The Washington herald., 1910-08-14

his father was governor. The elder Fish,
Sumner, and Benjamin F. Wade, the re-
nowned anti-slavery leader and the act.
ing Vice President under Andrew John
son, we're sworn in as senators on the
same day. While his father was in Con-
gress, the boy Hamilton went TO @ pri-
waite school for young children IN Wash
ington. At the expiration Of his term in
the Senate in 1857. Hamilton Fish trav-
eled in Europe for two years. Nicholas,
my elder brother. and myself" Fish. the
fnsurgent. said to me. were put to
school in Geneva. Switzerland. On my
return TO New York. was prepared for
college. and in 1863 was graduated from
Columbia
You then became your fathers sec
retary," said
YES; az the time when he was a mem
Der of Gen. Grants cabinet 1 remained
in Washington for two years and then
went 10 New York and studied law
being admitted to the bar when I was
twenty-four years old 1 should have
practiced my profession and let politics
alone, in which event I would have made
money and not spent il. Nicholas, my
brother. took up a diplomatic career and
became our Minister TO Belgium and
Switzerland. My younger brother. Stuy-
vesant, on being graduated from college.
entered the firm OF Morton, Bliss & Co.
the New York bankers. He arose 10 the
presidency Of the Illinois Central Rail
road. from a clerkship in the Chicago
office
Becomes Secretary of State.
Your father" I said, had been out
OF public life for twelve years. when
President Grant asked him to be Sec
rotary Of State What caused Grant to
call upon your father2"
Historians are not entitely agreed
concerning the matter Ny father, who
had been a business man and a lawyer.
had retired from politics and was living
near the village OF Garrison. on the Hud-
son River. not far from West Point His
home. called Glen Clyffe,' now occupied
by my brother Stuyvesant. was situated
amid Al acres of forest. When Benedict
Arnold fed from West Point, where he
had plotted to give control OF the Hud-
son TO the British. he passed through
Beverly road, which still divides the es-
tate. 20 A small dock on the river SO
far as I know, my father had given up
all thought OF further political service.
1 understand that he first met Gen. Grant
at West Point-President Johnson and
Grant having gone there Tor some social
or official purpose. After that Grant
visited at our house on several oc-
casions. and my father helped him when
ne was q candidate for President.
Grant chose Alexander T. Stewart. the
New York merchant. 20 be Secretary Of
the Treasury. but the law Of 1889 dlsquaI-
flied him because he was concerned in
carrying on trade and commerce John
sherman, Of Ohio. attempted to repeal
the law. but met the opposition Of
Charles Sumner. and Stewards name was
withdrawn by the President who was lr-
ritated over the outcome. though he was
silent Elihu r. Washburn, who had
gOne from Maine to Galena H., to
practice law, whence he was sent to Con-
gress for sixteen years. to be known then
and afterward as the Father Of the
House and the Watchdog of the Treas
ury,' was appointed Secretary of State
He was. IN modern phrase, a progressive
Republican. for the reason that ne
preached economy Of public expenditures
and disapproval of land grants to new
railroads.
'Washburn was Grants only friend in
the early days OF the civil war He per-
scnally worked for all Of Grants promo