The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-15
Toadyism and General Grant.
Communicated

Communicated
The man who should have most cause to
complain of toadies and troublesome in
truders generally is General Grant. he has
had more iulsome hattery spread over him
than any ordinarily modest man should en-.
dure.
few OF these tsadies may be found
among the editors OF the daily press bat for
real genuine toadyisn read the recent letter
of James S. Brisbin 20 the st. Louis Globe
Democrat and repubiished in the Indisnapc-
lis Journal of January s. 1885.
Whether Mr.. Brisbin, in creating that let
ter, used a telescope or a microscope, or
whether it Wss The squintiness of his own
optics, we can not tell, but sure it is he
could see but one object, aud could resIizs
the existence of but one person, and that
object and thst person was Grant. Among
all great statesmen and brave Generals that
this and all other countries have produced,
Grant alone fills Mr.. Brsbin's measure OF
wisdom and bravery and rounds out tha
perfect dimensions OF a perfect human Do.
ing. what an .eXampie for the youth OF
the Nation" says Mr.. Brisbin, and further,
this Nation owes its present existence 70
General Grant. He put down the rebellion,
he opened the Mississippi RIVER" he cap.
tured Lees army, he fought the battles. Ae
gained the victories, he saved the COantry.
Mr.. Brisbin does not see anything Of
our other Generals end subordinate Of
fcerP, nor the great armies of braYs soldiers,
which worked and fought and died-only
Grant. But then there is another side 10 this
pic. Jre-the mournful side. Listen! "What
ssdder sight picture could be presented than
that OF this old man writing like a common
penny a-liner for bis daily bread?' Isn't IL
awful? A man sixty-twO years old have to
write articles for magazine, to get money
to live on. And this, too. after being twice
President OF the United States, aud for many
years at the head OF the armies of the great
est Nation on EARTH" Horrible. How has
the mighty fallen
haven't room to quote further from this
letter but would suggest that any one who
IS anxious 10 study the vagaries OF the hu-
man mind TO see into what foolish notions
they may lead people, 20 get this letter of
MIR. Brisbin, save Il, and study 1t, and COM
pare it with facts.
The part that General Grant actually did
perform is q matter of history, and each one
may ready, and judge. l wouldn't, RIB Mr
Grant OF any OF his well earned fams, bot
will simply say that I don't think that this
Nation owes him anything. de has ssrYed
the country IN different positions, aud he
has got bis pay.
For each position that he has occupied
there was stipulated salary, and wnen shat
salary was paid hs had 70 further demand.
IL Mr.. Grants deeds made him famous, let
that fame adhere to him, and his memory.
| IL the world has hOnored him for MS works
or his worth, let that honor satisfy him.
Nothing that this Nation can Low DO Will
| add one iota 70 bis honor or his fame. Those
who clamor 70 have him placed In the army,
above all Other officers. are talking fOolishly.
| he could be of no use there, and IL would be
| no honor to him. Honor comes from fsith-
| fully performing a duty, not III holding
| position.
The lamentations of Mr.. Brisbin and others
/ over Mr.. Grants poverty and hard WORK are
| all lest energy Few men are In better con-
| ditiOn to enjoy the comforts of a peaceful
old sge and glide quietly down LIES stream
| than Mr.. Grant. Eight months ago Mr..
| Grant was a rich man, worth probably half
! million of dollars, and bat for his inoriin
ale desire to get more might have that
| amount yet. Even now be must consider
| that he is able TO take care of himself he
| has refused all offer of aid from his friends
| and has refused TO accept release from the
| debt of $3.50 eco which he owes 70 Mr.. Van
derbilt. after having the offer pressed uC)n
| him. II Mr.. Grant is in the impoverished
| condition that some claim shat he IS he has
acted very unwisely in refusing these munif-
| cent offers. Let him rest 10 peace.
There are thousands OF men Ia this co0n
| try who have done as much for the country
| as Mr. Grant has and who are older than be
/ is, vet who are compelled to work hard fol
| their bread or else have no bread 70 eat For
these men those croekers have no sympathy.
TROJAN BEEMAN.
Indiana polls, Jan Ii