Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-01
GRANT IN WASHINGTON.
His Bearing in Official and Social Life
Some Interesting Historical Incl.
denfa.

OnANE IN wASh1 OlONs
His Bearing in Official and Social Life
Some Interesting Historical Incl.
dents.
8. NJ, the Washington correspondent Of the
Philadelphia Star, writes to that paper a. fol-
lows;
WASHINGTON, July 24.--Probably in no COM
mun1ty in the country is the death of General
Grant so keenly felt as here N Washington. AS
general of the army, Secretary of War ad int
rim, and President he had residence here Of
nearly twelve years. Being man plain and
simple in his habits, he went about the city just
as If he were an ordinary citizen, expecting no
dl1erent treatment than that given the
humbiest among his neighbors. These
hlatter OF fact ways of his gave every
pody In the community an opportunity to see
MIN often as he stroled the thOroughfareS-
appeared on the road behind aiavorite trotter-
at church; or the theater, or at any gathering OF
tue people for amusement or business concern.
ing the city or country. In this way we all got
10 KNOW him and TO like him, and TO feel tnat
ne was part of us, no matter how lar from us
ne was located We could not help feeling that
MS absence was but temporary, and that his
hlnoly lace would again be seen on our avenues
anu IN our public places as often as 1T had been
uurinS MS twelve years of continuous residence
mere Hence it is that his death affects this
community most acutely.
sometimes cannot help making myself feel
Lnat the people here, although they had great
respect and reverence for the general, did not
6egln TO fully appreciate him and what he had
done for them until he had retired from power
ana nad left them. 1t was Gen. Grant as Presi-
gent who discovered the genius and ability OF
alexander r. Shepherd and gave this gentle
this city what it is to-day, the prettiest and
pest equipped OF any city in the world. Shep-
t nera WAS was fought with desperation at every
MN, and it was only when Grant retired
from the presidency that Shepherd was forced
to the wall. Shepherd bankrupted himself
i efforts cnmnlafn nnnS
improvement of the city, and has been in
comparative exile among the mines of Mexico
Tor the last five years. He had not been gone long
When the citizens who fought him found out
their mistake, and now it is proposed on his re-
turn to receive him with the grandest of ova-
lions and to make him the guest of the city. 1t
was Gen. Grant, as President, who first made a
point OF abiding to the wants of the District of
Columbia in his annual messages to Con-
gresS, and 1t was owing to these con-
slant recommendations that appropriations
OF many millions were made by Congress for
the erection of additional public buildings here
the construction of most extensive sewage
system; the securing of an additional water
supply; the extension and improvement Of the
many public parks that dot the city, and the
opening and paving of the numerous broad
avenues that now help to make the town a
place most beautiful. imagine, however, this
Is not the only community in the land that did
not fully appreciate the General when he was
in position to aid them. But that is all over
ing itself He is gone now, and probably no
part OF our people mourn more sincerely for
him than do those who opposed him when he
l first met Gen. Grant when came to this
city as newspaper correspondent in the sum-
mer OF S66, and many months had not rolled
by when had the proud satisfaction and the
distinguished honor of having the right to feel
and say that was on the list OF the generals
friends. 1 saw much of him during the pro-
ceedings of Impeachment against President
johnson. 1t was supposed at first that he was
in sympathy with Johnson: but knew differ
emily, for had been to his house and his office
MANY times lust the oh ne
Rod, and when it was in its incipeucy, and
noticed that his companions were from the
most radical side of the republican party in
Congress. remember during the mpeachment
trial that attempted to get an expression from
the general concerning the movement then 60
ing on to nominate him for the presidency. He
gave me pointed rebuke by paying no atten-
ton to my question, but proceeding To talk con-
corning IA different subject entirely.
During his first term President, Secretary
OF the Interior Gen. Cox resigned from the
cabinet suddenly. called at the White House
would give me any information, and as it was
cabinet day the rule was tina, no cards should
be sent to the President. While standing in
one of the upper corridors Gen. Grant came
out of the library to pass to another room See
ing me he saluted with "gCod morning. and
invited me to walk into the library. When we
were seated he said he had thirty minutes be-
fore the cabinet would assemble, and in the
meantime he would like to have me tell him
what there was new on Newspaper row. 1 re-
piled that we had nothing new excepting the
Cox resignation, and that we could not find out
anything about that except the mere fact OF
"Weli," he said. 81 had made ND nv mind to
say nothing about that, preferring that Cox
should explain the matter in his own way but
as he is SILENT and his silence is construed into
reflection on me, will tell you all about 1t.
The trouble was that Cox thought the Interior
department. was the whole government, and
that Cox was the Interior department.. had
to point out to him in very plain language that
there were three controlling branches of the
government, and that l was the head of one
OF these branches. and wOnli like n no m
s1dered by the Interior department. Still
might waive that ii that great department
jurisdiction over the legislative branch OF the
government In other words in this McGarri-
han claim business Cox attempted to ignore an
act OF Congress and would not have il. Cox
got unified and resigned. good and an efficient
man, but not Indispensable Where OF
ment, then there is going to be trouble
While the President was talking Gen. Bel
KNAPP, who was then Secretary OF War, came in
had many kilograms from New York city say
ing that there surely was going to be trouble
there on election day if an attempt should be
made to enforce the new act of Congress pro-
viding for United States supervisors Of election
and deputy United States marshals at the polls
and he wanteteto know if it would be the pro-
per thing Tor him to promise the United States
marshal the aid of the United States troops sta
toned in New York harbor, should it become
necessary in order to enforce the new law.
"Why," said Gen. Grant, 81 do not see any
thing in that to get excited over. You know
what we are here for. 1t is to enforce the laws,
and that supervisors law shall be put into eff
feet in New York if it takes the whole United
States army to do it," 'Then," said Belknap,
"you do not propose making it a subject of c:.bi-
net discussions? Certainly not" remarked the
general. "What is there to discuss when the
simple question is, Will the Executive enforce a
law of Congress, some citizens having objected
to 1T? Oh, no: You go and get your troops ready,
and II there is to be any discussion OF the sub
ject we can do it on the day after the election"
think those two incidents are good illustra-
tlOQS OF force of character of the
s. NJ.