New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-28
REMiNIsCENCES OFGENERALLOGAN.
COURAGE HIS DISTINGUISHING TRAIT.

"pI,r~IXG THE PARTY r-KNOWLEDGE OF FINANCE
THE FITZ-JouN PORTER SPEECH.
Courage was the distinguishing trait Of General Logans
character It was physical courage so often displayed
upon the field Of battle, coupled with his modest uh"s
sumng way Of meeting the hublest OF the on vet
crans that for him the unbounied admiration ana
love of the soldiers of the Union and 1t was his moral
courage that made him the power that he subsequently
became both in Congress and in the Republican party
And there was nothing dramatic or Fictitious about Ms
popularity in the Grand Army OF the Republic 1t was
not workedup The same enthusiastic reception ac-
corded him when he to this State in the autumn OF
1868 to make speeches in the first Grant campaign That
marked his appearance the stump in 1854 IS candl-
date for the second place the National ticket at
tended some OF his meetings in Hudson River towns
eighteen years ago. and witnessed the spontaneous
in his favor by the Boys in Blue who put
on their service regimentas still carefully preserved
and turned out him And in his speeches in that
campagn he gave forth no uncertain sound In fact he
never left the country in doubt to his position on any
question.
But it was in civil life and member of Congress
that he gave evidence of that moral courage In when
he has been surpassed by few public men.
He first distinguished himself in the House OF
Representatives after the War; by the earessncss and
determination with which. chairman of the Committee
on Military Affairs he instituted and pursued the nvesti
CATION the sale Of military and naval cadetshps oy
members Of Congress- About dozen Representatives
and Repre- sentatves involved IN THIS sclnua al
Of them Republicans, and most OF them from Southern
States where anything that had tendency to disln-
tegrate or demoraze the Republican party still strug
Cling with the knotty question OF Reconstruction, was
greatly dreaded But General Logan only waited 10 ne
come convncedtha men had been untrue to their
trusts and for pecunary or other CONSIDERATIONS hao
deprived their states and districts Of the appointments
that belonged them before he determined to PROBE tho
matter to the bottom He was importuned by Repubh-
can Representatives consider the interests of the
party, he imnoyable. The committee reported
a recommendation OF expulsion against two members
and they resigned in regard to one other General Logan
and one-hal of the committee demanded his expulsion
and the other half his censure. The resolution
of expulsion required two-thrds vote II
got a majority of forty but not enough to be
adopted, but the resolution of censure was
passed unanimously The investigation and report OF the
committee OF the sensations OF an eventual ses
sion Of Congress- and showed to his colleagues If they
did it before that General Logan was an ugly
customer deal with when he once made up his nina
that It was his duty TO pursue a certain course.
Many years afterward General Logan recalled The
cadetship sale investigation in an interesting manner
Postmaster General james had begun his war upon the
star Route swndlers. and General Logan, walking into
Mr. Jamess Office morning, said: You are running
the Republican party"
Mr. James hardly knew how to take the remark but
said he hoped not, somethingof the kind.
"You are running the Republican party" General Lo-
gan repeated at least, that's what they say. want
to say you that hope you will not waver iruined
the Republican party once when exposed the corrupt
sale of cadetshlps They begged me to let up, but
didn't and tell you that Member OF Congress Will
not sell cadetship appointment again in The next nifty
years / only wish that my duties would permit me TO
take hold and actively assist you The exposure and pros
ecuon OF these thieves but any aid can render you
will he given will sustain you If you do not fater;
but il you do, I'll denounce you on the floor OF the
Senate"
There was a time when such support invaluable to
James, especially when IL came from
man like General Logan who had been one OF the leaders
OF the Grant forces in the campaign preliminary to the
previous National Convention.
LOGAN AND GRANT.
In the winter 1870 and 1871 General Logan. stil in
the House OF Representatives. was much disturbed over
some OF the scandals affecting the men immediately sun
rounding President Grant and ouspokcn concerning
them only private but 6 the floor Of the House oil
Representatives. There was at that time Virginia
marble company which seemed to be favorite with all
Departments at Washington that had occasion to pur
chase stone aud the stock OF which was said TO be held by
some OF General Grants most intimate friends. In the
closing hours OF session General Logan opposed an
which he suspected sought chiefly 10
give this company contract and used the planest kind
of language IN denouhcing what no conceived 10 NC
corrupt job
AT this time and for nearly year afterwar the pot
cal relations Of President Grant and General
Logan we're not coraial | don't know that
their personal relations interrupted
General Logan was. indeed, looked upon one
of those likely join Mcssrs Greeley, Sumner, Schurz
Trumbu and others In their strong opposition to second
term for General Grant always supposed that II wa
the determination OF the Liberal Republicans TO make
nomination their that led General Logan to sepa
rate from them He became strong supporter OF Genera
Grant and after OF tho most persistent ad
yocntcs not only Of second. but of u third term.
A characteristic incident occurred during this TEN
porary political estrangement between President Gran
aud General Logan which used 10 DO related by the Rev
DE- Newman. The Lognns were members of his church
and during serious illness OF Mrs. Logan, when be