The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-01-04

GEN. GRANTS ARILITY.=Take the opinion
men who are about him. George s. Boutwell,,
Secretary of the Treasury, says that Gen. Grant
is a man greatly underestimated by many. He
has stated several times that, in Cabinet, the
President almost always leads, that he has dis
tinct IDEAS and valuable ones, ON all the multi
farious topics of Importance which come under
consideration, and that instead of being 81
lent or in any way stupid man, he is ready,
quick and almost always well and even min-
utely informed. Gov Boutwell, is not regarded
as at all enthusiastic, yet even he warns when
speaking of the President, Secretary Robson,
very shrewd and keen-slghted man OF affairs,
declares that Grant is the leader of his Cabinet
on all important topics. In the main he has
taken the initiative ON all the principal features
of his administration. Mr.. Robeson's praise is
reaffirmed by others. George William Curtis
has several times expressed surprise at NOT only
the comprehension of the civil service question
shown by the President, but his very complete
mastery of its details. When Mr.. Curtis first
came, he doubtless expected he would have
both to convert and instruct the Executive. OF
course that gentleman has never said this, but
he stated he was very much gratified, as well as
astonished, to find Gen. Grant very well posted
not only on our own, but the civil service sys-
tenn of other countries. Other gentlemen
whom l know, well informed on distinct topics,
have at times expressed in my hearing surprise
to find the President so well informed on their
peculiar speciality The matter of Ku Klux
outrages, and legislation thereon, is another of
these examples. Senator Scott or Representa-
tive Stevenson, the two members of the inYes-
tigating committee who may be deemed most
thoroughly informed thereon, have said, over
and over again, that the President understands
the subject better than they do. Senator Ssott
stated last fall that he was the best informed
man in the country on the matter. l could GO
on and spin this letter out with cppnuFri4g tes-
timony, but forbear. l know what will be said
that there must be something lacking when
the President requires to be systematically
shown to be regarded as a man of large intel
lectual ability. l admit the force of the sug-
gestion, but demur to the natural deduction, on
the ground that it has been rendered necessary
by reason of the systematic undertaking of hin,
which has been SO marked a feature in our poll
tics for the past two years. No man has been
more thoroughly set upon" or designedly
over-shadowed by the weight and agis of prom
inent personalities than has the President.
Washington Letter to Worcester Spy.
Mrs. WIRr SKIES, or-as she still chooses to
be known in professional life-QliYe Logan, is
out with card, disolaiming all sympathy with
the ultra progressionists of the age in regard
to marriage" The somewhat impolite hints
that have been thrown out in certain quarters
regarding her recent marriage are repealed with
no little vigor by the lady. The ceremony was
not Concession" as some said; it was a
''free-will offering Of love to and confidence in
each other, and a practical protest against q
growing license of opinion regarding the Chris
tian institution of wedlock." As for the "mon-
strous doctrines that are now held and pro-
mulgated by some of her former friends and CO.
adjutors, she is utterly opposed to them. When
she made her speech at Steinway Hall before
the Women's Convention in 1869, she did not
dream that she was speaking in behalf of a
WI oh vD11l1 ha 1olf h,r
heresies of later days. At that time she urged
her hearers to wage no war on the household
gods, and this is her position still. She still
thinks happy home the best thing there is
on earth, and believes that the old-fashioned
marriage is the only proper basis of it.