The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-31

to that felt by the European public in the
conversations of the first Napoleon at Long
wood when they were first given to the
world in the memoirs of his attendants III
exile-Las Casas. Count Montholon and DIR.
OMeara. The free remarks of the fallen
Emperor on the events Of his time and on
the characters of the men who had taken
part in those events are of great interest
even now, after the lapse OF half century
but their present interest is feeble IN COM
parison with that which they excited while
palpitating Europe was still painting with
the struggles of that mighty period which
had so lately closed. The retrospective
judgments Of the chief actor in one OF the
greatest epochs of history had claim on
public attention superior to that OF any
other class of historical critics, by reason
of his better opportunities his greater pen
etraton and closer acquaintance with the
secret springs of action. General Grant
has a similar claim to the attention and
similar hold on the interest of his own
countrymen when he talks to our CORE
spondent with as little reserve as was prac-
tised by Napoleon in his conversations with
Las Casas. We have said on former occa-
sion all that seemed fit or needful respect
ing these conversations of General Grant as
contributions to history and estimates OF
the character and abilities of the men who
were most prominent as actors III our great
national struggle. But, unlike the retro
spective judgments Of Napoleon, those OF
General Grant possess an interest which is
not merely historical. When the interest
ing memoirs of Las Casas were published
their great subject had closed not only his
public career but his mortal life, and his
remarks were merely an autopsy OF the
past. But General Grant, though absent
from his country, is not in exile; it lies
only in his own inclination and not in the
necessity of things that he has no longer any
ambition. He is still in the prime Of
life in the enjoyment Of excellent
health and in the full vigor Of his faculties.
He continues to stand high in the estima-
ton of his countrymen and occupies more
of their attention than any other citizen
Of the Republic. He is already beginning
to be talked of rs possible candidate for
|
and the opinion has been expressed by
good political judges on both sides that he
is to-day the strongest man in the repub-
lican party. The consequence is that
these recent conversations are scanned with
keen curiosity with view to discover
covert indications of his wishes and pur-
poses. On their face they seem to set the
question at rest, but there are nevertheless
MANY who try to read between the lines
and who surmise that General Grant is not
less a sphinx in his utterances than he
formerly was in his silence. 10 solve the
sphinx's riddle when he speaks may prove
as difficult us it was 10 penetrate what was
concealed by his taciturnity.
If his conversations afford any clew it is
to be sought in his statement that he never
during his whole military career, held a
council Of war; This fact is both an illus
tration of his secretive disposition and a
proof of his solid good sense. II never
held council of war in my life" II al
ways made up my mind to act, and the first
that even my staff knew of any movement
was when I wrote it out in rough and gave
it to be copied off," This great point of
military prudence exhibits both the perfect
reliance of man OF strong faculties on his
own Judgment and the extreme care he took
to prevent any part of his plans ever COM
ing to the knowledge of the enemy. If o
penetrating adversary like Joe Johnston,
who gave him more anxiety than any other
Confederate general, was likely to infer his
movements from the situation, he would of
course resort to a feint to put him on a
wrong scent, as able commanders
do foil the enemy. General Grant
has too much shrewdness and expe-
rience not to understand the value
Of this secretive method in political
life. The difference between the sphinx's
silence and the sphinx's riddle is like the
difference between military reserve and
n military feint. The defeat of q purpose
by premature disclosure may be prevented
and opponents be misled and baffled some
times by impenetrable reserve and some
times by q feint, and both methods are
equally sphinx-like
General Grant has been the hardest man 10
understand in oil our his.ory-a fact which
we are very far from mentioning to his dis.
credit What penetration could have dis
covered tina. the unpretending citizen Of
Galena in 1861 had the best military head
in America? His great talents were con.
cealed by their very depth and solidity.
He s,orned the arts by which mediocre
minds thrust themselves upon the public
IN; no man was ever more free from
bumptious self-assertion. His great career
has been series OF surprises by
the display of faculties or quail.
ties which nobody suspected until they
were suddenly exerted. To select recen,
but minor instance. nothing seemed better
established than his utter inability to make