The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-01-17

THE GRANT RETIREMENT BILL.
Senator Edmunds' bill to authorize
the President to appoint and place
upon the retired list Of the army
one person who had been . General
In the army Of the United States, is
as intimated by NJ. Edmunds, in
tended expressly for the benefit ct
General Grant. Why the bill was
not worded SO as to say as much Is
not apparent. It should be entitled
"a Bill to place General U s. Grant
upon the Retired List ct the Army"
1t would have met no greater ovpoe-
sition with such = title than 1t will
meet as 1t il. The bill will DOUBLE
pass the Eenate, but it Is extremely
! problematical whether 1t will pass
| the House in ils present shape.
The latter body will probably insist
that justice shall be accorded to
General Fitz Jonn Porter before
favors shall be granted to General
Grant, and unqueetionably an
amendment will be made to the bill
when 1t reaches the House providing
also for the restoration of General
Porter to bis rank and his appoint
ment on the retired list of the army.
1t is urged that General Grants
eminent services In the army entitle'
him to a place upon the retired list,
that he saved the Union; that he
belongs to the Union and that the
Union should provide for Him in his
old age. There is onle truth and q
great deal Of sentiment In al
this. Divested of the latter the case
presents itself thus. General Grant,
backed by all the ME and means at
the command of the Government
proved a successful General. He
compelled the surrender of General
Lee after whitening the plains be-
tween the Potomac and the Apo
mattox with the bones of thousands
of his eountrymep. A grateful people
took him out Of the army aud twice
bestowed upon him the highest
office in their gift. Upon his retire
ment from the Presidency they
presented him with a quarter of q
million Of dollars. he was provided
with transportation by the Govern
ment and taken. to nearly
every civilized country In
the world where he vas
toasted and feted and sho wered with
honors and presents. He returned and
was received with an ovation which
few men, dead or living, ever received.
Just here General Grant should have
retired to private lite and in full pos
session of the confidence, respect and
love of the people, and resting upoh
Ills w%ell-earned honors he could have,
like the Father of hts G ,untry, en-.
joyed undisturbed the pleasure they
gave him.
But General Grant was not content
with this. In an evil hour he con.
to become again a candidate
for the Presidency. He still lusted
after power. Washington was full of
charms for him. But, despite the
efforts Of the immortal $685." he was
defeated and Garfield carried away
the honors. In another evil hour he
rave his name TO a banking firm.
The world knows the result. He is
stripped of his wealth. but he Is by
10 means q pauper. The interest on
he $250.000 presented to him is
sufficient to support him dur
nx his life. His fir ends il Congress
toplace him upon the pension
lat. He could have drawn about
1000 y year. He declined the OFF,,
u TACT peremptorily refus-d 1t. He
to be placed upon the retired
'st of the army. On that list his
alary wo Id be over $1,000 per an
lum.
In view IF all these facts 1t is very
fashionable whether the House will I
Ass the Senate bill. That body will
kelly take q practical view Of the
and deny q favor to General
rant as the Senate denied justice to
Porter. 1t may, however.
mend the Senate bill 50 as to present I
!, that pody the alternative of ex- ,
to General Porter his Just /:
ues or Of leaving General Grant just /.
mere he is.