The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26
GRANT IN PEACE.
NO. XVII.
No. ANI4,
Grant as Presidential Candidate.

sion to politics Immediately after the close OF
5he war the attention of the country was turned
10 the great soldier as probable candidate for
the presidency, but to him nothing could be
more disagreeable Than the thought. Probably
no man has ever been mentioned for the place
who was more unwilling to accept the honor
He was plain and unassuming for all his eleva'
ton; entirely satisfied with his position at the
head of the army and eratifed with his personal
popularity. He had received no training IN pol
itics. and had no aptitude for the career; he DIS
liked the ways and arts of politicians. and pre-
eerred his soldier friends and his reputation as
soldier to political associates or political fame
He knew, too, that he must lose some or his
popularity when he became a candidate; must
give up much of his ease, and offend many OF
his friends when once in Office. Besides all this
he had tasted the bitterness of poverty
and lie was now placed beyond pecuniary
anxiety while if he became President he must
relinquish the income of 500. geo year that was
settled on him for life He had little to look for
ward to afterward no resources to take the place
of what he would lose; and he was still young
only forty three when the war closed de con-
aidered all these circumstances. and he has told
me SIEGE that he looked with positive appre'
hsnsion at the probability, which by degrees was
converted into certainty, of becoming presi-
Dental candidate.
When he was first approached on the subject
he resented tho liberty and repealed all discus
sion of the theme. l have often seen men who
hoped to draw him out receive very notifying
and unexpected rebuffs. They would make per-
haps an elaborate little speech, devise snare
into which they thought he must certainly fall
invent bait that must tempt him to talk, con-
coct remark that made reply unavoidable
but Grant would simply look at them with no
expression whatever on his face and say not
single word. If he had uttered anything at all
they might have continued or renewed their
Wies, but this absolute silence was the most en-
barrassing answer possible 1t not only entirely
bafned Thorn, but was merciless in its way
Thoy stammered and blushed, no matter how
bold or adroit; then they attempted to change
the subject and invariably before many minutes
took their leave Sometimes the door closed
Grant would look at me with qulzzical ex-
preston that showed he enjoyed their confusion
For man unused to the stratagems of peace
he was the most skillful and the most successful
in these ropulses have ever seen. His interloc-
utors never returned to the charge.
But the course Of Johnson made it incumbent
ut last on the soldier to accept the political
situation, however unwelcome. The people
whom he had led in the war naturally looked to
him to guard what he had won, aud for year
before the actual necessity for decision there
could be no mistaking the signs. Still Grant
lived in the hope that the necessity might be
averted. He would not admit to himself that
he must take up the new role The approach OF
the crisis awoke no ambition in him. Indeed,
the spectacle of Johnson dishonored, impeached.
almost deposed, was not calculated to make
one who stood so near at all eager to become his
successor. The struggles whose inner history
Grant knew so WELL the troubles with Cabinet
ministers, the distracting fears and anxieties of
Johnson-perhaps the fate of Lncoln-all con-
sprod to dispel the illusions which men further
off might entertain. Grant saw for himself that
the lot of the President was a hard one, and l
do not believe he ever admitted to his own
heart, before the final rupture with johnson,
that he would accept the nomination for the
presidency.
This repugnance doubtless helped him to con-
ceal so long his differences with the President
and made him submit to more from Johns son
than he otherwise would have endured. Then,
too, Grant saw not a little in the conduct of
Congress and of individual members of the Re-
publican party that he did not commend. Of
course, with the general policy of the party he
was in accord, but he disapproved many par
Eiculars and disliked many men that as can
didate he must in seme sort indorse. Besides
all this, he had many admirers and some warm
personal friends among the Democrats whom he
was unwilling to lose and the influence of his
wife's family, which went for something, was de-
cidedly hostile to the Republican policy and SEN
timent Thus he deferred to the last moment
taking the decisive STEP
But when he wrote the letter that defed
the President heidentifed himself with the Pres
ident's enemies. The country looked upon the
step as signifying his willingness to be con-
sidered Johnson's antagonist. johnson himself
at the time and even afterward hoped to be the
nominee of the Democrats. He was at this mo-
ment acting in unison with them; his only friends
we're of their party; he was their representative,
and though Z did many things that many Dem
him Thus, when Grant was thrust into posi-
ton of personal and prominent hostility to John
son, the Republicans claimed him and rallied
around him. He knew himself that the die was
east
He was nominated by reclamation at CiEcin-
pati in May, 1868. Stanton carried him the
news. was with Grant at his own headquar-
ters when the Secretary of War entered the
room. l had never seen Stanton there before,
but this time he did not send for Grant. He
came hurriedly up the stairs painting for breath
lest some one should precede him. He had re-
eeived the first telegram of the vote, even in ad-
vance of Grant, and as he rushed in he ex-
claimed: General I have come to tell you
that you have been nominated by the Republic
an party for President of the United States
Grant received the intelligence as he did every