The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-24

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rght-veto the BILL l could not" said the
General. smilingly, stand my own arguments
While | was in this mood--and il was an anxious
time with me- so anxious that could not sleep
at night, with me a most unusual circumstance
the ten days were passing in which the
president must sign or veto bill On the
ninth day l resolved infexiblv to veto
the bill and let the storm come
when the Cabinet met my message was
written: did not intend asking the advice of
the Cabinet, as l knew a majority would oppose
the veto. never allowed the Cabinet to inter
fere When my mind made up, and on this
question 1t was infiexibly made up. / read my
Erst message, the one in which | tried to make
myself and every else believe what knew
was not true, the message which was to save the
Republican party in the West. and save the
national credit in the East and in Europe. When
4 finished reading, said that as this reasoning
had not satisfied me, ! had written another mes
sage. read the message of veto, saying that
had made up my mind to send it in. This pre-
vented debate, which | did not want, as the
question had passed beyond debate. There was
only one word changed, on the suggestion of Mr.
Robson. | said, if | remember. that no patent
medicine scheme of printed money would satisfy
the honest sentiment of the country. Robson
thought the 'patent-medicine allusion m ght be
unnecessarily offensive to the friends of infia-
tion. So / changed it. although l wish / had
not"
Speaking in the same connection, he said:
Nothing by the way shows the insincerity of
politicians more than the course of the Demo
cratic party on the financial question. During
the war they insisted that the lcgal-t tender act
was unconstitutional. and that the law making
paper legal tender should be repealed. Now
il871l they insist that there should be millions
of rredeemable currency in circulation. When
the country wanted paper they clamored for
gold: now, when we are rich enough to pay
gold, they want paper"
THE NICARAGUA CANAL
'The question of public improvement" said
The General, 'is one that must attract the at
tention of our statesmen. I have been very
much impressed with what France is doing now
tl678l You see the republic has voted l000.-
900 900. as much as the German indemnity, to
build railroads, improve harbors, and so on.
This is magnificent work. In America the
mistake we made in the building of the Pacific
railway has deferred our people from going any
further If that railroad had been built
by our own engineers, with the system
of accountability that exists in the army,
millions would have been saved. But because
we made mistake then. should not oppose
all plans Tor developing the country. l gave
much thought. when | was President, to the sub
jeCt of a canal across Central America, a ship
canal connecting the two oceans But. somehow
had not influence enough with the administra-
ton to make it administration measure. l
did all could to pave the way for it. My old
friend, Admiral Ammen did some admirable
work. Mr.. Fish did not feel the same interest,
but he did all that was necessary. There are
several routes for such canal, but the best one
is that through Nicaragua The Lesseps plan
cannot succeed | studied the question thorough
iy and read all the reports. AS a young officer
crossed tho continent on the Nicaragua route.
and have no doubt that it is the true one L
may not live to see it done, but it must be some
day. The route through Colombia is expensive
ana difficult on account OF the rocks and streams.
The Panama route would be difficult and expen.
slve There would be tunnels to cut. The tropical
winter rains, and the torrents that would sweep
into the canal, carrying rocks, trees, stones and
other debris would make the keeping of the
canal in order costly business. On the Te
huantepec route the water would have to be
raised so high by a system of locks that it could
not pay. Nature seems to have made the route
through Nicaragua. If do not do it,
our children will The governments of Costa
Rica and Nicaragua are favorable. They would
be gamers. Our capital, enterprise, our in
dustry would 60 in and make garden on the
banks of the canal garden from to
Coffee would be raised aud other tropical crops
enough for our own use and to supply other
tions. 1t would be great gain for the Pacific
coast. Ammen made a calculation showing that
in the carrying of wheat alone enough would be
saved to pay the interest on the $50 600 600
necessary to build the canal. And wheat is only
one of the products that would be benefited. 1t
would divert the tea trade from China. The
more this question is studied the more peo
pie will see its wisdom. Public opinion should
De educated so as to press the subject upon con-
gressmen."
WAR WITH THE FRENCH MEXICO
''When our war ended" said General Grant,
"I urged upon President Johnson an immediate
invasion of Mexico. You see, Napoleon in Nlexi
co was really part, and an active part of the
rebellion. His army was as much opposed to us
as that of Kirby Smith. Even apart from his
desire to establish a monarchy and overthrow a
friendly republic, against which every loyal
American revolted, there was an active co-opera-
tior between the French and the rebels the
Rio Grande, which made it an act of war I be-
lieved then, and believe now, that we had n
Just cause of war with Maximilian, and with
Napoleon, if he supported him-wth Napoleon
especially, as he supported the whole business
We were so placed that we were bound to fight
him. | sent Sheridan off to the Rio Grande
post thaste, not giving him time to participate
in the farewell review My plan to give
him corps, have him the Rio Grande,
join Juarez and attack Maximilian. With his
corps he could walk over Mexico. Mr.. johnson
lthe President seemed to favor my plan, but
Mr. Seward was opposed, and his opposition was
decisive
The remark was made that such move neces-
5arily meant a with France.
Il suppose so, SAID the General But with the
army that we had on both sides at the close Of
the war what did care for Napoleon! Unless
Napoleon surrendered his Mexican project was
for fighting Napoleon We had victorious
army trained in four years of war, and we had
the whole South to recruit from. l had that in
mind when / proposed the advance on Mexico.
wanted to employ and occupy the Southern
army. We had destroyed the career of many of
them at home, and wanted them to 60 to Mexi-
CO. | am not sure now that was sound in that
conclusion"
1t was suggested that Mr.. Stewards objection
to attacking Napoleon was his dread Of another
war. The General said:
mo enc dreaded war more than did. l had
more than | wanted. But the war would have
been national, and we could have united both
sections under one flag. The good results accru-
ing from that would in themselves have com
pensated for another war even If il mad come