Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1868-11-19
MARTHUR YNT0N COUNTY, NOVEMBER 49, 1868
The Cut Direct,

ed to Washington, than the
old political hacks residing
and congregating there, COM
making exten-
siye preparations for Civ
ing him a grand reception
not that they cared a "conti-
nentaP fig for General Grant,
but for the cogent reason
that they thought they would
be able to gain some personal
advantage by a noisy display
Of their excessive modesty,
and by a manifestation Of
their intense admiration of
the newly elected President.
The following is the begin
ming, middle and end ofthat
grand affair as furnished by
the telegraph:
80 " WASHINGTON, Nov. 10.
General Grant declined to-day a
public demonstration in his honor,
rendered by the various Republican
associations of this city. This af.
ternoon q committee, consisting of
delegates from the Soldiers and
Sailors Republican Committee, Of
ficers Of the Boys in Blue, the Pres
ident Of the Central Grant Club,
and Mayor of Washington, togeth-
er with the Aldermen and other
prominent citizens, called on Gener-
al Grant by appointment. The OBJ
ject of the visit was stated in the
following address of the Mayor.
GENERAL GRANT-In behalf of
the citizens and the Republican or
ganizations Of this city we have call
cd to tender our hearty congratula.
tions on the result of the recent
elections, and make known to you
their wishes that they be permitted
to attest their feelings of happiness
and joy by proper public demon.
stration welcoming you an the
President elect to the Capital Of
the nation, as they were deprived
of that pleasure on your arrival
here by a sort of flank movement
by which you stole q march upon
our people. All indulge the hope
that you will now accede to theil
request and name the time ant
place most agreeable to you fol
such demonstration.
General Grant responded as fol
lows:
~ am glad to meet you all, ant
receive your congratulations, but
hope you will spare me any public
demonstration. / live in this city
and like to avoid demonstration,
here as elsewhere; and with my
consent there cannot beany. I am
lawsys ready to meet such gentle
men as may call upon me in my Of
fee, any time, without public dis
play or demonstration. This woulC
bo much more agreeable to me, ant
| hope it will be agreeable to you.
The Mayor replied:
ave shall certainly study youl
pleasure in the matter"
General Grant then said.
II am not unmindtul of the feel
ings intended to be displayed by {
public demonstration, and you mus
take all this for Granted" (Laugh
ter)
The company then retired.
DO the annals of the worlc
furnish anything more signif
icsnt and appropriate thar
this? The object of those
small politicians undoubtedly
was, to induce General Grant
by the accordance ofthe prof
fered invitation, to commir
himself to a class of ostenta.
tious Office beggars, and sig.
nifty his willingness to be,
come the tool of a party, in,
stead of being the Prcsiden'
of the United States. But
they failed in their very frs
attempt, and are left to "takC
it for Granted that he is no
yet quite ready to become /,
IA mere instrument in thpir
hands, to be used merely fol
their personal aggrandize.
ment. 1t may be hoped thai
this unceremonious rebuff o
petty and contemplate Off
ciousness will be followed by
Others ofthe same sort, Fol
it will be remembered thai
the non-committalism of Gen
eral Grant is, after ALA sword
which may cut both ways
If he does not choose to wear
the livery of Radicalism here
after, he will, by a careful
avoidance of all entanglinq
alliances with the disioyaIists
and cormorants Of the party
by which he has been elected,
secure a position alike hon-
orable to himself and benef-