The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-11-22
Ulysses s. Grant-WhO and What Is He

Under this heading the New York sun has
biographical sketch Of President Grant, which i
rich and racy. 1t will well repay perusal. Rea,
it. The reader will bear in mind that this il
taken from the paper whose chief editor is Chas
A. Dana, Assistant Secretary Of War under Pre-
sident Lincoln, who no doubt wrote the article
Gen. Grant may, without much doubt, now bt
looked upon as politically dead; and it is proper
and appropriate to comment upon his histor,
and character as Of'One who has passed away moi
praislng unduly nor censuring inconsiderately
| but fairly, impartially, and justly
| Grant was born in Ohio. His father was tan
ner by trade. and rather an uncommon man. He
possessed by nature something of the poetic gift
and bright imagination. His opportunities OF
culture were extremely limited. Had he enioved
| the advantages of good education we think be
would have distinguished him-elf. His natural
endOwments were superior to his SONS.
Young Grant, when a boy, manifested gool
deal of fOndness for horses. We look upon this
| as the most favorable indication of character
| which his youth afforded. He taught horse
named Dave how to pace, and excelled 'other
lads as rider.
when his father called him one day to discuss
the question what he should be, and to deter
mine his future destiny, and told HIM that he
could be educated at West Point at the public
expense, young Grant promptly responded 8.
should like that" "The idea" said his father.
in tlating the incident, seemed to please him. y
The name bestowed upon Young Grant by his
parents was Hiram Ulysses. But when he en-
tered West Point the member Of Congress who
appointed him, by mistake, registered mis- name
as Ulysses s., under the delusion that his name
was Ulysses simpson, and this name he has
BILE him to change his name again at the close Of
his term Of Office, it might be regarded as re-
newal of the remarkable good which luck for a
long time seemed to attend him.
At West Point Grant did fairly, though below
the average As he himself once said. out of a
class of thirty eight he stood fifty-second in
French. But like the late George Vanderbilt, he
excelled all in Workmanship.
In the Mexican war he distinguished himself
somewhat by personal bravery.
After that he ran pretty steadily down HILL He
resigned from the army because Of his habits
while in California, and tn, roamed about and
~as unsuccessful, and got pretty tho oughv
broken down. At one time he kept sort of real
estate office, in partne rship with another man,
in st. Louis. He had farm near st Louis. and
used to haul cord wood to market; but the water
of the city did not agree with him, and it is re-
ported that it frequently made him so sick that
he would lie down by the roadside on his way
home. This water, besides being unwholesome,
was very expensive, SO much that it is said fire.
quentiy to have consumed the whole proceeds of
his load Of wood and he often returned home.
not OF ly with his shoe leather worn by the travel
but without any money in his pocket.
SONIC DuU uOt lOuX C6IOE0 the war DfOko
out, Grant engaged o. clerk or salesman in the
leather store Of his brother at Galena. Illinois
When hOstilitles commenced he volunteered for
the war. We think he was actuate d by patriotic
motives, and look upon this offer Of his services
to the country one Of the noblest acts Of his |
life
During the war Grant received more support |
from the Government than was accorded to any |
other officer. Ne other Nan had so good chance |
1t so happened that this war did not develop |
N rkohl ,torv a.
history OF the world, was there = more glorious |
of patrio ism than by the volunteer
ing OF the masses Of the people, and We had |
plenty Of good, faithful officers but from the be-
ginning to the close of the war, no such prodigy
in military affairs as Napoleon Bonaparte arose |
Toward the close it came to be rrute contest
Of physical forces, uns lded by any wonderful Ca
pacity 10 command. Under these circumstances |
what was required was a man who could codly |
md determlnedly sacrifice human life. This |
Grant could do, and he became the leader of all |
our armies. What was required was the stolidity |
IF butcher and the tenacity Of bull terrier |
The least intellectual of the canine race. These
Grant possessed. Northern blood was to be |
xeg hed aeainst Southern blood. He had the
,oolness and nerve to pour out Northern blood
nto the scale until its weight preponderated
against the blood shed by the South, and In this
way the final victory was won.
After the close OF the war dispute arose be-
ween Gen. Grant and Andrew Johnson, then
President Of the United States, which closed
With the funeral Of one mans veracity, and it
vas not that of Mr.. johnson.
A generous people, grateful to the man who,
he had split the blood of their sons and BROTH
RS freely, and sometimes perhaps recklessly and
had. at all events, ultimately con-
luered, elected him President. The first act Of
lis Administration was one than which mono
ince has been more censurable-none cou be
vorse. He selected for the members of his
Jabinet men who had given him costly and valu-
bile gifts. Had he done this secretly, which he
lid openly, and had the secret afterward leaked ]
ut, it would have furnished conclusive ground .
VI his impeachment and removal.
Gen. Grant started out with the novel idea, |
efore unknown in the history of this Republic,
hat the Presidents Cabinet were just like the I