The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-06
ocaorai osun. aud HI, Aucuscra.

4
Tho Wal stree, rumors OF General Grants
alliance with The bull ring on gold have been
whitfield down into the Published statement Of
James Fisk, Jr, concerning the various con-
| ferences Of said Fisk with Mr.. Corbin, the
Presidents brother-in -law--conforenc which
signify that Fisk has been tempting Corbin
with golden winged ily, and that Corbin,
perhaps, has been playing round the glittering
bait, and which further signify that Fisk, in
prosuming that Corbin might, could or would
do 80 and 80, presumed too much. That Fisk
did fish for Corbiu we are satisfied from the
Presidents statement that the Erie fnancier,
en- route 10 Newport, applied even to him for
little private information in behalf Of Jay
Gould as 10 the financial Intentions of the
overnnent--inFormation which Fisk learned
at once would not be fair and could not be
given. The upshot of this whole matter
involving the President in the bull ring is this,
that the President, on the first information of
their plot, broke 1t all to pieces on his order to
''sell five millions Of gold, and that Fisk and
his confederate bulls, in their splendid oalcu-
iations of running gold up to two hundred, had
no foundation to stand on, as to the non-intor-
ference Of the government
But still the Presidents accusers are harp
ing upon the string of his acceptance of houses
and lots, and horses and cows and boots and
shoes, and cigars and cheroots, and what not,
as circumstantial evidence that he Is using and
abusing his high Office to enrich himself. We
heard an intelligent English traveller remark
the other day that large and generous-hearted
as are the American people in their public and
private contributions to deserving men and
good works, the Congress of the United States
is the meanest legislature in Christendom in
reference 10 the meritorious servants of the
country. And this is true. Take, for exam
pie, the rewards of England to the Duke of
Wellington and compare them with the
rewards Of our Congress to General Grant.
Honors, estates and money were showered
upon Wellington until he was made one of the
richest of Englands nobility. General Grant,
on the other hand, for services which can only
be valued by the value Of the life of this great
nation saved, is made, first, by Congress,
General Of the Army, and secondly, by the
people, President of the United States at a
salary Of twenty-five thousand year, which
is less than one-fourth the official income Of the
Sheriff of the city of New York. Private citi-
zens, ashamed of the meanness of Congress, club
together and buy house for General Grant in
recognition Of his great services. A sensible
man he accepts the present. for he has grow
ing family to provide for. Nor does he turn
his back upon his friends. Their voluntary
and patriotic interposition has made him easy
in regard to the future-a duty neglected by
Congress. He could not have felt easy upon
the chances Of the small savings, it any, from
his pitiful salary of twenty-five thousand
year as President of the United States. And
what more had he to expect from Congress,
after the refusal of the Senate to pass Sum-
ner's bill providing pension of five thousand
a year to the widow of tho murdered President
Lincolnp The bill failed from the base
and paltry excuses Of economy employed
in Congress to cover up their scan
dalous schemes Of spoils and plumber, and
Mrs. Lincoln, in order to live with some show
Of responsibility, has felt constrained to fix
her home in cheap and unpretentious village
in Germany.
General Grant, then, in accepting the pres
ents made him from his grateful fellow citi-
zens, has acted like wise man. Under all
the circumstances he would have been fool
to decline these generous offerings. He is not
an avaricious man, or he would have been
House, however, he felt the pressure Of his
poverty. Relieved upon that score, for his
desires in this direction are modest, he is free
to devote his whole mind to his public duties,
and in this view we commend the wisdom of
the course he has pursued in accepting the
grateful testimonials from his fellow citizens
They are gratiaed, he is thankful and the
only shame there is in the matter may be
charged to the meanness Of Congress.