The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1868-05-07
Gen Grant--The Vice Presiden.
cy--The Political Cam
paign of 1868.

NCh NILut"~lu TIC NlcC LIcSlucU~
cy--The Political Cam
paign of 1868.
Mr.. HALsTEAD, chief editor of
the Cincinnati Commercial, has
lately been in Washington, from
which place be has written mum
ber OF very readable letters TO his
paper. From one of these we
make the following extract;
Night before last, while seated
in the lheater here, just before the
curtain rose, saw u gentleman in
the aisle, making his way with II
lady on his arm, and leading BY
the hand a little boy to a seat near
tho orchestra. His face seemed
strangely familiar, but it was not
within the first instant that | rec.
ognized in his simple citizens
dress, wearing an old fashioned
"stoveplpe' hat, General U. S.
Grant. lie came in so quietly aud
quickly that few persons did REQ
ognize him. His cool, blue eye,
firm jaw, the month mere
straight line through his short,
sandy beard, and his fixed, intent
ook, identified him to those who
chanced to be observers. beyond a
chance Of mistake. 1t seemed to
be his wish to avoid attention, and
he succeeded SO well that. though
all men know him, but few in the
crowded audience noticed that the
slight gentleman with the little
boy, on the second row Of chairs
from the orchestra, ABOUT the cen.
ter Of the division Of the theater
TO the lett OF the stage, who enter.
cd so heartily into the enjoyment
OF the drolleries OF Jefferson, the
comedian, was the man who holds
the most commanding position in
the nation, and upon whose intlu.
ential fame and popularity the
Republican party in .such great
measure relics TO maintain its foot
ing in the high places of authori
ty. There is great deal OF talk
throughout the country OF General
Grants habits. and no little unea-
siness among his friends concern
ing the reports that he is hard
drinlicr, and has been seen drunk,
There is nothing in his appearance
that indicates the slightest irregu.
larity of life, His complexion ii
clear, his eye is clear, and bis
whole bearing and manncrnot on,
ly not that Of u man broken by
dissipation and degraded by al
evil appetite, but that Of mar
temperate in all things. All re
ports that have reached me from
sources entitled TO consideration
! are to the effect that the habits o
General Grant are good and BIZ
lite blameless. And | may ado
that Republicans of whom be wa
not the first choice for the Presi
, dency, speaking Of him without {
thought of any publicity boingg Civ
en- their observations, and unde
circumstances such that criticism
would be confidential, express
growing regard for him, and asser
that he shows degree of lntelli
gence in public affairs, and n sim
) pie carnestness and integrity tha
J win then absolute confidence
| This may not amount TO grea
deal. / do not appreciate it very
highly. II is worth writing, how
, ever, if it disposes of an apprehen
. sion entertained without suflicien
reason by anycgood citizen. Gen
eral Grant is probably not very
, brilliant man, not dazzling char
! acter, but he is discreet, sensibl,
and safe. He is unspoiled by fiat
. tory, and is as unostentatlous a
when citizen of GaIena or 81
Louis; he is not tho least dizzy
! but goes about his business, mod
est, composed, pleasant, consider
ate, faithful TO all obligations.
Grants nomination at Chicag
being looked upon as certainty
the matters of interest in the Re
publican Convention arcsthe can
didato for the. Vice Presidenc.
s and the platform. There is abur
Q daut evidence that the Democrac.
s will make determined and. fol
o midable Presidential fight. The
! will destroy Pendleton's ambiiio
7 at New York by tho operation {
| the two.thirds rule, and go for OK
: pediency, taking Hancock, or Di
5 or Governor English, or some ma
$ not particularly obnoxiousto tn
: old war party. Then they wi
Q reduce their platform to fey
. equivocations, and declaratio
d against negro-suffrage aud in tavo
Q Of an economical administration