The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1869-07-31
johnson VS.. Grant.

dent Johnson again-with the
following result:
Correspondence Well, Mr.. john /
son, what do they think of this
administration down in Tennessee? |
Andy JOhnson--I don't know
that you ought to,ask. me such a
question. People would be very
likely, to attribute an unfavarable
opinien from me as prompted by
improper motives. You know
very well, sir, for you were famil- |
lar with my views while | was
President, what my esteem of
Grant was, and j don't know of
anything that has occurred that
hasicaused me to change my mind
the slightest. / know Grant
Thoroughly. l had an ample OPP
portunity to study him when [
was President, and | am cohyinc-
ed he is the greatest farce ever
thrust upon q people. Why the
little fellow-excuSe me for using
the expression, but / can't help
plying him-the little fellow has
nothing in him. He hasn't q sin
gle idea. He has no policy, no
conception of what thecountry re-
quires. He don't understand the
philosophy of a single great ques-
ton, and is completely lost in
trying to understand his situation.
He is mendacious, cunning and
tTeacherous. He lied to me fla
gravity, by God, and | convicted
him by my whole Cabinet; but
that even would have been tolera-
bic were it the only instance, but
1t was not. He lied on many 9th
or occasions. i tell you, sir, Grant
is nothing more than than a bun
die of petty spites, jealousies and
resentments. And yet they say
Grant is a second Washington
Only think of it, when you com
pare him with Washington or
Jefferson, where is he? Why, he
is so small you must put your fin
ger on him. He, a little upstart,
coward, physically and intellectu-
ally. To be compared TO George
Washington! Why, it makes me
laugh. have more pity for the
man than contempt, for | have no
spite against him. But | fear for
the country when such q man is
likened to the father of his coun-
try, Why, just look at the inau-
gural of Washington. He speaks
about his fear and trembling in
accepting the Presidency, even
after all his experience and sue
cess. But this little fellow, Grant,
an upstart, mere accident of tile
war, a creature without the ability
to comprehend the philosophy Of
a single great question, says il
his inaugural II know the respon
sibility is great, but [ accept il
without fear.' Is that like Wash
ington or Jefferson! Pshaw! its
na0nstrOus to think of. Grant,
tell you sir, has no ideas-no poll
CT. Why, Washington consider
ed that a mans greatness was
naeasured by his morality, by the
standard of his soul. And | have
always considered that the more
soul q man had, the more develop
ed the soul or intellect within hin
the more God-like he became
But, sir, Grant has nothing. PLY
sieally and mentally and morally
he is a nOnenity. Why, sir, hi,
soul is so small that you could pu
it within the periphery OF a haze
nat shell, and it might float abou
for thousand years withou
striking the walls of the SHE'LL
That's the size of his soul. Jus
look at the man sitting at Cabi
net council. He has no idea, N,
policy, no standard, no creed, n,
faith. How can he guide TIN
people! How can he impress an,
greatimprOvements or moral idea
upon the nations He has no oh
ject to look forward to, no leadin,
aim to draw the people towart
any particular end. He sits Their
with his Cabinet. One membe
has bought him q house in Phila
delphia, another has given hin
S65,OO0 another has given him
carriage, and so ON. 1t is degrad
Ing to the Office of President O
the United States to have such
man there. They talk about hi
generalship. Well, he was mer
incident of the war. Men an,
arms were supplied in abundance
and his forces were SO massiy
that they simply crushed out til,
rebellion. 1t would have beer
done had Grant nnyor hoap horp