The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1868-02-20

' istics and His Condition OufinP tha'
{ Memorable Trip-His Political Views
at that Time. ,,a a. r.a
The Chicago Times Of the 9th,
produces as leading editorial, the fol
t lowing, written by m eye witness OF
, the facts given': @,.,,.
Grant possesses only one pronoun-
+ ced Characteristic, whiuh is an imper-
, viousness that ressts everything except
the desire for drinking and smoking.
1t was this same quality that en-
abled him to face tho terrible and I'M
J, necessary bloodshed of the Wilderness
that permitted him thoroughly to com
nit himself to the policy and support
Of Mr.. Johnson, only with equal non
chalance to desert his position. What is
inconsistent all others is consistent to
Grant, for it is but continued want OF
feeling, only broken by the effect Of al
lcohol. it+i' .i "a. =
I The country has not yet forgotten
the Presidential excursion, popularly
known as "Swingin' Round the Cir
cle." The country also remembers
that Gen. Grant was one OF the most
prominent men of the Presidential par
ty. 1t was time when the name Of
Grant was synonymous with loyalty,
patriotism and success. The Radicals
held up their hands in holy horror that
this idol of the people should accom-
pany governmental party that was in
favor of thir.y-six States in the Union,
instead of twenty five; that advocated
tho extension of civil authority over
military despotisn. 49,.
The explanations of General Grants
presence with this party were as unsat'
isfactory as they were various Many
said that he accompanied the President
as an officer on the staff Of the Com
mandcr-in. Chief. Subsequent events
have proved that Grant does not re-
gard the President rs COMMANDMENT.
Chief. Others said that he was order
ed to go, and obeyed as e military
subordinate should always obey su
perior. But there have been instances
that prove Grant not SO willing and
ready in subordination. ~ llga!, none
were willing to admit that Grant Rad
committed himself to the Presidential
policy; but, before the excursion had
come to an end tho Radicals regarded
Grant as tainted with sentiments of|
Unionism, and treacherously favoring
Ia speedy return to peace and prospect
ty.
The true reason Ct Grants presence
with the Presidential party, as well as
of his subsequent return to the interest
of Radicalism, is to be found in that
characteristic of Indifference, soidity, !
or stupidity, which is prominent dur
lag his whole career. Whatever his
motive for joining the party may have
been, he looked upon it as an excellent
oc ,asion for q prolonged and unintcr-
upted s.drunk." Hc did not draw
sober breath from the time the party
reached Niagara until after it landed in
Chicago.
At Niagara Falls he made only one
appearance, in the open air, aud that
in a carriage, supported bya couple Of
friends. On the way TO Buffalo, at
Tonawonda, Admiral Farragut excus.
ed General Grant from making "A ap-
pearance because he was ''played out.
At Buffalo and other places, Secretary
Seward excused Grants non-appear
ance on account of''illness." The truth
is, and it is we'll known 10 every man
who accompanied the excursion, that
Grant was sent TO Cleveland by anoth-
er train in order to give him the time
and opportunity TO sober u. This,
however. was not the Generals pleas
ure. He preferred to remain drunk;
and, on the way from Cleveland to De-
troit, he was in q staggering condition
of drunkenness, and only made his way
through the cars with support on
each side, and his appearance on the
platform at stations with the same as
sistance. The reporters Of the New
York Tribune and Of the Chicago Re
publican, who were in attendance, tele-
graphcd to their respective journals
that Grant was in the condition desert
bed.
1t is equally true that Grant, ON sew
eral occasions during his trip, commit
ted himself fully to the Conservatism
represented by Mr.. Johnson at the
time and denounced by the Radical par
ty. At Detroit, Secretary Seward,
speaking to the people from the balco-
ny of the hotel, said "Let me tell those
who are trying to make q distinction
between Gen. Grant and the President,
that nothing in this world could divide
him from the President, or me from
him and the President" and Gen.
Grant acquicsced in his customary ST.
lence. Mr.. Seward has kept faith. and
Gen. Grant has broken it.
At Battle Creek, Michigan, there was
q great crowd and loud calls for Gen.
Grant, while Secretary Seward was ex-
pounding the Presidents policy for re-
storing the Union. "Gentlemen," the
Secretary continued, with Grant by his
side, "If you expect to hear anything
different from Gen. Grant from what
the President would tel you, You are
very much mistaken. The General al.
lows me to do his speaking, and al
low him to do my fighting, aud we have
neither of us as yet fought or spoken
against the other" The Secretary
then turned to Gen Grant, who bow.
ed in acquiescence amid the cheers of
the crowd, and concluded, THAT is
Gen. Grants speech" Il
There is but one alternative for
Grant in regard to his position at the
time. Either he shared the convictions