The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-06-08
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A Quiet Conversation ON In
dian Affairs.
General Grant Determined TO Make "Let Us
Have Peace Mean Something.
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HE DEFENDS POOR 10 VIGOROUSLY
The Camp Grant Affair a Whole
sale Murder.
How Interested Citizens Approach
the President.
Experience or u Herald Cor
respondent.
S. S. COX ON THE FLY.

WEST POINT June 7, 1877.
About dozen oilers assembled at the dock at the
foot or vestry street. New York, last evening to
the President OF his party embark on the Mary
Powell for West Point. They did not have much to
see General Grant, with his wife, father and Miss
Nellie Grant drove up In hack few minutes be-
fore the boat started and hustled board through
the crowd like other but less distinguished citizens.
happened to be going up the river at the same
time and in due course had little talk with the
General. was wandering about the forward deck
with an unbitten cigar In my mouth. when most
wretched hat shining over the fire OF an excellent
cigar, attracted my attention. The hat and the
cigar the property Of the President OF the
United States. For foolish Frenchmen the scene
on the deck would have afforded excellent lesson.
They would have understood by few minutes OBJ
servation how, among thinking and reasonable re-
pubcans, liberty is never outraged by license. The
President Of the United States OF America stood
smoking and smiling with hand on the side OF the
boat, looking at the crowd on board ana the mag
nifcent panorama OF the river and towering hills.
He was no better than any other man there and
looked as If he thought So There Is an immense
number Of Fourth OF July oratlonS stuck in the
crevices OF Grants coat and the Glorious Bird
seems as looks at HIM. to have entire possession
OF his Questionable and battered hat am salts
fed he would prefer
QUIET SMOKE AND A CHAT
with good fellow who thoroughly understood
wood chopping, ron-moulding or tanning to an
interview with an nane haw-haw Jackass with a
pedigree, but vino knew nothing. That Is my
opinion at least. believe he properly represents
the average American OF our day. better type of
man and citizen may be presented US In future
years. and Grant viii, ifhe survives his annoyances,
vote for him. But Grant is not as good as he might
be. He thinks enough but he ought to speak
more. He capt snrug his shoulders in
contempt Of possible consequences. or wink
or smoke away possessing Presidential
sin. This particular sin is silence. Until
he was persuaded TO speak through the HERALD on
matters or moment the citizens OF the United
States thought him to be something entirely differ
ent from what he really Is. He Will now be better
understood.
These thoughts occurred to me az watched the
crowd gazing the President and noticed the
badgered Chief Magistrate writing IN agonlzed ex-
pectatiOn of an interview. A red-headed country
| man was staring intently a: him. and miserable
looking son Of Escuapius smiled under ancient
spectacles and winked persistenty at all around
him. Smokers are attracted together by feeling
that cannot be expressed by any lover OF the weed
nor yet understood by any who loathe Its fragrant
flavor And so, being smoker, marked out q
burning light in the cloud OF faces and after
much worrying OF my coat tails was showed against
the President His cigar was very good or the trip
was very slow. The Presidential mind was still. A
calm prevailed under the Presidents hat.
The eye of the red-headed fellow in spectaces was
ever on Grant and the effect was BAD.
"why on earrn," said, alter greeting the Presi-
dent "do you allow those people to bother you +?
Why not tell them to 60 aways"
"Why should p, said the President in reply. 81
how initial Ivan Thau
are citizens, and have q right to speak to the per-
son who happens be the first citizen OF the States
II they please. No, like to them. l don't know
how they regard me- OF course, but they are pa
trotc enough to be respectful to the Chier Magls-
trate OF their country"
"IIave you ever remarked Mr. President''-
"Excuse me look at that old man there In the
crowd. Know who he isY"
Sew men have their business expressed on their
backs, Mr.. President; don't know him."
.FINE Old FELLOW THAT
He used to backen my boots when was a cadet.
He knows everybody around here"
"Suppose we get him to black our boots, Mr.
President. want to see friend Of the President
shine"
ssThank you. Wait until we get to West Point"
she has rather an Indian face has he not ~
"les he is a peculiar man; but there are few
Indians as shrewd as he"
IL hope he is not an Apache. 1t would not be
pleasant to meet an infuriated redskn thrstng for
the blood OF his Great Father"
sSee his hand placed over the small of his
back -
"He IS scratching. Mr. President or feeling for a
bowie knife that he has not got. Nhat is the
matter"
The President pulled smoke vigorously and hung
on to the stanchion, while went forward to see the
row.
Italy and Ireland were in conflict on the forward
deck. An Italian gentleman with an instrument OF
many tunes was hammerIng on six flexible keys.
gentleman from Ireland, with splendid brOgue
and excitape temperament, was vainly trying to
urge quicker measure
"The divil scatther ye," said the irate Hbernian.
"what lie ye manes How kin man dance to that
Be jabers tits the meanchoiest tune ever heard
Hang yer dirty Italian sowl. give us the Harp OF
Erin,' or something that can dance tor
"Fine, be gor p exclaimed the risky Hibernian
as the Italian squeezed from his folded bagpipes
weak imitation Of the Limerick Races" "Be jabers.
wish the President wor here; It's meself wud like
to show IN the facility OF me foot"
The President laughed heartily, and remarked to
me that the funny Hibernian was risky.
ayes" l said; "but he Is not dangerous. That
man Is not bent on mischief; he wants fun and run
he'll have. You do not understand the race to
which that man belongs Mr.. President, and you
ought TO. They are
GRIEF-sTRIcxEN NATION;
but give them chance to laugh and they viii laugh
louder than all others. They are funny, and could
joke you into the White House for second term II
they liked"
'See,n said the President, hastily, chow beauti-
fully the shadows fall down toward the shore from
those high blufrs The scenery Is magnificent.
never saw the Hudson look more beautiful"
"Have you ever been on the ST. LawrenceS"
asked. "The scenery there Is magnificent
al have travelled from Montreal up the river, but