The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-04-05
BUSINESS AND POLITICS.
Sheridan Talks of Grants Business Ventures
and His Presidential Candidacy.

Sheridan Talks of Grants Business Ventures
and His Presidential Candidacy.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 4-The Ledger
this morning prints, by permission, the sub
stance of some remarks made during converse
Washington recently. The article quotes Gen.
Sheridan as saying:
"It is sad to think of General Grant dying
under such physical torture as is inflicted by his
terrible disease, and under such anguish as I
know he endures in consequence of the unfor-
tunate business failure that overwhelmed him
and his family. l could never comprehend
Why the old man-all old soldiers call
General Grant the old man-went into
business, and particularly why he set himself up
in Wall street. From the time he imbibed this
business notion have always thought General
Grant off his base, and had lost that abund-
ance of caution that has characterized all his
movements. have listened to him talk about
making money in perfect amazement He inn
agiped that he had latent talent for making
money, and that his sons all possessed this talent
to a remarkable degree. He seemed never to
tire of talking about this when we were so stu.
ated as to be free from interruption, and
when we could talk with freedom of
by-gone days. Now, I know very we'll
that General Grant did not possess
the talent or genius for making money; his ma
ture is too generous and confiding for that His
site direction, and caused him to get rid of
money in a very short time. He could never
keep money before he set up in Wall street, and
you know he is very bright fellow who can
keep money after he gets there What most
surprised me, however, was that the old man
should talk so much about this newly discovered
talent He talked persistently-and Grant al
ways talked well when he felt free to talk-about
the accumulation of large fortune. AS
noticed his earnestness of manner, ] some
fivnn hot md cd Ia inn
in this particular. Still, 1 could not entirely
divest myself of the apprehension / felt on his
account, and his very persistency and earnest
ness added to my fears. Why, never knew
Grant to talk about the great abilities which he
did possess, and which the world has recognized.
No one ever heard him talk about his great mill
tary talent or boast about his splendid achieve
ments III the field, and yet Grant knew he had
extraordinary abilities in this direction because
his successful movements and the brilliant
and decisive results that attended them
showed him this Indeed General Grant
has greater talent for conducting campaigns
fighting armies than he was really aware of.
Nobody, however, ever heard him talk about
what he possessed in this direction, and the sim
pie fact that he descanted to me with so much
earnestness and frequency on his supposed
money making talents started q suspicion in my
mind that his previously strong mental forces
were breaking up, and that he was rapidly NOV
lug away from his previous well-eStabished lines
of prudence and safety"
Later in the evening, returning to General
Grant, the acknowledgement spoke of the re-
luctance with which General Grant left the army
to become President of the United States. ''You
have seen statements" said General Sheridan,
'to the effect that the old laid
plans to secure the nomination for the presiden-
cy in 1868 There is no foundation for such
statements and I know whereof l speak. /
know what his feelings and desires were at that
time, touching his future He wanted, above
all things, to remain with the army, which he
loved, and whose idol he was and is still, and had
no ambition whatever to become President. He
doubted his ability to discharge the duties of
President, but above all, he has no TASTE nor
inclination for political Office"