The true northerner., 1872-09-20

by hev. u. n. RANKIN, the able ana cio'
quent pastor of the Congregational
Church. Washington, ID. G. Mr.. Ran.
kin is SO well known throughout the
country that his estimate of General
Grants private character must be val
liable addition to the many good things
that have been said about the Presidents
personal qualities, When the present
bitter contest is over, and the venom OF
the politician shall give place to the
honest judgment of the man, the review
of General Grants life will prompt the
impartial verdict that his official and
private character was above reproach
81 am satisfied with General Grant
as President. Though not a politician,
| think | can see that he has more than
fulfilled all his pledges that he has
shown himself friend of peace. domes-
tic and foreign, of reform in the civil
service, and of economy. AS citizen
l thank him for it. He has not seemed
to me to be politician, but straight.
forward, simple minded, sensible man,
doing the best in his power for his
country.
But 1 want to speak of him in this
article as a man-as resident of Wash
ington, a citizen of the country of which
he is President. A public man has two
lives one IN the eye of the public, one
viewed with reference to great public
questions and another in the retire
ment of domestic and social circles
And it is of this last that | would speak.
want to thank President Grant for his
open and openly expressed interest in
religious things. He believes i'll the
Bible, and the Saviour, and the Chris
tan religion. He loves and honors such
men as General Howard
During the recent investigation in
Stigated by Fernando Wood and others,
some one said at the dinner table in the
White House But what if they prove
the charges Z" The President replied ::
"Pll not believe them if witnesses can
be found to swear to them. Men may
be mistaken may perjure themselves !;
but know General Howard. lie is 4
man incapable of doing what he thinks
GO be wrong" One of the few instances
when he has departed from his usual
silence on public occasions was to say to
the young men in convention here last
year: l believe you to be honest men,
convened here for worthy purpose. -
And one Of the most remarkable illus
trations Of how, TO some minds, even the
nations Chief Executive belongs to a
party, was the objection privately made
at the close of this meeting to giving
three cheers for the President, even
though the compliment had just been
paid to Queen Victoria
President Grant has had a pastor and
pew III the sanctuary, and is a faithful
hearer of the Word Of Life And
know that to bis pastor he gave thi.
reason for not nominating a promnent
sporting editor, strongly y urged upon him
20 certain foreign position: " | conio
not 50 o6eDd the christian sentiment "
&{S conaay' The selection Of sucl
men aS George IL. Stuart and Felix
Eruuot Tor the Indian Commission i
another Illustration Of the same iegarJ
for Christina people. As christian
minister, and in the name of Christian
men and women all over the country,
thank him for it
President Grant too, is domestic
man. He loves his family, and loves t,
be with them bad occasion to asl
him to be present at peace meetin.
lately held in this city. His reply was
" 'unday morning or evening? SUNDAY
evening | always want to spend will
my family. Still, will be there if
can" The same thing was illustrated
in New York. in his declining miltar,
demonstration in his honor, that he nigh
see his daughter on board the steame
for Europe.
lie Is not a teetotaler; but he is
very moderate eater and drinker. III
has no habit of drinking to which he i
slave. One who has access to him a
all times, and who has seen him on al
occasions, in Washington and at Lon.
Branch, assures me of this And it onl,
corroborates the result of my own OBJ
servation Of the man. He is man
who, more than most men, is an illustra
tion of the words of the Apostle James
" If a man offend not in word, the sam
ID able also to bride the whole body.
A man who can put the curb upon hi
tongue as President Grant has done j
not likely to be a slave TO any habit O
eating or drinking. | am quite sure
TOO, that the Vice President, who is
tee,otaler and an eloquent advocate q
that principle, has expressed similar con
iidence in the Presidents self-goverr
ment and power to govern himself.
A friend lately wrote me from Vel
mont, inquiring whether the curren
stories that political enemies are circu
lating respecting President Grants socia
habits have any foundation. So far a
/ can observe, so far'as | can learn fror
men, themselves teetotalers, who hav
frequent access to hin. there is not on