Mexico weekly ledger., 1886-03-18
GRANT.

To the Editor of the Ledger.
If you will kindly grant me the space
/ will reply to Mr.. POOLS article of the
18th inst.
Mr.. Pool severely and justly denoun-
ces the American custom of indiscrim-
inately eulogizing the dead; but he
makes use of. very questionable argu-
ment in doing so. He tells us that
Gen. Grant was rather below the
mediocre, and that he was a man Of
debased habits and low tastes, whose
experience was gained in stables, bar
rooms, dog-kennels, &c. MIR. Pool
should have cited his authority for this
statement and also for the statement
in which he uses the phrase swallowing
in the cutters and staggering through
the alleys"
As to Gen. Grants abilities, the peo-
pie, both friend and foe, have given him
a place among modern military heroes.
| Mr.. Pool says that when Grant volun-
teered to defend his country that he
possessed experience highly desira-
BILE" What, experience in dog-kennels
desirable in time of war;? Why, sir,
Grant led a number of distinguished
Illinois gentlemen at the seige of F..
| Donelson, such men as John A. Logan,
| VIM. r Morrison, Richard j. Oglesby
and others of like standing. As to
Grants being a "waif OF circumstances"
| will let Mr.. POOLS favorite quotation
from Shakespeare explain that. zen.
Grant took the tide at its flood, and
was led on to victory. Mr.. Pool certain
ly knows that we are all creatures OF
circumstances the same circumstances
which led to Gen. Grants victory at
Donelson led to the shame and disgrace
of Genl's Floyd and Pillow.
If Mr.. Cleveland had not been a cit
izen of New York he would not have
been nominated for president; and if
Mr.. Cleveland had not been nominated
perhaps Mr.. Garland or Mr.. Manning
would not be holding cabinet positions
at this time. Certainly there is more
honor in gaining a victory under adj
verse circumstances than there is when
the odds are / n Jul favor yet no one
l could have expected Grant to dismis:
four-fifths of his army before advan
cling Oh Lee, for the sole purpose of en-
5 HANGING the value of the victory, shoulC
he'succeed in gaining it.
Concerning Gen. Halleck's reply t.
: Mcclellan in which he said that Gran
! was in the rear drunk, l will say tina
J. Halleck was intensely jealous o Grant'
increasing popularity, so much so tina
after Shiloh Halleck took command O
Grants army and wen in pursuit o
j.. Beauregard at Corinth. But Beaure
gard eluded him and no hing resulte,
from this campaign except the popula
demand that Halleck be relieved Of hi
command and the secretary of wa
It needing this demand, Gen. Haileck wa
called to Washington. This was an
. other circumstance which elevate
d Grant and proves that he had ability
and that it was recognized and reward
~ ed. As to the venality of Grants &C
10 ministration, Mr.. Pool undoubtedl
knows that corruption existed befOE
. that time, and that is continued to e.
le list. If Mr.. Pool has kept himself In
formed, he knows that the present az
y ministration yearns toward the capita
4 ist on the silver question, and that Pa
Electric avo somewhat of Cred
81 Mobilier.
sr In conclusion ] will say that / do nc
wish to espouse anything hat Is fails
IS or corrupt; my motives for writing tn
10 reply are not partisan, but are write
in the interest of truth and justice fl
n surely Gen. Grant rendered great SER
- ice in preserving the great union
= which we are so proud, and If he di'
n let US not In q prejudice and partisa
blindness seek to debase him vii
70 vituperation and u~nwarrantable en-
7. thets. VIZ fHsRKAAk.