The Union and journal., 1869-07-16
The Great Played.out Bis Opin-
ion of Grant. I'm

49, tEftHll t-fs.
A. j. has been interviewed, and ns y
result the country is to learn something
more of the opinions of this whelp of
American politics. His opinions ona any sub
iect are yalueless, but they are neverthc-
hess interesting, and therefors his rnvings
about President Grant more or less per-
sons would like to read, and we print
them. He was asked by the interviewer
Of the New York Herald about his roptin-
ion Of Grant, when he replied-IllUl
don't know that you ought to ask me such
i. a.sstion.~ People would be very likely to at
tr;bnte AN unfiyorable opinion from me as
prompted by improper motives. 90 lou know
very well, sir-for you were iamiiiar Wln my
views when was Prcsident-wha' my euna'o
Of Grant was-and don't know OF sny'n'ng
that has since occurred that has caused me 70
change my mind the slightest. l Know uraht
thoroughly. had ample opportunity !" s.uu
him when I was President, and am coh.,nceu
he Is the greatest farce that has ever peeh tnrs'
ypon a people. Why, the little fellow,eAsuse
me for using the cxpression-but l can't he,p
nityinr him. the little fellow has nothing IN
him. He hasn't single idea. lie has no poll
CIV. no conception Of what the country requires
Iie dom understand the philosophy OF single
great question, and is completely lost In trying
10 understand his situation. lie is mendacious'
cunning. and treacherous. lie lied to me f1a-
rrantly. by God, and convicted him by my
whole Cabinet; but that even would have been
tolerable were il the only instance. but II was
not lie lied on many other occasions. tel
YOU, sir, Grant Is nothing more than Dundie
of petty spites, jealousics, and rcsentments:
/ And vet, they say Grant Is a second Washing
ton. Only think OF IL; when you compare him
with Washington or Jefferson, where Is ne !
Why, he is so small you must put your hnger
ON him. lie, little upstart, coward, physic-
ally and intellectually, to be compared with
George Washington Why,it makes me laugh
/ have more pity for the man than contempt
for I have no spite against him. But l fear for
the country when such man is likened to the
father of his country. Why, just look ut the
inaugural of Washington. He speaks about his
fear and trembling in accepting the Presidency,
even after all his experience and success. But
this little fellow, Grant, an upstart, mere ac-
cident of the war, creature without the aDiiity
to comprehend the philosophy Of single great
question, says, in lis inaugural, Il know the
responsibility is great, but accept 1t without
fear Is that like Washington or Jefferson
Pshaw! it's monstrous to think OF. Grant, l
tell you, sir, has no ideas, no policy. Why,
Washington considered that mans greatness
was measured by his morality, by the standard
of his soul. And have always considered
that the more soul man had, the more hc de-
veloped the soul and intellect within him, the
more Godlike he became. But, sir, Grant has
nothing. Physically and mentally and morally
he is a nonentity. Why, sir, his soul Is 30
small that you could put il within the periphe-
ry of a hale nutshell, and II might float about
for thousand years without knocking against
the walls Of the shell. That's the size OF his
soul. 5 RAD ..........f., i..,r. f-9T frTrr-.-r
Just look at the man sitting alta Cabinet
council. He has no idea, no policy, no stand
ard, no creed. no faith. How can he guide the
pcopleI How can he impress any great im-
proyements or moral ideas upon the nation 7
lie has no object to look forward to, no leiling
aim to draw the people toward any particular
end. He sits there with his Cabinet One
member has bought him house In Philadelphia,
another has given him SG5, 900, another has
given him carriage, and 30 ON. u II Ia degrade
ing 10 the office of President, of tho United
States 10 have such man there, They talk
about his generalship Wen, he was mere In
cident of the war. Men and arms were sup
plied in abundance, and his forces were so
massive that they simply crushed out the rebel
lion. II would have been done had Grant never
been born. There he was q mere incident
But the little fellow has come TO think he is
really, l can't help pitying him
when think how we'll I know him, and what
an nfinitessiIpal creature he really is. lie has
no political crecd at all. l would rather have q
good hereto than u man without any faith. Il
would place more dependence on such q man.
As said before, he Is mere incident. There
has been o great social upheayal, and Grant is
left on the top and thinks there is something in
HIM. IL il precisely like avolcanic disturbance.
The natural condition Of tile earth is broken up,
strata after strata is broken through, things
are displaced and turned upside down, and
what should be at the bottom Is thrown high
up. That is just Grants case. That Is just
Grants case. ..-... ...,r..s ...l-.... ... ..
Why, Ben Butler hal wonderfully correct
idea or Grant lie used TO come and sec me
much at one time, and expressed the profound
est contempt for Grant. His estimate Of Grant
was about the same as my own. lie thought
that Grant could be made to do anything; That
he could be made a complete tool, and that IL
he desired he could have himself inyitol TO
Grants house. Ii happened precisely SO, afler-
ward, just as Butler boastei. You remember
Butler was invited to Grants house, and I was
brought about by Butler himself. Butler un-
derstands Grant thoroughly, / have no hcsita-
ton in declaring Grant mean, avaricious,
cunning, spitcful man--a complete bundle Of
petty icalOusies, spites and lies. He has no
courage. made him fairly quail before my
glance Mt the Cabinet meeting when asked him
about that famous correspondence concerning
Stanton. asked him question after question,
and he quailed. When finished he stood up,
took his hat in his hand, and in a mean. sneak
ing way, said, "Gentlemcn, have you any more
questions to askr' and skunk out of the room.
convicted him Ct lying and cowardicc then;
andyou remember all about It, sir, for you pub
lished il at the time .. ',r-