The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1880-10-28
Letter from Washington.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE SENTINEL

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE SENTINEL
r,,. WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 1880.
"lt is impossible for US to communicate to
others tbet of which we, ourselves, are not
possessed thereof; by 30 doing we fall into nu-
merous errors, from which it is pretty impos-
sible to extricate ourselves therefrom -PRIEsT
BANKS"
Twas forcibly reminded of the above quo
tation in reading the late interview of Gen
Grant by one Fowler, D. D.
Heretofore the Ex- President has been sup~
posed by many to be man of wisdom; main
ly because he seldom opened his mouth, ex-
cept to receive cigars and whiskey. In pass
ing through the country to receive the adu-
lations of tn mob, he has sometimes broken
silence and made what have charitably been
called speeches" The following is one of
them, made at Portland, Me-, q few DAYS ago:
''LADIEs AND GEHTLEMEN:-It is now about
eight years since visited Portland. If do
not visit Portland more frequently in the fu-
ture than have in the past, | shall be q very
old man before l have visited it great many
times " Only this and nothin moro.
When in Texas recently, he stated in sub
stance "th"t IL country having poor soil re-
quired good deal of government, whereas q
country with rich soil required but little"
In speech recently delivered at Warren,
Ohio, after careful prcpa, alton and reduction
to writing, he displayed an amount of ntelli-
gence that would shame school boy of Il.
. The truth is Gem Grant never says anything
of Importance because he knows nothing TO
say. An empty head, like IN empty beer keg,
never furnishes anything Of value. Gen.
Grant was fortunate in being appointed to the
command or the Army, just at the time when
the exhausted South was convulsed with death
throes. lie Was the lucky hunter in the chase
who happened to be ..n at the death" This
feel positive will be the verdict of history.
An lrishinHn once said Of u certain person.
'whenevcr he opens his mouth he puts his
foot in it," The remark is applicable to
Grant, who never yet has been known to speak
i'll public without disgracing hnself aud his
countrymcn.
In his later interview with Fowler, d. D.
Gen. Grant asserted that: "Ilancock removed
the commissioners at New Orleans" This the
records show, is false. He mover removed auv
such officers; the only officers removed by his
order were some members of the City Council,
anu the records of the case show that the orr
der was approved by Gen. Grant himself lie
also states that Reverdy johnson was offered
S25O, 1000 TO procure the reinstatement of the
commissioners removed by Gen. Hancock.
ReVerdy Johnston now dead, was one of the
ablest lawyers and purest men that ever lived
No man who ever knew him, can be n ade to
believe that he could be induced to engage in
| q disreput able transaction. The writer knows
as much about that affair as Grant does and
that Is, nothing at all. johnson il now in his
| grave, after n life of usefulness. lie was At
| torney General. and U. S. Senator. His name
| and fame are dear TO his counirymen, and no
| N nSun n l,fplI nln h,yo -
! Grant, can furnish his memory in their hearts.
| Immediately after Hancock's nomination.
Grant declared him to be excellent soldier
and furthrmore said the Democracy hadfor once
made no blunder. He added that Hancock
| would make good President and the country
| would be safe in his hands To Fowler, u. ID.
| he says Hancock is vain; man of small cali
bre, and has long had the Presidential fever
The only Inference possible from the Cir
cumstancts, is, when Grant talked to Fowler,
| ID. d., he was drunk. l am aware that Grant
| now says Fowler lied when detailing O. portion
Of the interview. But the fact remains that
| he was interviewed and made the statements
| substantially as recited by Fowler. The lat
| ter doubtless was sober and remembered the con
| versaton, while the condition of the former
was such as to forbid any accuracy of menl-
| ory. '........
If the matter finally narrows down, as It
probably will, 10 question of varaciy, il
| is easy 10 fOreshadow the result--Fowler will
be believed. The experience of Grant on a
question of varacity, between stern old ANDY
johnson and himself is not forgotten John.
sons statement was sustained by nearly his
whole cabinet, while Grant had the support
OF no one except guess by Mr.. Seward.
If Gen. Grant has friend remaining on
earth he should advise him to keep his mouth
shut. lie knows nothing worth repeatiup
ana In the endeavOr 'tO communicate to
others that which he is not posses sed there.
of, he will fall into numberless. errors from
whic it will be found pretty impossible to
extricate himself therefrom."
CoRDwAiNgR