The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-13
Vanderbilt and Grant,

decent of a millionaire, and some very
respectable people have almost come
to the conclusion that this paper is
regularly retained by millionaires, to
stand by them when they get in a
tight place. No man is so poor that
The San viii not do him justice, and
no man can be so rich that it will see
national injustice done him and not
enter protest. The subject of this
interesting sketch is William H. Van
derbilt, of New York. Half the papers
in the country are warming William
up one side and down the other, be-
cause it is alleged that he is running
General Grant by causing him to mort
gage all his property, trophies, pres
ents, ETC., to secure the hundred and
nifty thousand dollars Grant borrowed
the day before his firm failed. The
papers say Vanderbilt is heartless
wretch, a whelp and a nine-spot
Vanderbilt Takes ALI" is the head
ing of the article going the rounds,
and editors who can think of any
thing mean to say, say it, and say it
quick and often. And yet, Wander
bilt is showing more genuine heart in
the matter than Grants most intimate
friends, and has allowed this stuff of
Grants to be covered by his mortgage
IN order to save the trophies from
Grant away from the creditors of the
thief Ward. Did Vanderbilt show
very mean disposition when Grant
went to his house one Sunday and
asked for a check for hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, to save his
bank, and "Bill' signed the check and
handed it over to Ulyssesp Vanderbilt
simply knew Grant as great general,
and he didn't ask any security except
his word. Would he have done the
same by any business man in New
York; Not likely. He was not lend
ing money as business, and was not
protecting banks from failure, but
there came to him an old man. hob
bling on crutches, man who had
saved his country, as nearly as one
man could save a country. He did
not come as business man, but as
neighbor, a friend. Vanderbilt would
have lost the money before he would
have Inundated the old man by asking
security. He just handed the money
out as he would lend shirt to a friend
whose shirts had not come back from
the laundry. The next day the check
was used, and the bank busted, and
there were not assets enough to put
in tea. Vanderbilt no doubt felt sore,
but he didn't feel as sore as Grant
did. Grant knew what Vanderbilt
had a right to think of him. He had
right to class Grant with Ward, the
thief, and Grant went right to him and
told him he had been deceived, and
having borrowed the money on his
own personal account he wanted to
secure Bill, SO he mortgaged every
thing he had on earth. 1t is well he
did, and well that a man with so kind
a heart as Vanderbilt, the abused mil
lionaire, holds the mortgage. When
4 subscription was started to raise
money to pay the "Shylock" who
held the mortgage on Grants property,
The "Shylock" says, "Well, you put
ne down for about 100000" And if
no money was raised the mortgage
would never be foreclosed.
1t is very serious thing for man
% be worth as many hundred million
dollars as Vanderbilt is, because it
lets thousands and hundreds of thous-
lnds of people talking and writing
lgainst him, and a man has got to |
lave pretty level head to keep from |
lating the whole world, if he reads
part of the bad things said
# him, but we doubt if there is man
n America who does more good with
money than this same Vanderbilt. He
annot stand on the street or in his
flee and be giving all the time, in
act he can scarcely give at all, per-
onally, except in cases like the half
nillion dollar gift to the College of
physicians and Surgeons. If he gave
to one in ten of those who
7ant to talk to him to bleed him, or
0 get subscriptions, it would take
i'm twenty hours day, aud because
Q refuses to be importuned, he is
allied hard-hearted wretch, and yet
trough others he gives away enough
very year to build a hundred miles of
His action in regard to Gen
raj Grant is generous, kind hearted
nd noble, and that case is not an
olated one by any means. If the
ublic knew of hundredth part of !
lie good that side whiskered man does,
ley would take off their hats to him
hen he passes on the street, instead
leering as many do, and when they
ass his mansion on Fifth Avenue they
ould say ''God bless that man." in
cad of what they often do say, and
the time ever came when his house
as surrounded by mob, as was Jay
Guilds recently, million men would
arch to its defense at moments {
,tice, and make human wall around
i'll Vanderbilt and his loved ones that
, crazy mob in all tho world could
I'VE any impression on. 1t is cruel, !
patriotic and desperately mean for
spectacle newspapers to allow ire !
onsible reporters and cheap writers q
have carte-6lanche toabuse a man
,e Vanderbilt, and it is little wonder
at he delights in getting in a wagon
hind fast horse and flying away a
om all mankind, and forgetting that r
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