The National tribune., 1906-09-27

lege, and he lived and died owner of
the ancestral farm his grandfather had
cleared. He was a great reader of good
books. and studied to the last day of
his life. Because of his shorthand abil-
ity Mr.. Hit was made First Secretary
of Legation at Paris from 1874 to 1881,
and there found a congenial atmosphere
in the study of French literature. At
| the close of his career in Paris he was
made Assistant Secretary Of State. That
was in 1881. Admirably adapted for
the work of diplomacy, he rather in
clined to devote himself to that branch
of activity, but in November, 1882, he
was elected to fill the vacancy caused by
| the death Of the late Representative
Hawk. He has continued in Congress
| ever since, having been elected to the
| 5Sth Congress by a majority Of about
10000, receiving more than double the
number of votes Of his Democratic con-
testant. >
Foreign affairs and diplomacy were
| the special lines of study that interest
ed Mr.. Hit. Ever since he was elected
to the House of Representatives he had
been greatly interested in all matters
relating to our foreign relations. Speak
er Reed made him Chairman of the
Committee on Foreign Affairs. and in
that capacity he was never found want
| ing. He could always be depended up
| on to give clear and intelligent ex-
PLANTATION OF everything relating to for
eign matters when called upon.
He was just as much Interested in
home affairs. and where international
| subjects were liable to entangle the
United States in disputes which might
lead to something worse, Mr.. Hits
| knowledge of foreign languages and
foreign affairs generally. combined with
his clear insight into all home matters
\ ItN-o oil lid Tv,A~ l.
has been the counselor of every Presi-
dent since he first entered politics. He
was safe, sane and sure. He had all
the elements of great man, and II he
missed greatness it was because he
cared more for the pleasures Of most
delightful home life than he did for
strife and wasted energy il a fight for
personally one of the most charming
men 1 have ever met. He was genial,
approachable. lovable. His stories had
the sparkle of champagne, and were as
clean and clear. His man" stories
were such that any woman might listen
to them, his conversation, even in the
smoking-room, about the fireplace.
where the best wits. humorists, litera-
tuers, and greatest statesmen of the
United States have shown the best-and
the worst-sides of their natures, was
cultured. and Representative Hits
stories and "reminiscences might have
been repeated verbatim to a school of
young ladies. The man was clean. And
is that not, after all. Just about the best
thing that could be said of man whose
lamp goes out after having burned TO
the very socket in long years of public
service?
I remember very well, indeed, some
of the battles royal that Mr.. Hit used
to have when trying to get through his
consular reforms, and large approprIa-
tions and wiser expenditures of these
for foreign affairs. He was a sturdy
fighter. and always met slurs, innuendo
and smart Aleck attacks with logic and
reasoning that 1t was almost impossible
to get around. During the stormy days
of the Crisp regime he is credited with
having averted a revolution in Mexico
and all sorts of contre temps in the
United States by his clear statements of
fact in the now celebrated Cutting"
case. Although on the minority in the
committee, he was practically its head,
for his advice and counsel was sought
and his Judgment accepted at every
turn. Blaine and Tom Reed were the
chosen friends of his later days, two
| mon from tho same State who did not
speak to each other and who in their
time filled tho public eye. 1t is not OF
record that Mr.. Hit ever tried to bring
| these two men together. but he retained
the personal friendship Of both till
death claimed them and left him alone.
most Of those whom he most loved hay-
ing gone before him.
Col. Cornelius q. Bradshaw, one of
tho most prominent Grand Army men
in Washington, died at Providence Hos
pital last week. Col. Bradshaw was
one Of the best friends the veteran ever
had. He was born in Shelbyville, ILL.,,
IS years ago. came from q family of
noted lawyers. his father and grand
father having both been Judges of the
courts of Kentucky for many years-4O
altogether. His mother was a Greek.
She met Mr.. Bradshaw's father while
his grandfather was Minister at the
court Of Athens. She was the daughter
OF the Prime Minister of Greece.
Col Bradshaws grandfather came TO
this country from England and took a
lrant Of land in Virginia from the
Crown and settled there, descendants of
ID. -