Year: 1868




Pc N DL ET ON.
Interview with Hen. George HI. Pcndleton-
Pen Persrait sf the Western Dcmecratic
LeaAer-Consternatien NJ the Movement for
Chief Justice Chase-DIr. Pendletou,s FinaD-
cial Piasferm-His Position On the Great
Issues Of tho Day-Bendheldors 60 Be
Taxed and she National Banks to BE
Abelished-Chief Justice Chase, II Neni-
mated, Weuld Bo Heartily Supported by
Nr. Pendleton and His Friends.


CINCINNATI, June 8, 1888.


"Mr. Pendlet0Ar'


"That's my name, sir. Walk in. Take seat''


The inquiry was mine The response was that OF
Mr.. George H. Pendleton democratic candidate for
the Vice Presidency In 1854 and aspirant for the
democratic nomination for President at the New YORK
Convention next month. He was seated at his desk
and had suspended writing letter to answer the IN
quiry which addressed him frOm the threshold OF
his law once, plainly but substantially furnished
apartment about twelve by twelve in size, situated
In Jauncey court OF law chambers on Third street.
In this city. Waving me to the profrered seat with
genial smile which made me feel at home with him.
on the instant he wished to know what he could do
for The brief interval which had elapsed to this
moment was sufficient to give me an opportunity OF
perceving that he is man Of about fory-two years
OF age and possessed Of manner which readily ac-
counts for his personal popularity. His face seemed
not at all strsnge;tt even familiar, though had
never seen him before. The person who makes his
acquaintance hereafter win recognize the truth Of
this observation; hts face is one Of the kind that
haunts the mind with the impression that 1t has been
somewhere seen BEFORE though for what reason the
spectator will be at loss to conceive. In height M
Pendeton Is little above the medium, the excess
being unnotceable from very slight tendency to
em0OnpOfnt Not that he Is stout or pOrtly. The
best description OF him would be to say that he is
very hearty, with full, robust figure. He is proper
tionatey well built and by the ladies would be
deemed handsome man; dark Though not black
hair covers Q large, finely formed head; mustache
and whisers worn in the prevailing style the latter
slightly sprlnkled with gray, both inclined to be
curly and with nneness and sickness indicative Of
elegance Of temperament, surround face which
seems to perpetuaDy wear the winning smile above
referred TO- suit of black and dark blue completes
the picture of the candidate whom the West is press
ing so strenuously for the democratic nomination.
DESPITE the public notoriety which Mr.. Pendleton
has achieved he s steadily and earnestly devoted to
the business Of his profession and 1t is wonder how
he has c0ntrived to get time from his private duties
to transact the public business which has made him
| 10 famous In the West He resides in the country





| ing to his once and desk where or In court, he
labors industrlously all day until the hour for his
| turn to his suburban home No doubt a great deal
of his success Is due to the efforts OF his friends,
whose number Is legion, and whom he has united to
himself by the peculiar magnetism OF his character.
What he has been quick to conceive In politics they
have been quick to execute In his interest. They
are bound to him by tie which it would seem tmpos-
sible to sever. Their devotion to him is OF the
| warmest kind, and he has become their leader with
out any apparent effort on his part The details OF
any policy Of his Originaton they have delighted to
carry out. The understanding between man and
party Is OF the most harmonious kind. give these
particulars concerning Mr.. Pendleton because he is
| not known at the East, and especially as he Will
doubtless prove one of the most prominent candi-
| dates In the Convention OF Juy4


| Imade known my business without any circum-
locution. The smile OF interest changed to of
| surprise. That person should travel nearly nine
| hundred miles to hold conversation with him was
something little out OF the routine OF matters
ing within the range Of his daily observation Had
| been a politician even from New York to make a
| bargain regarding the nomination 1t would have
| been surprising enough, particularly as the object
might be attained just as well by letter. He had nc
objection-none whatever, he sad--to talk with me
upon political topics, but ''did l want to print the



! as the natural sequence of the interview and as q
part OF the business which had brought me to see
him.


Had Mr. Pendleton been tortoise have no doubt
that at this moment he would have rendered himself
totally invisible to me excepting his shell. AS he iS
not tortoise such piece OF geological strategy
impossible. He did something approaching to 1t In
the human way, however. The smile OF welcome
which had changed to one OF surprise as told my
| hod cho N Of ata tad
| hension.


Gas q friend, sir, shall be happy TO converse
freely with you on any and all political subjects but
i wlnot do 30 for the sake OF having 1t printed
| These conversations between correspondents and
public men are very ridiculOus-very ridiculous"


And move him from this determination could not
1t was In vain that piled every argument was CO.
pable Of. He was unalterable in his decisions


"NO, sir, could not think Of 1t. Sucn q thing
would DO no good. Not that have anything to con-
ceal. My sentiments are wen known. There is
nothing have to conceal. will tell you everything
| In private way, IL you promise not to print It,"


OF course such promise was out Of the question.
Not despairing yet, exerted every artice within
my capacity and employed every weapon in my re-
| p0rtorlal storehouse to induce change OF his de-
cison. It was OF no avail.


al have no objection to telling you all think" he
continued, "but l do not wish TO have converse
tion with three four hundred thousand readers OF
the HERALD before breakfast


The old smile came back to his face and the con-
versation turned upon the weather or some
equally interesting and important topic. This
record OF the interview, while serving to show Mr.
Pendletons sensitiveness and his deeprooted convic
Won OF the Righteousness OF holding a conversation
on political subjects for the benefit OF the commu
nifty, will also illustrate the difficulties under which
q correspondent sometimes labors and VIII con-
vince the reader that duties not
always couleur de rose.


Disappointed at the outset OF my undertaking,
was compelled to have recourse to the best means