The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-12-14

WHERE Is GENERAL SHERIDAN
There are rude Doors occupying the
places Of news-gatherers employed by
metropolitan newspapers. Their chief
excellence consists in boundless impu-
dence. They thrust themselves into
the midst Of gentlemen and demand a
bearing because they are Of the press.
We see such impudence manifested by
such representatives of newspapers
even here in Texas, and that Chicago
should have them Is q moral necessity.
There are two hundred "reporters
employed there by the press, and not
few are paid by the job. $50 much for
so much" If at night they bring in
sensation, involving, commonly, q di-
vorce a mensa ct Moro, their reward is
measured by the avidity with which
depraved public taste will welcome it.
1t happens that Sheridan's movements,
just now, are watched with not little
interest. II Grant contemplate the
coup detdt devised by Caleb Cushing,
who writes Grants messages, Sheridan
must be prominent actor in the
drama to be presented on the fifth of
March, or earlier, if the Democratic
House become recalcitrsnt, defy the
Senate and undertake to execute pow
ers given it by tie Constitution. News
paper people have a suspicion that
Grant would usurp the Office of dicta-
tor. Tllden being elected by million
majority of the sohito people and cheat
ed out of Office by returning board
which Sheridan and his associates pro-
nounced body of scoundrela, it would
be well to know, since the country
suspects Grants purposes, and is cog
nizsnt OF Sheridan's virtues, to
know Just what Little Phil is
doing and thinking about. There is
not an hour in the day, therefore, that
some lynx-eyed reporter is not project
ing his ruddy nose into the apartment
at Chicago commonly occupied by Gen.
Sheridan. The questions are general
ly propounded by these ragged report
ers to Brig. Gen. r. C. Drum. He is
always there, and the boys know him.
lie is cminently polite and of infinite
patience, but when this last virtue Is
exhausted there is supply of passion
and rage that overwhelms everybody
and spares nothing. They do say that
Drum, on suitable occasion, can out
swear the whole army. From his faith
er, who fell leading a storming party
at Molino del Rey in 1s46, and whose
monument, reared By the government,
crowns height at West Point, he in
herlted degree of vigor Of words and
character which, when brought into
action, Is we'll calculated to amaze
seedy, inquisitive Chicago reporter.
Sheridan, it seems, was not at head
quarters. His absence was protracted.
One reporter after another appeared.
They kept coming, and without cessa
ton piled Gen. Drum with questions.
The process of bring "Interyiewed !" is
not always agreeable to gentlemen, and
Gen. Drums stock of patience was
finally exhausted. He told the inquisi-
tive suction-pump to 60 to a coun-
try in which such machines are lit
used; but Drum ordered him
thither, and in such fierce tones
that Col. Fred Grant, coming
in, heard the consolatory remarks
of the General. and Fred, inhe.iting
from his father and deriving from his
profession an aversi on to newspapers,
proceeded to damn the luckless repor-
ter who was, as he now swears in open
court, kicked down stairs by young
Grant. The reporter did not show
fight He is 9 man Of pessssea.~They
employ godly men, we imagine, in the
Times aud other decent, proper Chica-
20 newspapers, and he went before a |
Chicago squire and, to the amazement |
Of this creature of the law, swors, not to |
petition for divorce, but that Fred |
Grant had done him great bodily |
damage. Fred was made to dance at
tendance before the judge, give bond |
and here the matter rests.
Nobody blames Gen. Drum. If he
kept battery of GatlIng guns and had
destroyed an army of reporters who at
tackled HIM from morning till night,
and pursued him to his bed chamber
after each fight in the Black Hills, no.
body would have objected, but what
induced Fred Grant to volunteer in this
conflict There's the rub. Was the |
Presidents son intoxicated Or does |
he inherit from the ''old man" an
aversion to the press : Perhaps Fred |
is sort of Don Quixote. Very GER
tain.y IL he were looking for a wind
mill he found its handle to kick Of,
aud from the earnestness of the as
ssoit the doughty hero knew that he
had struck oil. But Chicago Is all
agog about it, and even yet nobody
knows what has become Of Phil Sheri-
dan. Il he closeted with the Presi-
dent aa