New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-12-12
CONCERNING GEN GENTS INTENTIONS

TO re Fdlfor Of TIE Tribune.
SIR: Do YOU know that Won have q pack of idiots
in THF TRBUNr Bureau herei do. can explain
how and why know it, came to the Bureau this
morning, as usual putting myself TO trouble md ex-
pense to do favors for people who have not asked
then. and SAID:
Gen Grant is speeches.
The head idiot said, d" Is this soi"
replied, II is"
The first assistant idiot asked similar question.
and received an equally similar answer. Then the
Afflicted meaning your Bureau people, telcgraphed
II to you and shortly aterward sold 10 10 the gentle
men of the Associated Press ut the usual rates, viz:
two doughnuts lino-for never have seen any cir
culating medium among tho Washington core
spondents but d0ughnuts yet.
Then went away. AOjr ! am accused Of saving
Gen. Grant was dangerously Ill., aud procuring 1t To-
be telegraphed all over the country IL IS false !
simpg said hc was spccchless. | simply meant lac
never made public speeches. ] was greatly surprised
when they photographed it rs a matter OF ncWs; i
came near saving sO-eycn % tho time. | couldn't
see any sense in making news of IT, further than
means Of acquiring dOughnuts. All that put u into
my head i'm the first place was the fact that had
been up trying to get at Cen. Grant oPihl9ns ana
intentions concerning certain matters, ana iAd louhu
him in manner speeches.. ! had said to him.
"Sr. what do you propose 70 do abont returning
80 n specie basis y To which Ae made no audible
"Sir. do Won mean to stop the whisky frauds or do
you mean TO connye at thenT IoWhch he replied
"Do Won intend 10 do straightforwardly and unos-
tcntatiousy what every trnc. high-mnded Demo
crat has right TO expect You 70 de. or VIII YOU
with accustomed obstnacy, do otherwise. ana mus,
by your own act compel them 10 resort 10 assassna
ton To which he reped
continued: = Sir. shall you insist upon stopping
bloodshed at the South, in plain opposition to The
Southern Will OF shall you generously permit bTAtc
but unfortunate people to worship God according 70
the dictates OF their own cOusClcncc,f No reply.
Sir do YOU comprehend that you arc not the
President OF partyi-that you were not elected Toy
yOur own strength but by the weakness of the oppo
sitiop9 That consequently the Democrats claim
you and Justly and nghteousy expect you 10 al
minister the Government from Democratic point
of view T. RiOtOus silence.
Sir. who i to report tho customary necessary
coherent, and instructive interviews vain me
President Mack OF The Enquirer, }. h. - OF The
World or myself for The TEBUNRT
Gen. Grant said Let MS have peace
resumed " Sir. do you propose 10 eXterlninate
the Indians suddenly with soap and education, or
lieved only by periodical peasantes OF glass beads
and perishablc treaties r No response.
Sir as each section Of the Pacific Railroad Is
finished are you going 10 make the companies spike
down their rails before you pay Which ~ 20 say,
Are YOU going TO lbs "a deliberate tyrantT silence
indistinguishable from the preceding was the only
"Sir. have Won got your Cabinet all set What are
You going 10 do with thOsC Bairs T.
Let MS have peace y
"Sir do YOU comprehend who IL Is that II con-
versng with your
Peace ~
Sir am 10 have Nasby's Post Office or"
go to the-mischief! ! have thousand OF your
kind around me every day. Questions, questions,
questiOns If you must ask questions, follow Fitch,
and inquire after the Enc rolling m-you III have
steady employment can't stand 1t, and won't
stand til tCiH have peace"
II n man MT about speeches. who never says
anything but Let us have peace pray what Is he.
And yet those Bureau people abuse me orreportngit.
/ will never do kind act again MARK TWAIN.
Washington, Dec. L 1868.