The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-03-27
Grants Foreign Tour.

Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, formerly pres
ident Of the United States, has made up
his mind TO spend the next two years in
foreign travel. Foreign travel may be a
source of improvement, provided its ad-
vantages are appreciated and properly EN-.
ployed. The tendency of foreign travel is
to abash stupid self conceit, to discourage
narrow methods and habits of thought,
and especially to modify an exaggerated
sense of personal Importance. We shall
not be surprised if Gen. Grant finds him
self wishing that he had taken his trip
abroad when he was younger and more
impressionable man.
The Washington correspondents tele
graph that Gen. Grant is apprehensive
that his appearance in Europe will create
a sensation. He gives notice to the ma
tons of the earth that any extensive dem
onstrations of popular enthusiasm along
his route would be distasteful to him. He
desires to avoid anything like an ovation.
This fear is not unfOunded. In England,
tor example, there is a general curiosity to
see the man who blessed that island with
Schenck. The stockholders in the Emma
mine are anxious to pour their gratitude
into the ears of Grant. To avoid extern
sive demonstrations of popular enthusiasm
Gen. Grant had better keep away from
England.
If Gen. Grant should visit the land of
the vlvacious Gaul, he would be likely to
be overwhelmed wi h attentions AT the
Bourse. The French capitalists still re-
member with deep gratitude the prompt
ness with which Grants friend Washburne
exposed the fraudulent character of the
Memphis and FL Paso scheme, and saved
innocent investors from pecuniary loss.
On the whole, Grant had better keep
away from France. Nor would it be
judicious for him to visit Russia. Mil
lions Of the subjects of the Gar cher
ish the memory of the late president s
cordial politeness to Alexis, when the
Grand Duke first came to America. Gaia.
cay and his beautiful wife are waiting
eagerly for the opportunity to show their
affectiOnate regard for Gen. Grant. The
entire population of St. Petersburg would
hail with JOY the coming of the man who
sent them Marshal Jewell, the diplOmatist
who shOne so illustriously in St. Peters
burg society, and wrote home So kindly OF
his entertainers. If Gen, Grant wishes
TO travel unostentatiousy, he had better
keep away from Russia and avoid the
Russians.
Now it is undoubtedly true that the
English, the French, and the Russians
perYade all Europe. There isn't au inn
between the Skager Rack and Mount
Etna where Gen. Grant would not be
liable to encounter 4 representative of one
or another OF these nationalities. There is
not Il railway station on the continent
where he would not be liable to be recog-
nized, and, once recognized, subjected to the
annoyance of an ovation. To secure him.
self against demonstrations of popular
enthusiasm, he must avoid Europe alto
gether.
At first sight this restriction would ap-
pear to deprive Gen. Grant of almost all
the pleasures and advantages of foreign
travel Not so, To a contemplativC
statesmen of a retiring disposition, the
vast and mysterious continent of Asia
offers superior attractions. Gen. Grant S
friend and late spiritual adviser, the Rev
DR.. Newman, has shown how much beauty
how much poetry, how much that is valu-
able in the way of ideas may be got GU
of Asia Eden. the lions den into which
the good Daniel was cast, the bulls .anC
bull pups of Birs Nimroud, and all the
varied charms of Mesopotamia invite
Grant to a field where he may spend
his two years secure from recognition
ovations, demonstrations Y. San.