The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-23

| olaut Is oellnltely one tnlng or very indeti-
nitely another? Ghe inurbanity of this
home-thrust slightly disconnected our Be-
hemian.) ur
Boh.-Why, sir, strictly speaking, it is
no business Of mine to know what you do
or do not think Of General Grant; but then.
you see, am a supernumerary repor-
ter OF the Richmond press, and as inter-
viewing distinguished characters like your
self, when successfully done, is considered
a highly artistic performance, have come
| to be your interlocutor and write down
what you may have 10 say of General
Grant, of the Republican party, of the
next governor of Virginia, and, most impor.
tant of all, of yourself. The printing Of
it will be a big feather in your cap.
Prof.-The idea permeates ME, sir; or,
Imay say, the idea impinges upon me favor
ably. l take Proceed. 1 am all ears.
Boh.-We ell !; first, about General Grant.
What is your opinion of him? rae....
Prof. can't say that have any opin-
ion of him. only know that he has a
great opinion Of me- As IT.
Bob. How do yon know that, Pro-
lessor? 4 II Z III < e 4 % "a -7v
Prof. sir, no longer ago than
yesterday a confidential clerk of the war
department (Nlr. @. John Smith, esq.,
called on me to see my .'cracl" company
of Zouayes drll--to see them ''eyolute,O
as he expressed it; and he told me that
the President had great opinion of me;
that he 1.-THE President had especially de-
puted him (N1r. @. John Smith, esq., to
visit my famous military school, and see
the boys go through their evolution
ary movements. More than this,
he confidentially assured me that
the President designed to- appoint
six cadets to West Point from among
my boys this fall, with not less than
dozen s'middies" to Annapolis. He
moreover said, that he had been on rather
sleeveless errand TO Raleigh, and that if l
would lend him dollar he would pocket
the affront and return the same by postal
card when he reached Washington. Where
upon solitary greenback and myself vol
unfairly parted company. 7-'tEEi aaf ~
Boh.-You were generous to fault; but
why don't the President do better than
this appoint you professor to both those
institutions? Er. rs-.s y.
Prof.--That's what can't allow him to
do. II would detract from his high opinion
of me were ! to accept an Office. Everybody
would say that my opinion of Grant de-
pended on prog and belly-timber. I'm not
moon-calf enough for that. 1t is better to
lie fallow, or rot out like marmot.
Boh.-Do you consider Grant a great
man? ~ 49, sat III p,
! Prof.-Decidedly so. 1t takes greltnt IS
to discover greatness. | found out Grant
was great when first came in contact with
him, or rather with his confidential clerk of
a L 4 Ma ~. Tnhp S,,,;tb
esq; and he found out that was great in
the same way. 1t was a mutual recogni-
ton of greatness, sir. Grant is the great
est man in America. But one other APP
proximates him, and he is a modest man !
Boh.--I understand you have great in
tluence with the President, and that you
have only to ask for an appointment toll get
it. rltra-5,s M af.--,,s.,
4 Prof. -On that point. sir, / should pre-
fer to bereticent. Itis,not a subject on
which to wag ones tongue. "a 3d.
Boh.--But didn't you recommend the
removal Of one colored inspector of Amer
lean pump-handles, and the appointment of
another? And didn't the President do as
you requested .s ~s
Prof.-That question is irrelevant, exy
traneous, and impertinent to the fifteenth
amendment bulwark, stockade, bas-
ton, and portcullis of our liberties.
Boh,--How so ? esg5g,fs. -,,-5.s.--
Prot. The fifteenth amendment makes
it unconstitutional, obnoxious, and totally
extraneous, to distinguish on. account of
color. You said ''colored Inspector"
drop the obnoxious expletiye, and I'll an
.swer. 3 d ,t--E % ggb 80 III 70 -
Boh.-We'll consider it dropped, then.
Did you make such recommendation, and
did the Presidentso act !? -51sg
Prof. II did, sir; he did, sir.
"a Bob. How may appointments have you
secured for your friends in this way? e.
/ Prof. ones, sir /; but pru-
dence suggests that | should not name
them. y 5,., Izr5e %, T., q.
Boh.-All good ones? Tt,fIgg ~.
Prof.;-That's not my lookout, but
Grants. Tgo for those that do the need
full for me who strike balance, quit
scores. and square up when their appoint
ments are made. Business is business,
sir and it is the acme Of political astRte-
ness to make business pay. Ben Butler
is man after my fashion of man. He
don't sneak into a-moasehole the moment
he is caught nibbling cheese; but says:
ssWho's afraid of puss-m-boatsP lain't."
Brave Ben; he ID my style, , "a a
Boh.-But who's your candidate for
governor aT95Ec,9 y1ll g lE9aG % rg55.r.
- Prof.-nrhe man who refuses to 60 galli-
wanting around, billing and cooing for
nomination. bnt who kicks over platforms
and elects himself | know of but two
men in the state bred to back-bnne enough
to do this the one is a white man, and the
otber-Well. Pm too modest to mention