The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1882-03-01
GENERAL GRANT.

4 GENEhAL dhANI.
For the hundredth, and. possibly, for the
five hundredth time, General Grant is again
brought prominently before the American
people. No man seems TO be struggling
harder to make money and secure princeiy
income than this distinguished American
citizen. The United States Senate has
passed bill placing General Grant on the
retired list of the Army as General, the
highest officer known to the military organ
ization, and which will give him three
fourths of the pay of General in active
service, amounting it is said, to about Sl5,-
600 year. As matter of course the bill
occasioned some debate in the Senate. and
the illustrious (2j citizen was passed through
several thrashing machines but be
got the grab all the same. The
bill is characterized by the Pittsburg Post as
an 'intolerable sham" and as an ''audacious
grab" Reference is made by the Post to
the fact that General Grant has greater
wealth than any other American President
had on retiring from Office, with the possible
exception of the ADAMsEs." Jackson was
poor Washington was embarrassed. Jeffer
son, Madison and Monroe all died poor men,
but they never paraded their poverty before
their countrymen. nor stood in the market
places as mendicants. The st. Louis Globe
Democrat thinks the pension to Grant will
be money well bestowed if it "keeps him
away from Wall street spectators and stock
jobbers and away from partisan politics"
But just at this juncture, while the Senate
bill pensioning Grant is pending in the
House of Representatives, the New York
Tribune gives special prominence to the ru-
NOR that the Appomattax hero is mixed up
in business not only of doubtful propriety,
but of worldwide baseness. We refer to
Peruvian Company The Tribune, in its
issue OF the 22d inst, says:
1--WE observe that Mr.. Shipherd wrote. on the
27th of October 1881. to Minister Hurlbut: The
most radical suggestions of policy have the hearty
autograph approval of General Grant, who is now
one of us Mr.. shipherd wrote again, on Novem
Der 10, 1881 Il shall consult Grant to-day and he
and may go to Washington Thursday. We shall
do what lies In our power to second all the vigor
you have used in the main issue On November
&c. 1851, Mr.. Shipherd again writes: i was in
Washington last week; had>a full talk with the
President at Grants suggestion and on his intro
ducbon.' These are statements of a specific nature
concerning a man whose movements the public
care for, and really do seem to deserve an expla-
nation. We notice. however, that, since their
publication. General Grant has refused to see re-
porters or say a word on the subject. No doubt he
is right in thinking that card would be more APP
propriate. We take the greatest pleasure in
placing our columns al his disposal for that Pur-
pose"
This Peruvian Company business has
brought the American name into odium in
every civilized land. Probably nothing
more atrocious was ever heard of in diplom-
acy, and here we have brought out that U.
S. Grant was not only the confdant of the
head freebooter, Shipherd, but was actively
employed in pushing forward the collosal
swindle. General Grant has been called
upon by the Tribune and the New York
Herald to make an explanation, but so far
he refuses to be interviewed or to publish a
card upon the subject The probabilities
are, therefore, that Grant was in the guano
and saltpeter speculation. There is nothing
in his character or antecedents upon which
his most devoted friends can hang reason
why he should not have been in ii. No
man of the times, or any other
times or country, has shown such an
Unsuitable thirst for money and vaiuables.
He has cultivated the most heroic aceuiesc-
ence in the liberality of his own country
men and of the people of all lands that he
has visited. He accepts gifts and honors
and brides with unresenting complacence
and inperturbable nonchalance; and in that
same unconquerable love of lucre will take
his $15, 900 year as General on the retired
list. If General Grant had any sense of
decency, if he were not as impervious to all
the prophecies of life as the hide of a
rhinosceros Is to paper pellets, he would
announce to the American people that he
has received honors and emoluments
enough. But this he will never do as long
as he has strength enough TO draw his
breath. and it is now in order to note the
next move to do something for Grant TO keep
him out of Poor House.