The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-08-29
A CoLORED MAN INTERVIEWS THE PRESDEy
A Few Words About the Race Between Helm
bold and Longfellow-The Cause Of
Longfellow's Defeat. I;

end enjoying few minutes Of very entertaining
and instructive conversation. We will have 10 pu
1t in the form Of an interview, we SUPPOSED
REPoRTER-Ah Colonel, You are blooming upol
US again. When did you get back from all the plea
SAINT places aDr0adi
CoLoNEL--Ths morning, sir.
REPORrER-Did you the great race IN which
Helmpoid beat LongieowS
CoLoNEL-Yes, did. SIT.
REPoRTER--The result OF the race was rather q
SURPRISE was 1t not?
CoLoNEL-No; thought Helmbold would bead
him.
REPoRrER-did you bet that ways
CoLoSEL-No, did nor. did not bet at all.
Harper about II. Said l, MIR Harper, now long has
that lump been coming ~ and he said ever
been nnamed, and ne said no. IL had not; and SO
thought maybe he could stand It, as the race was
only dash. But lie couldn't sir. lie broke down
on the third mile Helmoold would have beaten
him any now
REroRTgR-why, Helmbold must be a greas
horse.
CoLoNEL-No, he is not sir. He is good seconds
rate Nc could mot beat heat t class ISIS st
on HIM. Leaving OH the lump on his leg he was
REpoRTER-were you at Long Branchs
CDLoNEL-Oh, yes was there in July, and had
n n a yeSsr with ha the President talked w
=, INSTRUMENTATION did you happen TO get to SEQ
CoLoNEL-Oh, sir, had letters from Congress-
men Perry and Stevenson and Senator Sherman and U
others. and Just took carriage with livery and
drove up and saw the President ut his cottage.
KEroRrER-Nce placer
COLONEL very nice place, and simple too.
President receive you without. having mad previ-t
Gus application nader n
COLoNEL-No, sir, I had no appointment. Thaf
President Is one OF the most modest men ever sawf
and say to you that If ever saw an honest mani
he Is one. II had Deen sent out FOR month I'd
hunt up an honest man l would have picked hlni
out for the man wanted, on sight, would lndeeds
iiEPoRTER-Was he smokingp
CoLoNEL-No, he had not a cigar while was Wits
hun.
REpoRrER-Dld he talk horse9
C0LoNEL-No. l wanted him to talk horse, but
talKatiye mat let hm make the running as we say
l would rather have liked TO talk horse him, for
have good horse head on me, ana was up on tnar
subject And said TO him:-''I saw you driving al
line PAIR OF bay horses, Mr.. President, ana neaT
you have some very good stOck.' And lie said yes,
he mad norses he very fond Of. put na
went of that subject right away, and to talKina
about England where had been ana OF which d
had spoken to him.
REPoRTEe-Did he know you were a coored man
Some folks don't see that, you know. 1
COLONEL-Ah had not been talking to HIM but al
minute when told HIM. "Mr. President, do nod
know whether you have observed It, but think IL
proper TO say 10 you that am cOl0red man, and I
would rather you would not misunderstood tnap
TACT" "Are you, indeeds'' said he and he looked
more interested and said he, 81 should not havet
noticed tuat" ana he turned his chair around lits
tie closer 10 me, making me like MN better than
REpoRrER-You talked to him an hour, and no.
thing ABOUT horseG ANYTHING about Ohio polircsa }
Cincinnati CODlsaercio. The President asked me II
knew the editor OF the Commercial, and told hn3
man he too and an aole editor. And the Presi-
dent said he 'seems TO be abusing me all the tlmed
ana am sure do not know what IS the matter
He abuses me much have quit reading his pa{
per- once saw good deal OF It, ''Oh," said tdS
much except about your appointing your relatives
TO olce. believe that seems to be the most OF N.'S
pointed so many relatives. AS for his father, Andy
Johnson appointed HIM, and he had not turned
Iroiners.inlaw, too. rnen he said the papers had
given him at least dozen cousins and brOthers.tn-
him to say he had appointed TWO or three personS
upon recommendations that he afterwards foun6
lie went over quite list OF persons said to be ha
relatives that he knew nothing about. AS for GenS
brothers-in-law, and Dent was an officer IN the
United States army. He had not appointed HIM To
AND then said to him. "Indeed. Mr.. President. Il
think II highly credtable to you II you do appOlnu
ALLEGED TO be your relatives" said l. that have
heard OF dong anything dishonest. Then 'he Good,
Book. you know, tells Us that he who does not prof.
fdel."
REGENERATION put IL to him there, didn't your
What did HIS Exceency say TO thatS
CoL0NEI-Oh, lie only laughed about that.
KEPoRrER-Did IL seem 10 put hun In good
COLoNEL-He was in good humor all the tme-s
He mentioned, In talking, quite number Of hiJ
COUSINS, br0thersin-iaw and wifes relatives that
have been talked about, and told about them, and
how they came to be appointed. disremember the
particulars. l thought when ne was talking and
telling about them that would like to be able to
keep all that straight, and sort OF thought OF my
lead pencil, but then 1t would have been nothing bug
impudence to take tnat out, and could not think Of
doing an impudent tnng In tue presence oil the Pre-
sident who was treating me so kindly and cieverly
ana gentemanly. He sat there sir, talking as pleas
anty-lust as pleasantly as you talk yourself SIR.
declare | never was so surprised as to see him
so communicative had heard SO much
al,o his smoking all the Tine time and nos
time, and did not smoke bit. You may depend
upon It, sir, he is not man who Will ever do any
do Tor his country aud ne viii do it. Now / have
seen HIM, l know that There are two things
men, know, now that have seen the president,c
that he Is an honest man and modest man.
REPORTER-Does he seem to be IN good health ?-t
look as If he were smoking himself to death or any
th1ngs
sir. lie was about gong out riding when was
there The servant came and told him the carriage
was waiting and he said 'PresentIy," aud kept
right talking to me. And his wife came IN and
she satd, Dear are you not going out riding" anG
taking to me; and then his little boy came 10, and
climbed upon the Presidents knee, and put his arms
aona ms apns ana he y mot
son." and Kept right on ialsing to me,
REronTER0Wny dia You not talk ohio poloticsr
letter from his friend General Force. who had IN
formed MIN that It had been pretty generally
Noyes And SAID the President there was nothing
OF that for OF course, said me- would not interfere
want the Office. Now, Ben Wade was a good friend
OF MS, but even II he wanted the Office II would NOT
do for him to interfere Tor him. He had not the pleas
sure, he said, OF knowing, personally, GeneraS
Moves, but he thought, surely, the gubernatoriaL
office OF OHIO would not be too much honor for o.
soldier ike NOyes, who had, as he understoods
lost a leg In the service las 10 the Office OF
Governor OF Oho,u said the President, al reckon
1t is good deal Ike my othce; n don,E
pay" The salary OF the President he said~
for instance did not pay expenses. He would,l
If left TO himself, great deal rather nave
Kept his lie Office OF General OF the Armys
and, said the Colonel, that IL true too, sir. havG
no doubt Tor the President Is one OF the most modest
men that have ever seen. He sits aud casts doWn
his eyes and talks as quietly "a any man IN inc
world, and as pleasantly, too-he does indeed.
kEPoRTER-Well how did you get awayf
raaiH~ Ifrof nfrnid