The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-08

Will the Coming Man Drink Petroleum.
WE think he will not. Still, It all depends
upon a settlement of the question as
to whom the Coming Man is destined
to be. Will his name be Grant We arc in
olined to that belief, and for the best of rea-
sons. There are various indications that
poiat to him as the leading spirit of the ooun-
try during the next four years. As far as
heard from, the belief in Grant has settled
down to a positive conviction in Vermont. II
the people of Maine are not found equally set
tied in their convictions on this point, we
shall lose our faith in the signs of the times.
COnceding that Grant is destined to be the
Coming Man, the perplexing query which we
have placed at the head of this article is sum-
marily disposed Of There is no question as
to the habits and tastes of the great soldier.
Everybody in the World knows that he is a
drunkard, and what more could be desired by
the curious. The quality of his favorite beve-
rage is no more involved in doubt than is the
fact of his appetite for it. Mr.. Lincoln, a man
who was temperate in all things, save in his
entrusted to him by the nation, was a great
admirer Of this soldierly drink, although, not
being military man himself, he did not par
take of it in person. Shll he made anxious
inquiries as to where it could be obtained, ex-
pressing desire to provide every General in
the Union army with an unlimited supply.
The effect produced by this beverage upon
Cfanara1 ind fba MI
edly fell under his command, was very pecu-
liar. While encamped before Fort Donelson,
early in the war, he became so completely
saturated that he sent word to the worthy
Democratic soldier in command of the strong
hold that he proposed to move upon his
lines immediately" To say the least of it, this
was very impolite. None but a man drunk
with the prestige of success, and intoxicated
with belief in his own invincible prowess
would have been guilty of the indiscretion
But the most reprehensible part of his con-
duct on this memorable occasion consists in
the fact that he did move on the Democratic
lines-staggered right over them, in fact, dis
gusting all their worthy leaders by the un-
seemly manner in which he interfered with
their plans. Don Carlos Buell., another worthy
Democratic general, who initiated Grant in
the color and cut of his uniform, and who ope-
rated in the same section Of country, won the
everlasting gratitude of the 'armed neutra-
lity" men of the neighborhood, by never
behaving himself in such obstreperous fashion.
Then, on another occasion, a worthy Demo-
cratic General, McClernand by name, who
enjoys the confidence and esteem of his party
to such an extent as to be elevated to the
Craftsmanship of the Illinois State Executive
Committee, marched down upon Vicksburg at
the head of an army, and treated the garrison
with marked civility. A few months after
ward, Grant happened to be at the head of
this same army, and while in that position he
also paid flying visit to the vicinity of
Vicksburg. On this occasion, as on the pre-
vious one referred to, he was SO completely
under the influence of his favorite beverage
that he again lost sight Of the amenities OF
soldier life, and rushed headlong into the town
in way that deeply distressed Mr.. Pember-
ton, formerly a resident Of this State, and
always Democrat in excellent standing.
Again, one Mcclellan, a soldier who pro-
fessed great admiration for the gallantries of
warfare, and who was 80 highly revered by
the Democratic party that there was some loud
talk about making him President, passed a
great deal of his time in Virginia and Mary
land, winning golden opinions wherever he
went by reason of his gentleness of spirit, and
extremely deferential behavior. But no sooner
had Grant tottered over the Potomac and pol
luted the ''sacred soil'' Of Virginia with his
untidy boots, than he aroused the deepest in
dignation on the part of the inhabitants by the
harum-scarum, headlong way in which he
reeled about in their midst. The last exhi-
bition which he made of himself was in the
neighborhood of Richmond, where he dis
turbed very worthy Democrat, Davis by
name, while at his prayers on Sabbath
evening, and behaved in a manner equally
rude to General Lee who is now an ardent
admirer of Democratic principles.
These little incidents, which we have only
too briefly sketched to show them up in all
their enormity, prove conclusively that Grant
is irreolaimable, that there is no hope of wean
ing him from his favorite, old-time beverage
by tempting him with petroleum, benzine
nitro -glycerine, or any other vile explosiv,