The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-25
GENERAL GRANTS AFFAIRS.
An Interesting and Presumably Authentic
Statement of Their Condition.

Interview with George w. Childs.
General Grants sword medals and otha1
trophies-insignia that ought to be sacred to the
CONTEMPLATING been seized under Mr.. Wander
bits execution, we desired simply to release
them There would not have been the slightest
difficulty in securing the needed amount OF
money. Indeed, offers of aid poured in upon IN
from all sections of the country. went to New
York to see the General, and he informed mo
that he would not accept aid underany circuu-
stances. Mr.. Vanderbilt, however, has had
sale take place under his execution, and
has bought in the trophies and othaE
property, all of which is now in his
hands, and safe from the possibility of being
levied upon for other claims. spoke to General
Grant some time ago concerning the debt of Ms.
Vanderbilt and suggested that probably no at
tempt would ever be made to collect it. He
would not tolerate the suggestion, however, and
said that the debt was one of honor, and he de-
sired Mr.. Vanderbilt to proceed UPON the liens
that he had given him."
What does General Grant most desire?s
ITO be placed upon the retired list of tina
army. That would be matter of simple just
ice. There was circumstance connected with
his leaving the army that has never yet been
made public, so far as l know but which has
an important bearing on the present movement
10 nave his name put upon the retired
list When General Grant was first asked to be
q candidate for President he declined. If 1
were to accept he reasoned, onehalf Of the
country would lavish upon me too much praise
and the other would too severely censure me.
Besides do not care to give up my position in
the army. 1t is one that like, and one that l.
may fill for life Afterwards, renewed pressure
having been brought to bear upon him, he re-
considered his determination and agreed to
stand for the Presidency. president
rrhn 1oho Of mill nv
committee of the Senate, had, as greater in
ducement, promised that the Generals position
as head of the army would be kept open fog
him. General Grant however refused
said, I wish General Sherman to take
my position, General Sheridan to be
made lieutenant general, and to have promotion
made all along the line The General does NOT
consider that the placing of his name upon the
retired list now would any way interfere with
the proper recognition of the services of his old
comrades in arms. Under the Edmunds bill he
would get salary of $l2, 900 a year that would
end with his life. Surely he deserves that"
what is the real condition of his healthW
cit is not good. He has suffered very much.
indeed"
HAS he cancer of the tongueG"
mo. 1t was for time feared that he had,
perhaps but may say that his physician has
definitely decided that he has not He suffers
acutely from an liberated throat, and, naturally,
the effect upon his nerves of all that he has gone
through-mental as well as bodily troubles-has
been disastrous OF course, he has had to give
up smoking pretty nearly altogether, indalging
in only half cigar day. His literary work 8
now his chief solace."
''And that comes on apacel'
eyes l think his history will be completed
this year He is a great stickler for accuracy
and verifes every date, though, as matter OF
fact he has been right in the first place of al
most every instance. Naturally, from my ex-
perience he consults me as to all offers of pub
fishers. He has received an offer from every
leading publisher in the United States. He has
received one from leading house that was the
first ever heard Of He declined to accept it.
for the honorable reason that he did not believe
that under the terms the publishers could possi--
bly, get their money back. He has received
many offers agreeing broadly to accede to any
terms that he himself might name He has
closed with no as yet but in any event ha
will only make fair business contract-that is
to say, one by which the publisher as well as
himself may profit. Every line of the history
so far has been written by himself He has re-
ceived ST. 900 for each of his three magazine ar
ticles, and the announcement Of his engagement,
am informed, ran up the circulation of the
magazine from about loo, 600 copies to 180, OOO."