The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-17
GRANT AND BRIsTOW.
What Boss Grant IL said to Have said
About IL.

From ne Chicago Times.
WASIINOTON, Feb. 13.-In conversation
with trusted friend, President Grant, in re-
Spouse TO direct inquiry, said that his relations
with bristow had been aud were Of cordial and
ground to interrupt this condition OF things.
~ appointed MIR. Drlstow," said Grant, " be-
because | believed him most worthy for the
place. have seen no reason since hts Appoint-
ment TO change my mind He held Mr. Drstow
TO DO an efficient, energetic. painstaking officer,
and an honorable man. There would never have
been shadow Of Misunderstanding between
them, though he was frank to confess that he
had been Informed by some OF his (Grant's)
friends that Mr.. Bristow was pushing the case
against babcock maliciously, and In order to de-
grade the President and his family. This"
said Grant, ." have never believed. Had be-
levcd 1t Mr.. Dristow could not stay In the Cabi-
net day" The President said, however, that
at recent session Of tho Cabinet, a CONVEX.
eation came about naturally between Mr.. Bris-
standing that there might have been previously
and made II quite proper Tor the Secretary to
alude TO some efforts at discriminating and
felt free to own to MIR. Brstow that such repro.
sensations had been made to him by some
friends that he had looked on with trust and
respect that these friends had assured the
President that Bristows efforts against Gen.
Bahcock were incted by malcyolent feeling
toward the President and the Presidents
friends, and that the conduct OF the whiskev
cases had been carried on only for the annoy
arce q the President and his strongest sup
porters " INC Sc concentrations had been made
e. me- said the President, " from n great many
sources entitled to respect. / have assured
them all along that thew were mistaken" The
Secretary said to tho President that they were
not true friends who attempted to make him
believe such stories; that he had fulfilled hs
duties Ia the prosecution OF the whiskey cases
with but one purpose that every step in that
business had been made known to tho Presi-
dent himself; that no sinister motive moved
him or any Of his suourdinates, So far as he
knew. At this point In the conversation MIR.
liristow became very earnest, and assured ths
PTcsidentthat II there had been any such pur-
! ose on bis part he would have resigned his
place ana Quilted the Cabinet; that so far ms
his own action IN tho whiskey cases was CON
paving but Hale attention 70 special details He
had gwen his subordinates orders to push the
cases, and had specially charged them with tho
execution Of tho Presidents order that no
guilty man should escape. In the prosecution
of cases. Gen. Dyer and other attorneys had
made reports to HIM. but he had no knowledge
before the indictment Of Bah sock that such a
tnn- was likely to happen. lie had not pushed
that matter nor had he impeded n. lie had
simply fulfilled bis duties an o1lcer Of tho
Govelnment. and under has oath Of Office. Iuis
the President ussentcd to, saying that he be-
lieved this thoroughly; that DO had selected and
appointed Mr.. Bristow as one Of his councillors,
and Was bound to take his advice before that Of
9 ,,ayy o'neT ISrs9gn g. perso95 and that be b9d
friends, who claimed hat Nh Dristow was work.
ing a-aias. The IJesdeut personally and against
some Of his h6st filends In the Republican party.
The Prcsiden, was free 10 own that he had been
some lime almost shaaeu 10 h IS convictions, but
that he would permit no man to he driven forth
UNI, sqdarely convicted. Those friends VINO
had charged this line Of conduct on MIR. liristow
had not given evidence Of 1t. These are the
M lh points Of the conversation, which was car
RED ON for soWc time, N President and Bris
tow sh king hands cordially when It ended.
The President, both IN the original conversa-
ton wi Hri-tow and the repetition Of It, was
free 10 own that II liristow WIS the man his
Hlends would strive 10 make him believe, he
wls gir l'N deceived ~ human nature; oui that
worthy OBJECT. he should not hesitate a moment
In dl-misslng him from the CABINET.