The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1872-05-08
Grant and Greeley.

u 0Wt oAAV ~ASVs~S
The Washington correspondent OF the
Commercial has the follow
ing:
As to the differences between Grant
and Greeley, they are very easily e.
planned. There are no personal diner
ences between these two gentlemen.
The history of their last interview is
related by them both, and agrees in all
essential particulars. The only diher-
ence was, that Greeley placed the par
ty above him.elf, and Grant thought
if he pleased Greeley personally, that
was all that was necessary. The last
interview between these two gentle
men occurred at the time Of General
Walbridge's funeral, ] believe, in
March, 1871. Walbridge was one OF
Greeley's favorites, and he had recon-
mended him for the Collectorslip for
the port. Some time before the death
of Walbridge, person in confidential
relations. with Grant told Greeley in
New York that the President wanted
to see him for the purpose OF having
talk about New York politics. This
was after the Syracuse Convention, ia
nous in New York politics, and at a
time when the Republican party need
ed most careful and judicious nursing
to keep it from going to pieces. Gree
lev felt the condition of affairs very
deeply, and while he did not conceal
from the public bis opinions that Grant
and his friends had blundered, he yet
was careful that his paper should take
a forbearing course. He did not open
" censure Grant, but he mildly dis
approved of some things which be had
done. When Greeley, therefore, re-
ceived intimations that Grant would
like to see him, he felt that the Presi-
dent had a keen sense Of tho danger
that threatened, and would do his best
to avert it. Walbridge's death occur
red soon afterward, and Greeley and
Murphy and other politicians from
New York came on to attend his flu
neral.
While at the grave, General Horace
Porter went to Mr.. Greeley and said
that the President would be happy to
have Mr. Greeley ride home in his (the
President's) carriage. Mr. Greeley ac-
cepted the invitation, and the two
were driven to the White House. On
the Presidents invitation, Mr. Greeley
entered the White Honse and stayed
to dinner. Greeley all this time was
waiting for the New York politics that
was to be the subject of conversation
It was not mentioned in the carriage
nor previous to dinner, nor at dinner
After dinner Grant struck off on farm
ing. He had heard that Greeley tool
great interest in farming; somebody
had told him he had written book OF
, the subject, and he thought that would
be an interesting topic to the phi'oso
pher. So Grant talked about his ow,
farm near St. Louis, and of Greeley
near Chappaqua; he talked about hi
own fine mares, his blooded stock, ant
of Marshal Browns pups.
| All these things were interesting +
!, Greeley but they would not proven
the Republican party in New Yorl
from splitting to pieces. Greeley want
ed to talk politics. It was manifest
, not his place as the guest of the Presi
dent to force his opinions upon Gran
> and he was with the President fou
+ mortal hours and New York matter
. were not alluded to. He went ave
3 more in SORROW than in anger-he va
/ disappointed and discouraged. II
went down to the Tribune's Washing
r ton Office and tie met Senator Henr
2 Wilson, to whom he related the who
o occurrence, Grant, on his pert, fe
8 very buoyant. He thought he had el
a tertained Greeley very satisfactorily
d that he had paid tribute to Greeley
,. smallest vanity (which is always Il
d biggestl by telling what he knew abo'
q farming, and he was sure he had o
Is cured Greeley for all time. Tom Nh
If ply subsequently went to the Viii
Is House and told Grant all about Ne
d York politics, and that is the way Il
d President got his ideas of New Yo
g politics, by asking Greeley to cor
Ii from New York to talk about farmi1
g and consulting an old Tammany Del
= ocrat and partner of Bill Tweed al
lie Oakley Hall about public affairs. Al
70 Greeley is called disorganizer; Gre
'e ley is called bad Republican, and
es analogy, and indeed by direct decla,
of ton. Grant and Tom Murphy O
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