The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-07-29
GATHa ESTIMATE OF GRANT.
A Self-P Possessed, Quiet Man, Works His Way
to the FrOnt-His Enemies and Harpies.
Long Branch Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer.

Long Branch Letter in Cincinnati Enquirer
A friend of mine went 20 see, General Grant
yesterday, at Long Branch and found him sur
rounded by his grandchildren, and perhaps,
showing some signs of wear and tear. Grant
has had much faith, and it has been sometimes
shattered. Young men he liked and trusted
have either proved false or incompetent But
his nature, chastened by these reverses, con-
tinues to be sweet. He said about the presiden-
tial question: IT am frequently referred to as
an enemy Of Mr. Blaine There is nothing true
in that statement. Mr. Blaine has been twenty
five years in the public service Of the United
States, and, therefore, knows public life. If he
were President of the United States he would be
President in reality, the master spirit Mr..
Cleveland may be an excellent man, but you can
not create ruler of great country like this out
of any such experience as his. man must
know this government to administer it with wis
dom, which is the sum of all virtues.
Lam not sure that every word here stated is
as General Grant uttered it, as did not hear the
statement, but the gentleman who told me is
sincere friend of Grant, and had just come from
his cottage when he spoke to me.
He said: s.As to General Grants bias in this
campaign, it is unquestionably for Blaine"
Perhaps could not chose theme more agree
able to many of your readers than General Grant
for my letter. He had been in large experience
in Office; in commission, one of the few Amer
leans privileged to wear a uniform and carry
sword and there came time in his life when
al this seemed to have been conferred without
profit or result. He was persisted man. a lost
career, when it suited some of the inheritors of
false political philosophers to bring a war
for no greater purpose than to break this great
political confederation into pieces. A single up
right instinct recruited this man and made him
great character. His Imagination was never
large, but on public question he chose his place
with unerring instinct The orators and states
men of the country the poets and school book
makers, the forgotten histories, the preachers,
the priests, every body had helped to make one
big wholesome instinct in favor of ones own
country Grant, with poor suit of clothes and
$60O-a7year salary, went to public meeting at
Galena, H., where the young men were ready
to die for their country and the old men ready
to contribute their savings, and somebody said:
Captain Grant is with us; | move that he pre-
side at this meeting" Grant was then about
thirty-eight years of age. He had been in the
Mexican war, had been through West Point, had
married sister of fellow-cadet and officer, had
been in various posts of the Union from st.
Louis around to Oregon, and when his name
was mentioned nobody in town knew that there
was Captain Grant There stepped up on the
platform quiet, passive, plain-faced man, with
hardly any fine flowing lines in his figure and
he proceeded to tell that little meeting what
company was. He said company was com
oosed of perhaps hundred men or less; that
it was divided into platoons; that it required
to have captain and two leutenants and
some non-eommissioned officers The people
in Galena, though they were assembled from
all parts of the country. had considered it al
most preposterous to know anything about
war. They listened, however, to these re
marks with satisfaction, and the plain man
in the blue overcoat doomed up in their minds
as person of soma consequence. They in
quired who he was, and it was said that he was
son of old Grant who kept branch leather
store in Galena. One or two remembered that
his son had never had much luck, although he
enjoyed some opportunities. At that time it
was said that his wife was assisting to wash the
clothes of her husband and her boys She had
taken up her lot with the man she married, and
it was as sweet for her to labor for him as for
Jacob to work many years for Rachae.s favor.
Some people think that she was unhappy in
those days I think not. We are never UNI
happy when we are dutifully occupied We are
always miserable when we are doing something
unnecessary, or having spare time on our hands
There began General Grant as we know him.
Hispast had only been unfortunate. It had
never been vicious. The man has never had
any thing vicious about him. His countrymen
understand him completely and will not believe
coarse things whosoever may say them, concern
ing this plain person. He is defective IN many of
the qualities which make popular hero. He is
neither a poet nor usurper, not rhetorician
and we may add, hardly fnancier But what
there is of him is just as clear to be known and
felt as persimmon tree or a small oak.
He stepped out into that war, perhaps, feeling
that it was to be no holiday for him. The mill
tary service was associated with all the disap-
pointments of life. He had been in the Mexican
war, had been in the posts, knew nearly all the
leading officers of thearmy, was acquainted with
the roster of the army, as much as an Office
seeker knows congressman He felt that great
contest might be impending, and that he had an
other chance in life, and that chance was patri-
otto duty. His personal affairs were no greater
certainly in his mind than his patriotic ambition
If a man is entirely unselfish he is no good to
any body. An upright sel6shness is the preserv-
alive quality of the patriot You will find hum
bugs who have been balancing steel pen for
thirty years to tell you that man should think
of nothing when he goes into the service of his
country but her. meaning the aforesaid country
This is humbug, and the man who
writes it never was in the service Of his country.
If opportunities justify a man in using all his
energies for his family, certainly war should en-
noble that same selfshness.
Grant had a congressman living in the same
town by the name of Washburne, a man with
some good points of character, and some mean
ones He is capable Of virtuous indigna ton
against a false public steward, and yet will fight
a man who questions his public proprieties.
Washburne never was as pure-hearted a man as
Grant. In the midst Of his public spirit there
was always predatory something that at last
got him down, and lost him Grants confidence.
He will be known to fame chiefly as a man who,
for time, was true to Grant Grant was true
to everybody whom he knew He was true to
his wife, true to his passing friends true to his
new acquaintance, true to his own errors. He
was masculine spirit, fond of mems pursuits.
If he wanted to take a little relief at the card
table. he did it with all his might Unsuspect
ing even Of gambling, his joys and sorrows were
such as only an upright spirit can appreciate
Now, while he is temporarily depressed from
the stupidity of his son, and the rascality of his
sons friend it is due to him to say that those
ment doubted him. Errors Of taste he has
committed. It was unquestionably a mistake
for him to have gone into Wall street after being
prneidn1at Vet ar all ON ~ IL. 81