The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-07
,HE PARENT OF THE PRESIDENT.
AN INTERVIEW WITH JESSE GRANT.
His Opinion of Negroes, Carpet-Bag'
Gers, Dividing the Nation, and Ulys'
ses' Tenure of once.

There being great diversity of opinion in
regard to the political and other sentiments OF
the father Of the President, the Cincinnati In
auirer dispatched reporter to the home of the
aged author of the greatest living hero" with
instructions to interview the old gentleman, and
report the result. Inquring if the old gentle
man was in, the reporter was informed by the
boy that Mr., Grant was in the back room.
Proceeding to the back room pointed out by
the boy, the reporter found the door open and
the room empty. On the table, however, was
much worn silk hat and spotted silk hand
kerchier, which indicated the proximity OF the
owner. While awaiting the arrival OF the own
er, the reporter took survey OF tbe apart
meut, plain room, furnished with one stand,
two desks, and several cane. bottom chairs and
soiled carpet. The reporter had but lew
minutes to wait. A nasal blast from the direc-
ton Of the back door announced that the pro-
boscis of the father Of the President was being
blown. The next minute the door opened, and
an old man of perhaps six feet stature and two
hundred pounds weight, with broad and slight
ly stopped shoulders, gray hair and whiskers,
dim, specialized eyes, and gait that indicated
feebleness, walked in, and the reporter stood
hat in hand. in the presence Of the great father
of the greatest living hero.
Most Of what was said by the Venerable Pa
rent would he Of no interest to the readers OF
4HE NEWS. We only give The striking points
of the interview.
he Is DOWN on NIGGERs.
After blief pause, Mr.. Grant said, 81 don't
blame people much If they are rebels. l am
opposed to having niggers vote. always was
and always will be. I wouldn't now, and never
will vote for nlggers. II was an able-bodled
Young man, and was elected TO the Legislature,
and a nigger vas els,ted to sit alongside ofme,
I would say, 'Nigger, take both Seats"
Reporter. The Republicans say they consider
it necessary to adopt negro Suffrage IN the
rebel States, IN order to control the ''disloST"
element.
HIS OPINION OF FANATICS AND CARPET-BAGGERs.
Presidents Fathe.. Well, it was during the
war that a lot Of Radical Abolitonlsts and ia
natics. got themselves into the Republican
party, and have ruled it ever since Them and
those arpet.sackers. who went down there TO
steal, have foisted this thing on the people OF
the States. The States could have been a
great deal better constructed without II, and
there will be trouble about it yet. while Vir-
'NsSN>
against it now.
- DIVIDING THE COUNTRY.
KIhad my way, and it could be peaceaby
done, I'd divide the country into two separate
nations. 1t would be better for both. I'd
draw line from the eastern border OF Texas
TO Alaska, and put all west OF that under a
separate government. I'j have treaties OF
aulity and commerce between the two nations
Ike those between the States, and free trade,
nba An1a anil l,ua nnra
peaceably aud be more happy. The Western
nation could take Mexico and all south Of that,
and the Eastern take Canada. Canada is bound
to be ours any way. some day; but we don't
want Cuba or Mexico.
Reporter. The General never took much in
terest in politics before now, did he?
Presidents Father. He never said much,
no more than he does now; bu. he always
watched closely, and knew what was going on.
ULYSSES WILL HANG ON TO THE WHITE HOUSE:
5eporter. | suppose General Grant will be
sick of The place before his time expires, and
will not care to have il another term.
Presidents Father. don't know. He won't
want to retire from public life while he is 60
Young. 1t would go pretty hard with him, L
think, to give up the White House.
THE PRESIDENT OWES HIS SUCCESS TO HIS
PARENTS.
After discussing O variety OF topics OF no
public interest, the conversation turned upon
the early life OF General Grant, subject on
which the old gentleman, with pardonable
fatherly love and pride, delights to dwell:
General Graut," said he, "had better
chance to succeed in life than President Lin
coin, and owes moro Of his success to his faith
er. Lincoln's father was very poor man, and
never gave his son any education; all he got he
picked up himself and all the property he had
he earned by his own labor. :! was never very
poor after Ulysses was born; I was poor when
young, but before got married hal earned
$500, but lost that two years af.erw 'rds.
i soon picked up again, and have made money
ever since. Ihave always had plenty Of the
necessaries and comforts Of life, and never
wanted any of the luxuries. I have given all
of my child.en good educations, and have made
them all rich"
This concluded the conversation, and our
reporter bid the old gentleman goodbye, well
pleased with the gentlemanly manner in which
he had been received, and the good .natured
frankness exhibited by the Presidents father
in answer to his questions.