New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-07
CHAT WITH THE PRESIDENT
be Talks Freely with a Herald
Reporter.
his VIEWS ON THE CAMPAIGN
EHE DEMOCRACY AND THE INDIANS
His Opinion of Tilden, Sitting Bull
and the Temporary NOtables.

paper of the second. The Importance Of
the Presidents views and the freedom wit,
which he pronounced them justify the re
publication of the article in full:
LONG BRANCH, September l, 1876
President Grant has been wonderfully
little interviewed since he entered the
White House. This certainly appears
strange, considering that this national pro-
cess tor extracting both news and views
from great and distinguished men has been
so widely adopted that there is e,a-cely
prominent man in the land who, some time
or other. has not been subject; =, it. The
interviewing proc 's was at first pCoh-
poohed bv the staid and slow newspapers
Of the tffete monarchies Of Europe, but
since the Herald was enabled - enlighten
them with the views of the Ge. nan Ci own
Prince, Prince Bismarck, Don Carlos, the
King of Sweden, Dom Pedro and other
royal and semi-rOyal persOnages by pub
lisning interviews with them, the European
journals have learned its usefulness, and are
gradually adopting it as far a, the e1clu-
The difficulty there, however, is that
European potentate is generally far more
accessible to Herald representative, as an
American, than to q subject Of his own
realm.
To receive the representative of the
Herald at once ia only recognition OF the
great power of the press, which, in this
country, makes and unmakes presidents.
generals, cabinet ministers and senators,
as the mouthpiece of q sovereign people.
The Presidents cottage has been 80 fre-
Quently described that it is unnecessary to
allude to it at any length. 1t is about tif-
teen minutes walk from the West End
Hotel, and is smaller and less pretentiOus
than the cottages that surround it. When
the Herald correspondents coupe drove into
the extensive grounds the Presidents
famous four-in-hand was drawn up before
the entrance. 1t has often been remarked
republics promote radeness. Hspworth
Dixon said that the further east you went
the potter we're the people, the further
west the ruder. There is much truth in
this. At the departments in Washir gton.
where the great shadow of the government
falls over the smallest attendant, the least
important usher feels his dignity and ex-
presses it IN the urbanity and courtesy OF
his manner. This is still more the case at
the White House and at the Presidents
villa at Long Branch. Here the servants
are politeness personitied.
.'Is the President in 7" the correspondent
asked big, shapely, colored usher, all
blazing with brass buttons.
"Yes. SIR" he replied; she is engaged
now, bat will take IN your card He i'm
mediately came out and announced that
Morrill,, but that the latter would presently
leave for New York, and then the Presi-
dent would see your correspondent.
The President had been engaged. both
with Secretary Morrill, and Postmaster
General Tyner, for the last two days, and
it was this which prevented the interview
from taking place sooner. Seated on one
of the large rustic chairs on the porch, it
was pleasant to look at the carefully
the beautiful plants that meet the gaze.
On the porch lay an enormous sea shell, a
most appropriate ornament for seaside
villa.
Presently Mrs. Grant came out, who
bowed politely to your correspondent, anr
after her followed Secretary Morrill,. his
daughter and the President. The Presl-
dent, in an attitude of great gallantry,
which showed how young he feels himself
"a spirit, bowed profoundly as he shook
Miss Morrills hand and keenly regretted
that she could not stay longer at his cot.
tage. She thanked him, evid emily touched
by his courtly bearing, and then Secretary
Morrill, and his daughter drove OFT in the
Presidents four-in-hand. So unassuming
and thoroughly polite was the first lady OF
the land that she would have run down the
portem anteau, which he had evidently tor.
gotten, if the writer had not promptly in
tercepted it. Secretary Morrill, had been in
great anxiety lest his two trunks would be
left behind, but, luckily, the e1 press wagon
arrived at the last moment, and he drove
Oft, he and his daughter waving their cordial
adieus. Miss Morrill, had, few minutes
before, declined the parting glass of wine
which Mrs. Grant had Hospitality offered
her. Scarcely had the equipage and bag
gage wagon disappeared when mall wagon
came rafting along, leaving huge bag OF
letters for the President.
'.Now will see you" said the President,
and he led your correspondent to the back
piazza, which commands beautiful view OF
the glorious sweep of ocean at Long Branch.
There, seated in two large, easy, rustic
chairs, the President and your correspondent
had their cosy chat. But, before TRANSCRIPT
ing the substance OF the con!ersatlon, q
glimpse of tho President and his lady may
be welcome to the reader. To begin with
Mrs. Grant. She looks as young and bright
as she did seven years ago, when the writer
tirst saw her. Her face, which is large and
in harmony with her we'll rounded, luxurious
figure, has an expression of exceeding good
nature, and is decidedly proposing IN its
open. frank lineaments. Mrs. Grants
stature and face both betray the evidences
simple but elegant black silk, which was
highly becoming to her matronly style and
figure. :.
called good looking man. His face is not
regular, it is true, but his appearance has
many features of attraction. His solid,
strong, broad figure, 80 expressive OF sinew
and muscle and backbone; his finely
marked, rugged countenance, with its
- ala 20
red. bright lips. its penetrating, open, blue
eves and rose fresh cheeks-all these form
a decidedly pleasing picture. The Presi-
dent has not oldened in the last seven years
either. His full beard is tinged with gray,
mt far more than his hair. There are many
men of forty who do not look day younger
than the President does now at nfty-1our.
His face and his figure are more those OF q
man in the prime Of his manhood than IN
the decline Of his age. They repei ins'aHsay ~
the frequent charges of diselpation tnat
have been made against the President by
INSCRIPTIONS enemies. A glance at MS
erect, splendid carriage and his ruddy, rug
ged fact shows that he is a man who mas IN
doubtedly enjoyed the pleasures of the ta-
BILE, but who has taken eminently good care
of himself.
The conversation opened with rather
ludicrous blunder, but which was luckily
naiyely began, after the usual social pre-.
1iminaries, by asking what the President
thought Of the present aspect of the Sioux
Tae President evidently did not hear the
word "Sioux," and Immediately plunged
into an exposition of the present aspect of
the political contest. The correspondent,
rather than interrupt him, allowed the mis-
take to 20 uncorrected.
81 think if We carry Indiana 1. IN octooer, sr :.
niditv and auency, and not bearing out at
Eli the reputation for silence which the EN-