New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1885-10-28

RELATED BY GEN. GRANT.
Chauncey NJ. Depew Tells Of interesting
Conversations Held with Gen. Grant ON
the Trouble Between China and Japan,
and His Relations with Andrew johnson.
New York, Oct. 2O.-Hon. ChaunceY NJ.
Depew has furnished to the press the fol-
lowing open letter to Col. F. D. Grant,
In answer to your request for the par
ticulars Of the conversation l had with
your father, and to which / ALT
ed in a speech before the chamber OF
commerce, the following is my best recol-
lection: About four years ago l sat be-
side Gen. Grant at dinner. There were
many courses, slowly served, and the enter
tainment lasted several hours. He said to
me that when in China Prince Kung, who
was regent and the real ruler during the
minority OF the emperor, told him OF
their CONTROVERSY with Japan. War was
about to be declared land the prince thought
it would be a long and bloody one, and
asked Gen. Grant if he would act as arbitra-
tor. The general declined for want of time,
but principally because he was a private
person and had no power to enforce his de-
cision. He suggested, however, the terms
of compromise. When in Japan shortly
after, the mikados ministers told their side
OF the trouble, and revealed the fact that
several OF the European governments were
actively stirring up the strife on both sides,
hoping to be benefited by the war. The
same requestwas made to him on the part of
the Japanese government to act as
md IN n Ens,, 1a
stated the substance of the com.
promise he had advised for China.
The two nations adopted substantially
the terms proposed by Gen. Grant, and
disastrous conflict was averted. The con-
versation drifted intoa consideration OF
his relations with President Andrew John
son. The narrative ofthis period was one
OF the most graphic descriptions to which I
ever listened, and il is unfortunate for his
tory and posterity that it cannot be pre-
served as it was told. It had the local
ments by the chief actors, and of the situa-
tions Of parties and persons as the
events occurred, invaluable as a por-
traiture and estimate of the times.
| said in my address that Gen.
Grant performed services to his country
which were unwritten, quite as important
as any that were recorded, and | think
this narrative will bear me out. This is the
substance OF the story: johnson began the
day after the assassination OF Lincoln, to
loudly proclaim at all times and places,
with constant reiteration, the shibbo leth:
treason is odious and must be punished
and the chief rebels shall he hung
To give effect to this sentiment, as
soon as he was lhaugurated he insisted
upon the United States courts in Virginia
finding indictments against all the leading
members OF the corfederacy. He also want
ed the officers in the rebel army who had
lett the regular army to join the rebellion,
to be summarily dealt with by court mar
tlal. 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 johnson on thesubjeGt, only to be
Informed that the president was, by the
constitution, commanders in. chief OF the
army, and that ything by the command
ing general in the field was subject to his
approval OF rejection, and he rejected the
terms. Gen. Grant urged that the rebels
had surrendered on these conditions,
clisbamded their organizations, submitted
universally totthe situa ton. and we're car
rying out in good faith their part of
the agreement, land every consideration
oi both honor 'afd expediency demand
ed equal good faith on the part OF the
government. The.other course would have
led TO 'anendless guerilla warfare. John
son .obstinately: adhered to his view, and
assumed the auShority nof commander,
when Grant fatty told him that, if there
were to tie any court martials one mustbe
called ito TRY Gen. Grant first; athewould
by every lneansm his power protect his
parole and'appeal to congress aud thecoun-
try. In the halt called by this attitude OF
Gen. Grant, a very remarkable ,change oc-
CURED Nn TheWiews and policy OF Presi-
tdent u ohnson. Gen. Grant discovered
that sthe most frequent and favored
visitors ITO THE White House were the men
whom the president had prescribed. In
the gensralEs nopinion Johnsou's loyalty
WAS subordinate to, if not entirely depend
.ent upon his Mstense hat tired Of the slave
holding 'oligarchy. He was. a poor white,
had been,;t journeyman tailor, and notwith-
standing ithes Eist inguished public>positions
ne had aneld, hescould not break through
the ,class barriers, and WAS treated
socially Mithsoen tempt by the proud ars-
tocracy. Whan they plunged into rebellion
he saw his opportunity He believed in
the power offthe government, sand thought
THAT the time had come when he could
defeat his enemies, contiscate their proper
'ty, hum1liate utA1eir pride. and soossibly de-
lstroy them. 'Hale absorbing ambition and
passion cGf His lie had been to be received
:ssnetreased ;sssane.of them by the oligarchy.
iA@vlng tailetl'iR that. and
sUNRlNRRD INsuLT AND INDEMNITY
IN the Effort, !he became one of the most
Nindictive OF nsfgl. He saw them foiled in
their rebellion, dedicated and imp overished,
:fsntnow he waitted toNkill them While he
sytss 'deviaing means to overcome Gen.
Grants resistance to the last purpose,
leaders OF olafeudalism. called upon him.
T|hey admitted their former treat.
ma11t of him and justified it.
They said that as president OF che United
Skates he became, regardless of birth or
ancestry, nast ,ohlJ,a member of til cir order,
b,t5.fss a leader. johnson was wild with
deiiaht. Ambition sand pride had both
beanssatisfeh. He,became as anxious to
suasGin and rperpetuate in some form a
system which had given the highest social
and political distraction to q few great
families as The had been to destroy it.
Grant did not 'heve long to wait for the
formulation of q plan. The presi-
dent sent for himaand said the radical
meaanres OF oamgress,,were revolutIo nary
and UaoAlld destroy ,tke country. The war
was d,Mer and the republic at peace. and it