The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-06-17

rs could be compared, and eventually
that wise judgments should be arrived at
from all sources Of information. General
Badeau is writing work on the war
which it is well understood is directly I'M
der the personal supervision of General
Grant, and which will be practically
record Of his participation in the war.
Some Of the most distinguished men Of
the country have been for years urging
the necessity Of written accounts OF the
history Of the war, with full data, IN
dexes and dates, from those who were the
principal actors in the dreadful drama,
and have been asked for such material
constantly. It has proved to be pleas.
ure with me, but it was in reality urged
upon me as duty, which it would have
been culpable to ignore.
I have pressed upon Congress the neces-
sity Of
PUBLISHING THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE
WAR
for years past; without it the historians
of the country will not be furnished the
necessary material for their important
work, but will have to engage in the al
most endless task of collating it for them
selves. Surely the nation owes this much
to its history, and it was with the view
of adding my quota Of knowledge, COM
piled in as detailed and complete a way
as could frame it, that the book was
produced.
R. The policy Of publishing the work
in your lifetime has been questioned by
numbers.
Gen. S. Oh, as to that it makes but
little difference, if any good end has been
served. The memoirs were all written
at least four years ago, and | had them
sealed up, and did not intend that they
should be published until after my death.
But was prevailed on to allow their pub
licatlon now, and think good purpose
has been served by it in afording histo-
rians certain amount of material which
might have been delayed until after they
themselves had passed away, and by slim
ulating others to contribute to the com.
mon knowledge upon the subject. The
time has come when the history of the
war period must be Incorporated into the
national history. Bancroft has already
written several volumes OF his history Of
the United States, and he lately came
home from Berlin expressly to gather ma
terials for another volume. It was at hi!
urgent, personal solicitation, combined
with that Of the historian, DR. John Ora
per, Of New York, that | allowed tn,
memoirs to see the light.
r. The work is having very large sale
general!
Gen. S. Yes. am, of course, grati6et
by that, as by the terms upon which thu
book was placed in the hands Of the pub
lishers,a certain proportion of the revenu
from it goes to my family. 1t belong
entirely to the children; is secured t.
them, and / have nothing further to d.
with it.
R. Politics are likely to be lively mex
year, general!
Gen. S. Yes. It is highly importan
for the interests of the country that W
should have an able man for presiden
next year.
R. What do you think about the thir,
term proposition!
Gen. S. Gen. Grant doesn't want j,
sir. He might like to see some of hi
friends elected to the Office, but he doesn
want it himself.
r. Who is it that you think he woul
like to see elected.
Gen. S. Possibly Elihu Washburns
but of course it is all surmise. Only on
thing is certain, and that is that it i
vitality necessary that it should be ma
of ability.
r. Vice-Prcsident Wilson is maxim
himself qaite active, travelling about an
making speeches, and q good many peopl
think he is making an effort for the non
nation.
Gen. S. Wilson is very able mar
and very good man, and has certainl
earned the right to indulge in ambition
he chooses to do so. Still, don't thin
anything should be inferred from b
travelling about and speech-making. q
has been in poor health, and travelling d
verts and instructs him at the same tim
r. People were surprised to hear I
your making = speech At convention I
Columbus, Ohio, the other day, genera
,; They were afraid it might be = polite
.. speech.
Gen. S. There WAS nothing of . poll
lical character about the speech. N
; smilingl they needn't bother themselv'
about me.