The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-30

the Japanese government to act as
arbitrator, and in again declining he
stated the substance Of the com.
promise he had advised for China.
The two nations adopted substantially
the terms proposed by Gen. Grant, and u
disastrous conflict ~w,saverted. The con-
rrrsation driftrd intoa consideration of
his relations with President Andrew John
SON. The narrative oitlis period was ono
OF the most graphic descriptions to which |
ever listened, and it is unfortunate for his
tory and posterity that it cannot be pre-
served as it wac told. 1t had the local
c%olofins OF conversations with aud state
lnents by the chief actors, and Of the situa-
TONS oil parties and persons as the
events occurred, invaluable AS a por-
t%raiturc and estimate OF the times.
! said in my address that Gen.
Grant performed services to his country
which were unwrittcn, quite us important
rs any that were recorded, and ! think
this narrative will bear me ont This sthe
Substance OF the story: johnson began the
day after The assassination OF Lincoln, to
loudly proclaim ut all times and places.
with constant retention, the slibholeth:
Treason is odious and must be punished.
aud the chief rebels shall he hung
10 give effect to this sentiment, as
soon rs he was iuauguratcd he insisted
upon the United States courts in Virginia
finding Indictments against all the leading
members OF the conicderucy. lie ais want
ed the officers in the rebel army who had
left the regular army to Join the rebellion.
to be su,nmarily dealt with by court mar
tln!. These movements OF the president
produced the greatest CONSERVATION
throughout the south. The confederate
LEADERS appealed to Grant to protect
them in the parole he had given.
He saw j Johnson on the subject. only to he
informed that the president was, by the
constitution, commandment chief of the
army, and that anything by the command
ing general in the field was subject to his
approval or rejection. and he rejected the
terms. Gen. Grant urged that The rebels
had surrendered ON these conditions,
disbandcd their organizations, submitted
universally to the situation. and were car
ryinc out in good faith their part Of
the agreement. and every consideration
OF both honor and expcdiency demand
ed equal good faith on the part OF the
government. The other course would have
led to an endless guerilla warfare. John
son ohstinately adhered to his view, and
assumed the authority OF commander,
when Grant fatty told him that, if there
were to bc any court martials. one must be
called to try Gen. Grant first: that he would
by every means in his power protect lis
parole and appeal tocongrcss and tiecoun-
try. In the halt called by this attitude OF
Gen. Grant, n Very remarkable change oc-
crrred IN the views and policy Of Presi-
dent Johnson. Gen. Grant discovered
that the most frequent and favored
Visitors to the White House were the mon
whoah the president had prescribed. IN
the generals opinion J~olnsnn's LOYALTY
WAS subordinate to, il not entirely depend
ett upon his intense hatred OF the slave
holding olis;trchy. lie was IL poor white,
had been II lolrncymant tailor. and notwith-
I 81 nnIinp he DISTINGUISHED ,,bl;r ,,,pt+ir..
he had held, he could not break through
the class barriers, and WAS treated
socially with contempt by The proud aris-
tocsany. When they plunged into rebellion
he saw his opportunity. He believed in
the power OF the government, and thought
that the time had come when he could
defeat his enemies, contiscate their proper
~, humiliate their pride, and possibly de-
stros them. The absorbing ambition and
passion o! his lille had been to be received
and treated as one oftlem by the oligarchy.
Having failed in that, and
FFERE INSULT AND iNpIGN1ry
in the effort, he became one Of the most
virdictivc Of men. lie SAN them foilcd in
their rebellion. defeated aud Impoverished,
and now ne wanted to kill them. While he
was dcvising means to overcome Gen.
Grants resistance to the last purpose,
leaders OF old feudalism called upon him.
They admitted their former trent
nient OF him and justified it.
They said that as president of the United
States he became. regardless of birth or
ancestry, not onlyA member OF their order,
b. p; as ~ leader. johnson was wild with
delight. Ambition and pride had both
been satisfied. He became as anxious to
sustain and pcrpetnatc in some form a
system which had given the highest social
aud political distinction to Il few great
families as he had been to destroy it.