Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-18
lancaster f:,te!!:se1lrer.
FRIDAY EVENING. MARCH ID, 1881.
The Grant Fund.

FRIDAY EVENING, MARCd 10, 1ooA.
The Grant Fund.
The proprietor of the New York
Tine, a good while ago, undertook to
raise a quarter of 2 million dollars for
General Grant, in small subscriptions
from among the body of the people. He
declared his ability to obtain the amount
in a moment in large contributions from
men of wealth, but he did not want it in
this way. The beauty of his scheme
was in the evidence it afforded of the
esteem in which Grant was held by the
masses. While intended for the benefit
of that very notorious individual, it was
to be given to him as the oldest ex-
president of the United States, and the
fund was to he an endowment for all
time of that ex-public functionary. 1t
was quite an idea. Mr.. George Jones was
captivated with it. He knew that COL
lege professorships were often endowed
by munifcent individuals for the benefit
of particular friend whom they wanted
to boost into soft place, and here,
he said to himself, is a great soldier
patriot and statesman, whom the peo
pie will delight to provide for, and here
too is decent excuse for his acceptance
of their liberality in the suggestion that
an ex-president of the United States
ought to live in clover for the rest of his
DAYS, and toll not any more more after
performing the arduous labors of that
elevated position and enjoying the luXu-
ries of the White House and its green
house and its Marine band and its
flunkeys. To be sure Mr.. George Jones
was somewhat illiberal in providing the
endowment only for one ex-president,
since the logic of his argument demanded
q quarter of million for each of them.
But then there was only one General
Grant, and though Mr.. George Jones'
logic took them all to his bosom his
heart only had room for one. The peo-
pie did not become enthusiastic over
M Jones' idea. 1t may be because they
perceived the fallacy in his argument /;
or because they did not adore General
Grant as he did or because they thought
that they had done their full duty in
paying him a clever salary of fifty thou
sand year while he labored for them,
and let the Babcocks and Shepherds
and McDonalds steal from them. Just
why it was we cannot tell: but Mr..
George Jones' popular subscription list
did not fill up. II started off well, but
suffered IA speedy paralysis, and after a
week or so, the New York Times ceased
to publish the subscription list that
wouldn't grow. Then Mr.. Jones fell
back upon those wealthy gentlemen he
had in reserve. But he suffered diSap
pOintment there, too. Mr.. ChildS and
Mr.. Drcxel and the Philadelphia cOterie
of Grant-phobis:s stole his thunder and
cash for subscription Of their own
for Grant, of a quarter ola million or 80,
which, we believe, they claim to have
raised. Mr.. Jones, it seems, however,
Still kept pegging away in behalf of his
fund and now proclaims that he has all
the money promised and two hundred
and sixteen thousand raised, which has
been so judiciOusly invested as to pro-
duce Il present revenue of thirteen thou.
sand dollars Il wear for Grant. and the
entire fund is expected to provide an
income of fifteen thousand dollars.
We rejoice to hear of the success.
full accomplishment of this benevolent
scheme. We tender our thanks to the
benevolent admirers of General Grant
ess'than hundred and fifty in number,
who have deemed him worthy object oi
their charity. We offer our cOngratula.
tions to General Grant that he has been
deemed a proper subject for their liberal
aims. Not everybody in the country,
but only a hundred and fifty cared to give
for such an object. Not everybody,
but only one man, has exhibited a
willingness to receive in such way.
Donors and donee, however, being sat
isfied, the people at large can afford to be
delighted. 1t is a pleasure to many peO-
pie to enjoy fat incomes, however come
by. When they steal them, or beg them,
we may question the decency of the ac-
quirement. but we cannot doubt their
enjoyment of them, since they accept
them. And it ought to please us to see
people enjoying themselves. Especially
General Grant, who finds it SO hard to
enjoy himself out of the presidency, to
which he has wanted so sorely to get
back, and where we don't want him.
Now that he is pensioned off as an ex-
president we may hope that he is finally
pinned down into that excellent position,
with no further aspirations after a big
s,!ary from the people as president or
captain general or emperor. And so We
may all be happy, thanks to George
Jones, and GeOrdie Childs, and Tony
Drexel, and the other public spirited cit
liens whose dollars burned them.
Not Assassination.