The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-03

THE GREAT GRANT MEETING AT UNION
SouARE.-We think 1t not improbable thai
General Grant will give us victory to cele
brate tomorrow at the same time with our
celebration in his honor at Union square. But
even if the news Of victory does not come so
quickly as that, 1t cannot fail to reach US soon
after the news of the great meeting reaches
him. General Grant always takes pains to
more than deserve any compliments that may
be paid him.
Men cannot adequately appreciate contempt
rary history, or Grants extraordinary genius
would cause the world to regard him as second
Napoleon or second Wellington. Four years
ago he was woodchopper and tanner. Now
he has saved his country. When the war broke
out there was not room for him In the Illinois
militia. Now he comm ands all our armies. Less
than four years ago he was accidentally selected
to lead regiment Of raw recruits, and performed
his wonderful feat of transporting them on
foot Since then he has developed into the
most consummate general Of the age, giant
in fight, unrivalled In tactics, and better stra-
tegst than any Of the old masters of the art.
This record reads like romance, and yet it
falls for short Of the truth In any other age
and almost any other country than this such a
man as Grant would be worshipped as demi-
god. Even our people, not unaccustomed to
great men, and slow to pin their faith to any
one leader, regard General Grant with an ad-
miration and respect inspired by no other
American soldier except Washington and Jack
| son. We anticipate, therefore, that the meet
| ing tomorrow to express the nations gratitude
| to Grant will be, in numbers, unanimity and
enthusiasm, without parallel. Surely the ex-
preston Of our gratitude ought to be worthy
of the unparalleled services he has rendered US.
TIE STREET CLEANING QUEsTr0N.-The Legis-
| lature at its last session abolished the
old system Of cleaning the streets Of the
city, and passed . law providing that the
work should be given out BY contract to the
lowest bidder. This was . plan to get the
business out Of the hands of the City Inspector,
| Mr.. Boole, who was faithfully executing the
work, with an eye to the cieanly condition
Of the thoroughfares. 1t was stated that Mr..
Astor once offered to assume the work for
| one hundred thousand dollars; but, although
we believe the proposition to have been made
| in good faith, nothing came Of it, and it has
sunk into oblivion. Under the law of the
Legislature advertisements were published So
Letting proposals for the work, and the bids
were opened yesterday by the Mayor The
| public will be astonished to learn that but
two bids were put in: one by Patrick Doyle,
Of Brooklyn, for s575,OO0, and one by
Daniel D. Badger, of this city, for $500, 900.
Both bids were ruled out and for the
same reasons-viz: informality and excess Of
price. 1t will thus be seen that, after all
the wjrepulling and underhand scheming
| against Mr.. Boole, that gentleman has proved
that he is not only most capable official, but
that his system Of street cleaning is as good,
| and certainly as economical for the city, as
any other Iona Jide plsp yet submitted.