The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-07-08
johnson on Grant,


commencement of Georgetown Semi
nary, of which his only child lisa pu-
pill.
While in New York he was inter.
viewed by an irrepressible correspon-
dent Of the N. Y. Herald, to whom,
according to the report, he unburd.
ened himself pretty freely about pub
lie affairs, and was especially veno-
NOUS in denouucing Gen. Grant, and
his administration.
We submit below his opinion ofour
President, promising it however with
the remark. that it is quite likely
that the only interview which occur
red, came off in the fertile brain Of
the reporter, but as it is undoubtedly
very much like what the old Tennes.
see scalawag would say, of the man
of iron who held him 80 long by the
throat in the Capitol, il is worth
printing, and reading, even lift mover
actually was said by Johnson to this
identical reporter:
"CoRREsroNDENT-Well, MIR. John
son, to change the subject, what do
they now think of this administra.
ton down in Tennessee ?"
CANDY JoHNsoN-I don't know
that you ought to ask me such a
question. People would be very
likely to attribute an upfavorable
opinion from me as prompted by i'm
proper motives. You know very well,
sir, for you were very familiar with
my views while l was President, what
my ootimate of G-a~t w~a, and l
don't know of anything that has
since occurred that has caused me to
change my mind the slightest. I
know Grant thoroughly. / had am
pie opportunity to study him when I
was President, and I am convinced
he is the greatest farce that was ever
thrust upon q people. Why, the lit
tie fellow-excuse me for using the
expression, but / can't help plying
him-the little fellow has nothing IN
him. He hasn't q single idea. He
has no policy, no conception of what
the country requires. He don't I'M.
derstand the philosophy ofa single
great question, and is completely lost
in trying to understand his situation.
Heis mendacious, cunning and treach-
erous. He lied to me hagrantly, by
God, and I convicted him by my
whole Cabinet; but that even would
have been tolerable were it the only
instance, but it was not. He lied on
many other occasions. l toll you, sir,
Grant is nothing more than q bundle
of petty spites, jealousies and resent
ments. And yet they say Grant is .
second Washington. Only think Of
it, when you compare him with
Washington or Jefferson where is he?
Why he is 80 small you must put your
finger on him. He, . little upstart,
. coward, physically and intellectual
ly, to be compared to George Wash
ington ! Why, it makes me laugh. I
have more pity for the man than
contempt. for have no spite against
him. But fear for the country when
such a man is likened to tho father of
his country. Why, just look at the
inaugural Of Washington. He speaks
about his fear and trembling In &C
copting the Presidency, even after all
his experience and success. But this
little fellow Grant, an upstart, . mere
accident ct the war, a creature with
out the ability to comprehend the
philosophy ola single great question,
says in his inaugural, II know the
responsibility is great, but l accept it
without fear" IL that like Washing
ton or Jefferson ? Pshaw! It's mon
strous to think of. Grant, l tell you,
sir, has no ideas, no policy. Why.
Washington considered, that mans
greatness was measured by his NOR
atty, by the standard of his SOUL
And / have always considered that
the more soul man had, the more
he developed the soul or intellect
within him, the moro Godlike he be.
came. But, sir, Grant has nothing.
Physically and mentally and morally
he is nonentity. Why, sir, his soul
is SO small that yon could put it with
in the periphery of a hazel nutshell
and it might float about for thous.
and years without knocking against
the walls of the shell. That's the
size of his soul. Just look at the
man sitting at a Cabinet council! He
has no idea, NO policy, no standard,
no creed, no faith. How can he
guide the people ? How can he i'm
press any great improvements or
moral ideas upon the nation He has
no object to look forward to, no lead
ing aim to draw the people towards
any particular end. he sits there
with his Cabinet. One member has
bought him house in Philadelphia,
another has given him $65,00O, an
other has given him carriage, and
so on. 1t is degrading to tho Office
of President of the United States to
have such q man there. They talk
about his generalship. Well, he was
a mere incident of the war. Men and
arms were supplied in abundance, and
his forces were 80 massive that they
simply crushed out the rebellion. It
would have been done had Grant
never been born. Therefore he was q
mere incident. But the little fellow
has come to think he is somebody
really. l can't help plying him when
l think how well I know him and
what an infinitessimal creature he
really is. l often think that about the
fittest place for Grant is at some
place in the country where there are
cross roads. / have been at those
places and have often noticed the
scenes. At one corner perhaps there
is a small blacksmith's shop. At an.
other corner Of the cross roads there
is a grocery store, and at another q
house whore the squire meets to SET
tie cases. Well, / have often noticed
at such junction of several roads
that when the squire's business is
over some fellows will propose . horse
race, and to give interest to the thing
ho rival &c AZ 4