Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-04
GRANT As A STATESMAN
The Rec0llections OF q Member OF Hi
Cabinet.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE Ex-pREsr-
DENT-wHY HE WANTED THIRD TERM-rHE
SOLDIERS HOME PROPOSED AS HIS BURIAL
PLACE.
Hon. ]. A. J. Creswell, who was in Gen.
Grants cabinet as Postmaster General for over
nve years, while conversing with a STAR re-
porter yesterday, said: "I had more admiration
Tor Gen. Grant than for any man ever saw,
and 1t grieves me to the soul that he should be
ending his days in suffering. I knew Lincoln
and knew Stanton, and those two, with Grant,
make the distinguished trio-Grant, the great
soldier; Stanton, the executive officer, and Lin
coin the great arbiter. Grants qualities of true
manliness were more pronounced than those of
any man ever knew. In all my close relations
with him while was a member of his cabinet
never heard him say q harsh or petty thing;
profane word. His judgment of men was always
fatr and kind. His relations with his family
were most delightful and charming. There
ana never saw more devoted couple than
Gen. and Mrs. Grant. OF course everybody
knows how he loved his daughter. The meet
ing between them the other day was very touch
Ing and the emotion shown by the old warrior
exhibited the depth of his affection.
GEN. GRANTS UNFLINCHING COURAGE.
"Gen. Grants great characteristic however"
continued Mr.. Creswell, "was his sublime and
SouidSc. ~ Was VI hiHu tIistI
no impression could be made upon it by oppo-
sition He discharged his duties always with
OUT seifishness, never stopping to consider how
an action would affect him personally. All he
wanted TO know was what is just. what is
right l remember an instance of this kind.
AZ the time we had postal treaty with Japan
which gave us almost entire control Of the jap
anese postal service. When their relations grew
more intimate with us, and with other nations,
they desired to have charge of their own ser.
vice, and took steps in that direction After the
Japanese minister had talked with m about a
treaty to that effect, went to Grant and laid
tne the mater before him; | found that he had
towards Japan. pointed out to him that ii he
should sign such a treaty we would be surren-
dering our control of the Japanese service and
cially on the Pacific coast. But isn't it right?'
wss ,fs his , Tsply Can there be any doubt about
the only wanted to tha ai
treaty was just and he signed it. I remember
the tlnoh time when he refused to sign the bill,
course we had determined upon. for the re-
sumption Of spicie payment. There was an i'm
mense si.1 Sc pressure brought to bear on Grant TO
It, thinking the bill would prove a satis-
factory halfway measure. think Grants per-
sonar inciination was to sign it. Secretary Fish
ana myself were the only ones in the cabinet
VINO opposed its approval. At the cabinet meet
Ing when 1t was considered Grant drew from his
congress returning the bill with his signature.
/! said, I regret very much that you should feel
II your duty to pursue such a course That
wanted to do what was best and wanted to test
myself, so wrote all l could in behalf Of the
olll, but 1t doesn't satisfy me;' and he refused
10 slgnlt. II he had signed, it would have caused
us unlimited trouble. Grant never lost his head.
when we came SO near being engaged in a war
there was good deal of excitement at the cab
met meeting and war with Spain was immi-
nent. Grant knew what war meant and by his
cOOlness and sound judgment prevented it.
He was assisted in this by the Spanish repre-
sentative In this country, who was naval Off
Ger. He, too, knew what fighting meant, and
these two really prevented II war.
CALMEST IN THE MIDST OF CONFUSION
"1n circumstances where most men would be
apt to lose their head on the field of battle, for
instance, Grant mind seemed all the stronger.
and clearer. Rawlins told me once that in the
confusion Of the battle field Grants orders were
thing was quiet He seemed never to get con-
fused. 4 asked Grant once If when giving
orders th for an ,engagement he was not appalled,
replld, NO. 1t was war, but realized what it
meant. ! never gave such orders until was
and then was willing to shoulder the responsi,,
b1lity.' He added that many men failed as
commanders simply because Of an unwilling
two men who were fearless in this respect.
sherman and Sheridan. The latter in particu-
lar, ne thought, was possessed with ample cour-
age to do what seemed best, and be responsible
for the outcome. 1t wasn't rashness and heed
llessness, but fearlessness in assuming RESPONSE
Dility for results"
"How was Gen Grant as a writer" asked THE
STAR man.
"He wrote with great facility" replied Mr.
Creswell. 81 His style, like his character, was
the embodiment Of directness He used few
metaphors and little ornamentation, and never
two words where one would do, preferring Saxon
for word and always went right to the point
He wrote all his own papers, Notwithstanding
TO 5ns aS and ell his
How was he as talker?" asked the re-
porter:
made mistake" was the reply. when
he became intimate with one he would talk as
much as any companion should. have heard
two. He was a good talker, but slow; some
times hesitating for word, something he never
did In writing. He either had implicit conf
dence in q man or he had none He was quick
to form an estimate of q man, and If his suspi-
ctons were once aroused, his firm jaw would
Silent, and By by his Appearance M would ich chisI ana
He was always
MODEST AND uNAssuM1Na,
never presented himself as hero of any occa-
sion, and never introduced military subjects
in conversation. He had very quick eye, and it
was surprising to me how he could take in the
whole topography at glance. / remember
fbe ae
took by-roads intending to strike the main
road, but missed my way. Finally laughingiy
confessed it. Where did you want to go?' he
asked. Il wanted to strike a road which would
take me to the village which lies in that direc-
tion.' He stood up in the buggy, and, looking
over the surrounding country, said: If you
will let down the fence here, drive over this
field and then through that gate up yonder, I
ridge Why do you think so9' I asked.
tWen, you say the village is in that direction,
(pointinglup thereI see quite settlement. The
people who live there will will have way to
reach the village, and they couldn't find bet
vised and found the road just where he said
would. expressed surprise at his accuracy,
and he replied: 1T has been part of my business
to find roads. good soldier should be able by
judgment OF what the rest is.
"Now, about Grants third term project" con.
tinued Mr.. Creswell, che didn't desire to be
President third term for any glory or reputa-
north and south, and think he would have
done 1t thoroughly. The solid south would have
been thing Of the past"
SHOULD BE BURIED IN THE SOLDIERS HOME,
"Do you think Washington should be Gen.
Grants final resting placer" asked the re-
porter.
"Most decidedly do" was the reply. 81
think his body should be buried at the Soldiers
Home. Nothing could be more appropriate than
should be In the Soldiers Home"
The Leftover Nominations.
4 REPORT THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL REAP
POINT THEM.
A democrat Of prominence said to-day that
the President intended to reappoint the persons
whose nominations were left over by the Senate
to the respective positions to which he had
named them Tn rQyav6 Tn fha raso of Gan