Year: 1875

| Whfus IlerrepOul became the Attorney Ocu-
eral Of the United States, he honored a re-
| porter with an interview in which he gave
his ideas, not only of the present political
situation, but Of what might be expected in
the future. He was in a romantic and happy
frame Of mind All around him was
harmony. President Grant had all the vir-
tues of Washington. The republican party
was certain of perennial power There
would be no other party for the next few
years. We were about to enter upon an "era
of good feeling" The different States would
take advantage of the Centennial year to
"bury the issues Of the past and see only
in the future the glorious flag of this Union
and the constellation of stars. Mr.. Pierre
points enthusiasm was as charming as a
poem of Shelley. The ancient maiden lady
married at last, after much waiting, is apt to
indulge in rapturous visions and see nothing
in her life but that endless ecstasy which
comes with the last chapter of our three
volume novels For years and years Mr..
| Pierrepont had waited with patience, lamps
ever trimmed, for the coming of the bride
| groom. He came-late it is true-in the
! shape of Cabinet nomination. A Minister
so honored in the first moments of con-
nubial happiness would, naturally enough,
think of nothing but the ''era of good feel
ing" When we recall the conversations of
Mr.. Pierrepont with our reporter so pastoral
and flowing and innocent we well remember
the happiness they betokened and that we
wished him many years of such felicity.


But few months have passed away and ali
this is changed Mr. Pierrepont honors one
| Of our reporters with another interview at
Saratoga Sitting under the trees and drink
ing the exhilarating waters of the springs, a
deep sadness has fallen upon him. All the
smiles have gone. The sunshine has van
ished from his official life. He no longer
talks about "harmony" and the 'era of good
feeling" He does not prophesy as before.
Evidently some disappointment has come
upon him. He has found, we fear, like many
elderly maiden ladies who marry late, that
marriage, after ALL is not life of dreams.
1t has cares, frets and burdens. Our At
torney General feels the shadows. He is
quite sure that President Grant does not
wish third term, but beyond this every
thing is chaotic" The public mind has
not ''crystallized." 1T has not settled. +"
The Ohio election is Every important
The President has been very kind to him
and given him his cordial cooperation.
But ''both sides are in confusion and do not
themselves know what they will do" When
the public mind ''shall hare crystallzed" he
promises to give us the benefit of his ma
tured deliberations upon national affairs.


All this is very sad coming from Minister
who three months ago was SO sunny so
happy and so bright, and who saw before
him nothing but an ''era of good feeling"
and prosperity. There is an anxious tone
about the Attorney Generals conversation
which recalls what Byron wrote shortly
after his disappointing honeymoon-that
there is not a JOY the world can give like
what it takes away. Evidently official life
has not realized the long years of hope and
dreaming He shows that modest reserve
which prudent ladies unhappily married dis
play in speaking of their inner life. He will
make no scandal. He has nothing but re-
spect for the President, but everything is
chaotic" He can see no future. There
are no issues before the country-absolutel
none All that remains for the poor Attorney
General, who entered the Office chanting to
every reporter his hymn of JOY over the hap
piness and prosperity of the party, is to sit
by the spouting streams of Saratoga and as
he drinks the waters moan over the ''chaos"
and uncertainty" of the public mind.


The chaos and uncertainty are not in the
public mind but in that of statesmen like
Judge Pierrepont So far from there being
no issues before the country there never
or more distinct If Judge Pierrepont
is anxious to know the opinion of
the people let him ask them what they
think of initiation or the prospect of
national reputation, reconstruction of the
South, of Capitalization of federal govern
ment, of the third term. He speaks with
bated breath and that timidity which has
overcome all republicans-a timidity which
is their misfortune and that of their party.
Why should Mr.. Pierrepont cover under the
influence Of the President and have nothing
to say absolutely upon the only questions
that are now alive? He knows that next
spring we shall nominate candidates for the
Presidency. Has he no candidate for that
office? Has he nothing to say in behalf of
some Of the eminent men in the republican
party, who naturally enough have claims to
its leadership and the high honors it can be-
stow? Is he for Dix OF Conkling or Morgan
Has he no personal ambition looking to the
White House? There has been no time since
the beginning of the confederation when,


at period so close to the Presidential


election, we have had so little expression
of preference from the party leaders. Maine
does not dare to say word in behalf of
its candidate, Mr.. Blaine. Massachusetts, is
afraid 10 show q rlrefnrenca for thn Nino