The Washington herald., 1910-08-14

therefore. TO quote Grant literally 7
have thought 1t might not be unpleasant
for you 70 accept the portfolio OF the
State Department Washburn, the same
day, wrote TO my father urging him to
accept the appointment. There was a
conference with my mother IN the libra
r. Of Glen Clyffe.' and a reluctant sub
mission TO the wishes Of the President"
Did you come into personal contact
with Gen. Grant?"
Il met him often at our home I'm Wash
ington. He frequently called in the even
ing to talk ard smoke. Ny father and he
became the closest kind Of personal
friends. ind not only discussed our foreign
relations. but every subject then before
the country. Ny father is credited with
getting Sl5,jO0.00G from Great Britain for
the damages done our shipping by the
Alabama. for heading or a premature
war with Spain, for extending the Mon
roe doctrine to Hawaii, and for urging
the settlement of international disputes
by arbitration, but in my mind his great
est service TO the people was the sup
port he gave President Grant in defeating
the imitation Of our currency and there
by in Fastening the resumption Of specie
payments.
Paper Money Demanded.
The country was almost hysterical in
its demands FOR flood Of irredeemable
paper money Congress. yielding 10 pop
ular opinion. passed a bill greatly 10
increase the volume Of currency. Business
men Endorsed it and all of the members Of
the Cabinet but two thought II should
receive the prompt and hearty signature
Of the President. Grant and my father
smoked and talked the matter out in the
library. The pressure that was brought
to bear on the President from all sec
tons and interests cannot be realized
nowadays. He vetoed the bill. neverthe-
less, and gave his reasons for doing so
His logic was so convincing that Congress
made no effort 10 pass the bill over mis-
veto. In month or two he wrote letter
that was made public, In which he said.
/ believe it high and plain duty to re-
turn TO a specie basis at the earliest prac-
teal day. not only in compliance with
legislative and party pledges. but as a
step indispensable to national lasting
prosperity The famous resumption act
Of 1915 was passed the following January"
Your father. doubtless, was acquainted
with Abraham Lincoln" I said
He was a member OF the commission
that tried 10 visit Federal prisoners at
Richmond and elsewhere in order to re-
ieve their necessities and to provide for
their comfort. but was not permitted to
cross the lines Of the Confederacv. The
commission then proposed an exchange
Of prisoners. but the suggestion was I'm.
popular in the North, the belief being
that If the Confederate soldiers we're can
tured end locked up tile cause for which
they were fighting would break down
Immediately. When the commission reA
peated its suggestion in behalf OF human
ity it was accepted My father met Mr..
Lincoln in connection with that business.
Esteemed Henry Clay.
He had a wide acquaintance with
public men before he entered Grants
Cabinet. Next to Gen Grant he 60
teemed Henry Clay. with whom he served
in the House OF Representatives. When
Clay died my mother wept feeling that
the Fish family had suffered a personal
bereavement. My father accompanied
the funeral party from Washington to
Baltimore. Philadelphia. New York. Al
bany, Buffalo, Cleveland. and Cincinnati.
and thence to Lexington where the body
OF Clay was buried Coming home. he
expressed disgust and amazement at the
quantity Of liquors consumed on the