New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-06
The History of an Inerate.

| The History of an Inerate.
| The Washington correspondent of the
New York Graphic, July 30, Gays:
| Bluford Wilson's remarkable statement
before the committee on whisky frauds, on
| Friday last, is still the talk Of tbs town,
| and public opinion condemns il as an exhi-
bitiOn of the basest ingratitude, the most
| fragrant breach of confidence, and the gross
est violation of propriety.
The President remarked to friend YES
terday, that the only point on which Viii
son based his opinion that the President
was in sympathy with the whisky thieves,
was GrantS objection to having many of
the indicted persons given immunity to
convict few. 'Iy is very queer" said
General Grant, "that the Pre- sident OF the
| United STATES can not differ from a subordi.
F! nate in regard to the policy of the govern
ment toward lot of thieves, without hav-
ing that subordinate charge him with being
! consulting with Mr.. Wilson about that mat
ter" continued the President, Il supposed
l was responsible to some extent myself"
| While the President shows no anger
| toward Wilson, it is plain to see that he is
| determined that his administration and his
| own good name shall not be sullied by any
| such statements as Wilson has made He
! says that if Wilson had confined himself to
| what he knew himself. inst ad of drag giug
| in the mere gossip of the hotels and streets,
| he could still retain some respect for him
but the fact is that Wills n has emptied
his memory OF everything he ever knew
| or had ever heard to the prejudice of
| the President.
His dragging in the scandal of the word
"Sylph" Is regarded as utterly inexcusa-
BILE. 1t had no relation to the remainder of
70 at 1nln nv,R
| Associated Press made Wilson say a woman
had blackmailed the President. Every one
else heard him say it differently. Among
| all the crimes and faults and vices and i'm
prOprieties with which General Grants bit
terest enemies have charged him, licen-
tiousness has never been mentioned. He has
never before had it insinuated in any way
whatever that his relation with any woman
had been improper. 1t was left for Buford
Wilson, whom Grant raised from oblivion
to position Of honor, and who has lived on
Grants bounty for seven years, to make the
first mean insinuatiOn before Democratic
committee.
When Grant was elected President Blu
ford Wilson was country lawyer in Sout tn
ern Illinois, earning a scanty subsistence
His brother, General Harry Wilson, who
had been intimate with Giant in the war,
begged for his brother Bluford q public
office. Grant made him district attorney
for Southern Illinois. In 1873 when the
Office of solicitor of the treasury was va.
cant, General Wilson sought it tor his bro
Their, and got it over applicants who had
high claims while Wilson had none what
ever. Ii Grant bad not given him promi.
nent office no one outside of Egypt" to.
day would have known there was such an
uDgracious little hypocrite as Buford Will
son. Thus Grant teels his treacherv all the
M 10 L.
PEELED to choose between Wilson and other
friends, but he has always borne patiently
with Wilson. Early in 1915, before the
whisky raid, General Logan went to
Grant and asked Wilson's removal, Oyles-
by, Farwell, Ward, who was then in Con
gress, and others, cOncurring in the request
Grant refused to remove him. Thus Will
sons spite against Logan, Farwell and
Ward Is accounted for.
1t transpires that Wilson had prepared
his Statement, as one would prepare a lee
ture. He searched through his papers and
racked his memory for everything that was
IN any way prejudicial to Grant and then
wrote down a list of topics which lie carried
into the committee and used as a memorau-
dunn. He was asked only two or three
questions, but his evidence was q
continued statement, every paragraph
OF which was volunteered, and he
associated distinct AID separate incidents
and facts together so that they would ap-
pear IN the very worst light. His state
ment has given no legal information to the |
committee. 1t is all empty gossip, and is |
useful only SO far as it gratites curiosity.
President Grant has signitied his wiling
ness to appear before the committee if they |
wish to hear him. He will not. however,
volunteer to go, but wishes to be summoned
IN the ordinary manner. |
General. Logan will also be given an op- |
pOrtunlty to explain Wilson's allusions TO
him, and will state some circumstances
which will place Wilson in a very disagree |
able position for an honorable man to oc- |
cupy. In order to crafty his petty spite |
toward Logan, Wilson read letter written |
py himself to Brlstow on the third of De. |
Gem Der, 1873, in which be tells Bristow that |
he has heard Logan is lin it," and that bis |
illness was ''sheer fright" AT that time |
General Logan was lying dangerously ill |
with lDf1ammatory 1heumatism-unable to |
turn over In his bed without being lifted bv |
two men. and in 30 serious condition as to |
require unremitting attention. A few days |
alter the date OF that letter Bluford Wilson
called on General Logan and was shown to |
his bedside, where he eat some time condol-
ing with the General and assuring him of |
his ardent sympathy. Wilson insisted upon
being allowed to play nurse, and bathed
the Generals hands and head. Abiding
to paragraph which had appeared in |
the Chicago Times about the date |
Wilson's letter was written to the eff. |
feet that Logan would be implicated in the
frauds, the hypocrlte assured the sufferer |
that the cruel rumor had no foundation
whatever: that in all the evidence they had
obtained duplicating ninety or more men
there was nothing direct or indirect on
on which suspicion against him could be
based. Logan then asked Wilson to con-
tradict the rumor, and he promised to do
so, but never did. It would seem at least
III ally for Wilson to have stated to the com.
mlttee, after reading that letter he wrote to
BIlstow, that he subsequently fouad ont
Logan was not ''in it, and that his illness
Wa not sheer fright"
Wilson has not yet been cross-examined
Mr: Plaisted having .ked only one question
before the adjournment of the coumittee
But he will be vigorously cross examined
aud will be asked to prove some of his
hearsay gossip.
1t is stated here on excellent authority
mat wilson has from time to time since the
y hlsky raid commenced furnished copies of
ail important documents to newspaper
nan mere, who proposes, after the present
to write book DETAILING
me history OF the ring as developed by dis,
closures, from Its inception to the end
II