Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-26
INTERVIEW WITH A REPORTER Al
EDINBJRG.

New YORK, September %. At an interview
18th a Herald correspondent at Ediuburg, Gen.
Grant is reported follow.
ten. Grant have thoroughly recuperated and
am IN excellent health and en- ing myself i'm
mensely. | would like to see all Europe. | pro-
pose to stay away till after the exciting scenes
which will surround the test of Hayes policy, for
the reason tnat if we're at home | would be
charged with having hand in every kind of po-
htcal msnWuvreng, whether had or not, and |
want to Danish politics from my mind until every
thing settles down. can say one thing however,
that if were at home | should exert what infu
ence could in aid of Mr.. Hayes plan of recon-
cilistion.
Reporter saw a reference in a newspaper
eulogy Of Motley, to your position toward that
officer and the intimation that your action was
one of the remote causes of his death
Gen. GRANTEES, have read it, and it does me
great injustice. Mr.. Motley was certainly very
able, very honest gentleman, fit to hold any Off
cal position. but he knew long before he went
out he would have to go.
When was making those appointments, Sum-
ner came to me and asked me to appoint Motley
as minister TO the court of st. James. | told him
| would, and did. Soon after Sumner made that
violent speech about the Alabama claims, and the
British government was greatly offended. Sum
ner was at the time chairman of the committee on
foreign affairs.
Mr. Motley had to be instructed. The instruc-
tions prepared very carefully, and after Gov.
Fish and had gone over them for the last time,
| wrote an addendum charging Motley that above
all things he should handle the subject of the
Alabama claims with great delicacy. Instead Of
obeyng his explicit instructions, Motley deliber
ately fell in line with Sumner, and thus added in
suit to previous injury.
As soon as heard of it l went over to the state
department and told Gov. Fish to dismiss Motley
at once. l was very angry indeed, and l have
been sorry since that did not stick to my first
determIn nation. Fish advised delay because OF
Summers position in the Senate, and attitude on
the treaty question We did not want to stir him
up again just then.
We despatched a note of severe censure to Mot.
ley at once and ordered him to abstain from any
further connection with that question We there
upon commenced negotiations with the British
minister at Washington, and the result was the
Joint high com mission, and Geneva award. sup
posed Motley would be manly enough to resign
after that snub, but he kept on till removed.
Sumner promised me he would vote for the
treaty, but when it was first before the Senate he
did all he could 10 beat it,
| will tell you an incident about Mr.. Sumner.
The first time | ever George William Curtis,
he called on me to request in behalf of a number
of influential republicans the reinstatement OF
Sumner as chairman OF the committee on foreign
affairs.
told him if ] should 90 to the Senate and die
tate the organization of its constitution, | would
be apt to hear something about the fellow who
made fortune Winding his own business | SAID
certainly should suggest the idea to any part OF
the legislative branch that should undertake to
construct my cabinet. | gave him distinctly to
understand that | did not propose to interfere in
the matter even by advice TO personal friend
among the Senators, and thought Mr.. Sumner
had not done his duty as chairman of the commit
tee because he had hampered the business of the
state department by pigeon holing the treaties ior
months.
Mr. Curtis said that was impossible, for Mr..
Sumner had only short time before told him that
his successor would find clear docket, and made
special claims for execution of the work of the
committee. knowing as did the adroit argu-
ments used among Mr.. Summers friends, and de-
termned to test the matter of a clean docket, ]
told Mr.. Curtis that proposed to prove to him
that Mr.. Sumner had not told him the facts, and
that he made these statements knowing them to
be falsehOods.
Mr.. Curtis was amazed at my offer, but assur-
ed him that he had been frequently caught in sim
liar misrepresentation. told Mr. Curtis that
here were nine or eleven treaties before the Sen
ate from the state department, that had been there
several months and had been in Mr.. Summers
hands, but had never been laid before the COM
mittee.
| wrote from the spot, Long Branch, to the state
department. and to my own surprise there proved
to be more tire ates than had said, that had bee
in Mr.. Summers hands for a longer time then
expected This was the "clean docket
When gave Mr.. Curtis the record he was rath-
er disappointed. lie sara IL was remarkable.
told him my object in having the record searched
was to show him that Mr.. Sumner was not
truthful man, and others had found out before me-
and as had discovered on frequent occasions.
The work of that committee when Mr.. Gamer
on took charge, was in deplorable state, due en-.
tirely to Mr.. Summers persistent obstructveness
and dilatoriness. had nothing to do with his
dismissal from the Craftsmanship of the foreign
relations committee. but was glad when l heard
he was put off, because he stood in the way ofeven
routine business. l may be blamed for my oppo-
sition to Mr.. Summers tactics, but was not guild
ed so much by reason of his personal hatred of
myself as | was by desire to protect our nation
al interests in diplomatic affairs
shall never change my mind as to the wisdom
of the policy that brought about the Washington
treaty with Great Britain. No matter how mnch
friends of Sumner and Motley may defend the
"Indirect Damage" humbug, we never could have
procured the agreement Of the British commits
sioners or people to such thing.
Reporter-They are running civil service re-
form very strong just now.
Graut-So see, but it will not work, because
the theorists have disagreed among themselves as
to its practical application. / do not attach much
importance to that matter, but do not believe it
will succeed though wish it could in some prac-
teal way, like Schurz. for instance. He is max
ing business of civil service reform, but he is .
humbug, and Mr.. Hayes will find him out before
long. 1t is all very well to say that the business
of office seeking should be abolished but the Of
fee seeker cannot easily be abolished, and the
more the theorists quarrel among themselves the
more the practical civil service reform seems to
recede
Reporter-Whst do you think of the dissolution
of the republican State organizations in the
South
Grant-That is one of the usual violent effects
of a wise government after a scene of turmoil
like that we had last fall. For myself | do not
care for party You can always depend upon the
good sense of the people of the United States.
They believe in the republic. Their flag is to the
fore with strong arms behind it. always, and they
are sentimental, loyal and brave. They will new
er elect high Official except upon q common sense
basis. For that reason believe the republican
and democratic parties of late being so evenly di-
vided the people will be compelled to vote in large
| majority for the republican candidate no matter
Who he NAV be, because the democrats will dc
some silly thing that will drive thinking people