The Minneapolis journal., 1902-06-11

"reminiscences OIL Slxty 1ears IN
Public Affairs. By George S. Boutwell,.
Two volumes. New York: Mcclure, Phil
lips & Co. Minneapolis: N. Mccarthy. So
net. .- ... -
A man who has been in public affairs
sixty years of his life and who has served
as governor Of the great state Of Massa-
chusetts term, and represented one OF
her districts in congress for three terms,
was secretary of the treasury under Grant
and served as senator from Massa-
chusetts in 1S73-1S77, and has been other
wise conspicuous in state and national
affairs, necessarily has much to say in the
way of reminiscence. Indeed, large
portion of this work Is contributory to the
political history of the country.
There is a biographical sketch by w.
Stanley Child, wherein it is shown that
Mr.. Boutwell, was born in 1918 in Brook
line, Mass, and is of old and respected
Massachusetts, stock, worked his way up
under the stress of moderate means and
back in 1910 he was an active democrat,
a partizan of Van Buren,. After serving
in the legislature in 1S42-1850 he held
many state offices, practiced law, and then
his long congressional career opened the
larger opportunities. He gained great
distinction during his forty years of law
practice and was uniformly successful
He became strong abolitionist and also
leader of the republican party at
with it over the Philippine matter.
He devotes some chapters to his early
life and struggles on the farm and as
clerk in a store; his early experience IN
politics, and he describes the hamboyant
political campaign of 1910 in very in
teresting way. Much space is naturally
devoted to achusetts affairs which
have no immediate interest for the gen.
eral reader except where he refers to big
men, like Sumner Choate, Winthrop, Web
ster, Gushing and Wilson. Mr.. Boutwell,
says Cushing was destitute of convic-
tions; had great qualities, but was not a
great man; great capacity which he could
use to aid others, but he had no ability to
mark out and pursue course for him
self.
The author gives a very interesting
account of Louis Kossuth's visit to this
country, with the text of his speech to
Kossuth when receiving him in Boston
and rendering him "the hospitalities of
commonwealth founded by exiles and
pilgrims" Kossuth was unable to secure
any pledge by our government to inter-
fere in behalf of Hungary, but be got
much popular sympathy. Mr.. Boutwell,
says he gives large space to Kossuth be-
cause re believes our country is moving
away from the doctrines of self-govern-
| H?ant as a common right of mankind, as
they were taught by him, and accepted
generally until we approached the end OF
the nineteenth century" chapter is
| devoted to the organization and the pol
icy Of the republican party in Massachus
etts, the death Of Webster and the cleo
ton of Pierce in 1852, having ended the
| Nhig party in the state, while the know.
nothing party had destroyed democratic
| influence there, the way being prepared
in 1855, for the new and formidable re-
publican organization, opposed to the ex
tension of slavery in the territories. Mr.
Samuel 13oar was made chairman Of thu
meeting which organized the party i,
Massac chusetts. Mr.. Boutwell,, Charlie
| Frances Adams, R. H. Dana, Jr., San
Bowles, Il. L. Davies being among tht
humber. All interesting account Of tn.
peace convention of 1851 is given. -.
Then came the inevitable war for tn
union and the call for troops, the Massa
chusetts Sixth being among the first t.
respond In 1862 Boutwell, was mad
commissioner of internal revenue by Sec
retary Chase. The Office was newly ere
ated and Mr.. Boutwell, had to organic
it in a small roolr. on the first floor o
the treasury building, with three clerks
No cashier had been provided by the law
Mr.. Boutwell, succeeded in organizing un
d,.r al imperfect law one of the creates
and best managed departments of the gov
ernnent. He says of Secretary Chas
that lis mental processes were slow an
he had to take time to form sound opin
ions. He had only a limited knowledg
Of the work Of Mr.. Boutwell's department
but his financial system (abolition c
state banks the substitution oe the ra
tional banking system; the issue of Unit
ed States legal tender notes and the five
tive nty tonds) made it possible for tn
country to carry debt of $4,000 900, 60
and n debt double that would not hav
paralyzed the public credit. Mr.. Bout
vel! remarks: "It is an instance of tn
, frailty OF human nature. when men ar
in the presence of great temptations. tha
when he hcaame chief Justice Of the Unit
ed States. he announced the opinion tha
the issue of United States legal tende
notice was unconstitutional; that measur
was the key to his financial system, an
a measure indispensable to thes prosecu
ton OF the war. It was forced loar
but in on exigency, government has a
good right to force capital into publ
service as to force men,
Among the most interesting portions {
the book are those relating to Mr.. Bout
wells experience as secretary Of th
. treasury during Grants first administra
Il tion his congressional career the inves