Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-14
TO SAVE SCANDAL.

correspondent.
To stranger as we'll as to those who know
him well, John Mcdonald is study. He be-
gan life on his own account at the somewhat
tender age of years. His eye-teeth, his ma
ternal apron-strings, and his acquaintance
with toys were cut at ore and the same time.
From that day-about forty-fve years ago
until this, he has hewn his own way and been
at once the architect and builder of his own
fortunes. Spare, blonde and why, with uncer-
tain biulsh-gray eyes, straight, clean-cut
mouth, and nervous, rapid manner of motion
and of speech, he looks the very incarna-
ton of the spirit of Western energy and
Western enterprise, and so he is. He came TO
BIT. Louis in 1847, when there were but 10000
people here, and by dint of wide.awake labor
and shrewd management he made himself rich
In the days before the railroads came, he was
power on the river. His money and his muscle
were alike famous from New Orleans to the up
per settlements. When the war came he threw
himself into it with disregard of personal in
terests that cost him dearly, raised and equip
ped the first regiment that Missouri gave to
the Union army, and fought like a
wild cat until the end. He bad known Grant
when Grant was farming in Missouri, and had
much to do with his first entry upon the stage
of war. In the field they were more or less
closely associated, and when the people called
the conqueror to the white houEe he went there
also, with many others of the new Presidents
camp tire croDies. For seven years Mcdonald
was
POWER BEHIND THE THRONE.
With the federal patronage of seven States
under his control. and the confidence of Grant,
he made and unmade men at will His fall
was as heavy as his power had been great
When Bristow made his break at the whisky
rings, and BabcOck was indicted, Mcdonald re-
turned from Washington, and, fresh from
the private confidence of the President, de-
hberately assumed the aggregated odium of the
whole exposure, refused to answer a question
VI tell thing, and went to Jefferson City that
the rest might go free. There was certain
herolsm IN the act that indicates the character
of the man.
Almost the last act of Grants official life was
the issuance of McDonald's pardon Released
from prison, he went to Wisconsin, and thence.
after year or two of domestic trouble. in the
settlement of which the last remnant of his
fortune disappeared, he removed to Nokomns.
ILL.,, about 100 miles east of the city, where he
now resides.
1 asked him, after little while. whether lie
had come to st. Louis on business in any yvay
connected with
THE ANTI-GRANr MOVEMENT.
The question fred him, and much to my sur
prise, he began to talk with sharp and out
spoken freedom upon subjects over whi3h he
had for several years battened down the patches
of speech.
mo sir?" said he. II am not here on any
such business. When L think the time has
come for me to talk, I'll talk right out; but l
don't propose to make any mistake about eth
er the time or the place."
explained that his being here at such a
time had suggested the question, to which he
answered that he had come to st. Louis on
purely private business.
Don't you think" he asked, q moment
later, shat
ICoULD MAKE SENSATION
if were to deliver a lecture in st. Louis on nv
experience while was an officer under Grant?''
Assuredly did think So and admitted the
fact. "DO you think of doing it7" 1 asked.
II don't know but l may" was the reply
Then, turning with nervous jerk of his chair,
he added: people have got wrong idea of
me and of what have done and can do. 1
don't suppose any man in the history of this
nation ever had greater lever under his hand
than have got to-day if l want to move it, l
am peculiar kind of man, and one of my pc
culiarities is that never destroy or lose let
ter or scrap of writing that 1 get from any
body. Now, then, I've got what would make
very close and clear history of Grants admin
What do you propose to do with it?"
asked.
That depends on what other people do-en-
tirely.''
What do you mean?"
II meau to say this: That I've sacrificed
everything to an idea. I've been imprisoned
and lost fortune of quarter of million, and
been ostracised and abused az no man ever was
before. Now, why have l suffered it all in
silence? There are men will tell you did it
because I couldn't help myself. That shows
all they know about it. l want to reason on
an understanding and an idea, and by going to
prison saved this country the most frightful
shame and disgrace that ever could have COW
cred any country under the sun. Do you IN
derstsnd me? 1 walked into court, as you
might say, with the atmosphere of the Presi-
dents blue room still IN my clothing. |
needn't have gone any farther than the court
alone. might have had company"
DO you imply that You went to prison by
agreement and to save Grant,"
Il mean just that in effect. | don't think
I'm giving anything away when l say so, be-
cause there are plenty of men right here in st.
Louis that know It-nOt as well as do, be-
cause they don't know the facts except in
general way; but it is pretty commonly under
stood in this neighbOrhood, 1 guess
Then your intention is to let out what Won
know"
Z
want to see myself and my sacrifices wasted,
and the same feeling of duty that sent me to
prison will compel me
TO TELL WHAT CARRIED THERE
in case these men appear to be in fair way to
get control of the government again, That's
all. I'm not so sure the Chicago convention
will nominate Grant; but if it does, look out
for me. I'm up and dressed for a fight, and l
can sink that crowd under load that would
kill them SO dead that grave robber wouldn't
waste his time on Them
Il suppose your story, in that case, would be
somewhat IN the nature of States evidence?'
You might construe it as States evidence or
not, as you please; but it would be in the iu-
terest of honest men and honest government"
But you would have to tell it as a partici-
pant?"
well, l may say that l am not going to
spare myself, either in my relationship to the
position was placed in, my past misdeeds
with other men, my own feelings. l shall
give the facts. l took my trouble as cheer
fully as played into their hands; and when
the change came Judge Treat gave me the
whole bill of fare. from soup to nuts. went
through it like little man, without a sqeal;
so you see as to myself hOnors are easy, and
you cau't in your conscience condemn me, for
have suffered all the penalties"
Let me ask one direct question, general;
Did any of the proceeds of the transactions
hero for which you were tried
EVER GO TO THE WHITE HoUSE?'
Gen. Mcdonald looked at me quickly and
hesitated an instant. Then said he: "Wen,