constantly advanced
the price; by the 22d Of the month they
had succeeded in bringing the price to IA,
they boldly ayowing that they would ad-
vance the rate to 200 On the following
day.
On the morning of the 9th, known as
BLACK Friday" the bidding in the gold
room began lively. The excitement was in
tense. The brokers of Fisk and Gould ad-
Yanced the price to 155, and finally to 100
and here they were met by company of
merchants who had banded together to
tight the gold gamblers, and the brokers
were forced TO purchase several millions.
When excitement was at its hight the s,J-
preme moment had come, g telegram from
Washington gave the news that Secretary
Boatwell had ordered a sale of 900 600
Of gold from the Sub-Treasuryi Then the
panic began. The price Of gold went down
70 per cent. in as many minutes
The spectators We're arrested in their
mad scheme; but succeeded in carrying off
l.UOO,0OO, the cuttings after the storm. It
months haf
covered, and many years before many fndi-
Yiduals were on their feet again.
The long disputed Alabama claims were
Settled during President Grants Admins
tration by England paying SIS, 500. 900 for
depredations by the privateers built, fitted
out and manned for the Confederates in
British waters.
The resources OF the Nation proved TO
be marvellous. The mutterings OF war.
with its destruction of life and treasure.
mad scarcely died away, when the recuper-
atiFe power of the people was revealed.
The enterprise and genius of the American
people was shown in sunGry directions and
marvellous ways.
In 1880 there were but % miles of rail
way service III the United States: in 1850
II had reached the enormous extent of 20 |
635miies; in the next 10 years, Including
the war, the amount of mileage was near
ly doubled. Every other industry had in |
creased in proportion. There stands the
truth-the result of free thought, free in
dustry, free enterprise. Let the mag
mates Of the Old World ponder their own
methods and compare. Wherever tbe
human race succeeds in great exercise OF
energy and broad activity. You will find
freedom of thought and action Not in
the history of the world has there been so
healthful an Object-lesson as is found in
free, active, religious America.
War always leaves its demoraIizinp
marks upon people, and this country was
not exempt. The people will not soon for
get the Whisky Ring" Credit Mobilier"
Indian Traderships, and various other
scandals: and yet, in spite of all these
drawbacks and dark pages in our history
me country had survived them, and at the
end Of the first four years il was ready
70 again inaugurate as President the
'Ilero Of AppOmattox"
The Second Inaugural Of President
Grant transcended the first in civic and
ni!itary splendor; but who that witnessed
II VIII ever forget the day. Joy to the
siGhtseer who looked upon this glittering
pageant behind closed windows. Looking
Irom 10th street, the broad Avenue opened
up with garlands of flags of all nations.
stretched from roof TO roof. The Treasury
the White House. Corcoran Art Gallery. fbe
fFeedmans Bank cater the Department
OF Justice, since dem0lished) were radiant
III decoration. II was n cioudless day. but
OUT OF dazzling blue sky sprang myriads