The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-26

| for this demonstration. All that can say is
that TO whatever position l may be called by
your will, shall endeavor to discharge its du-
ties with fidelity and honesty of purpose Of
my rectitude in the performance of public duties
you will have to judge for yourselves by the
| record before you"
With all his modestY Grant was conscious of
mis- own character. He felt. too, the weight of
the services he had rendered, and dared to allude
to them without humility
Indeed, he had been told so often that he was
Indispensable at this crisis that he might be
pardoned if he believed it. He thought, at any
rate that he was as important to the Republican
party as the party was to him. He had not
wanted the nomination, but the party had
wanted the prestige of his name at the polls.
He was not at this time grateful to the party,
for he believed that if the party leaders could
have done without him they would have
nominated him. And it is true that he was not
the choice of the leaders, who doubted his poti-
cal ability and distrusted even yet his political
fidelity; he was forced upon them by the rank
and file. Stanton, Chase, Greeley. Sumner-all
would have preferred purely political man.
Grant knew this.
part in the campaign. When the trial of the
President was concluded and Congress ad-
iourned. he set out for his little home in Galena
to get away from arrangements and conferences.
The party managers were very much
annoyed by this course. Nearly all his friends
thought it unwise, and those who were intimate
enough advised against it. He was now, they
said, the chief of the party and its important
members desired to consult him continually
during the contest. But he replied that he
did not wish to consult them. He had lent his
name, but he would take part give no ad-
vice in the struggle He went off as far as he
could from the turmoil and directed that his
letters should not be forwarded to him, nor even
opened. Grant, iEdeed, at this time, meant
to keep himself untrammeled by pledges not
only about place, put even about policy. He
had some idea of being the President of the peo-
pie rather than of party. He became absolute
~ politician afterward but only this idea will
| account for much that was extraordinary in his
course, both during the canvass and even after
the election. He had no thought of being untrue
to those who supported him, but he had not
sought the nomination, and he felt himself more
free on this account; and he meant to keep him.
self So This is not surmise of mine; it is what
1 have heard him declare
When he went to Galena remained in Wash
ngton writing pamphlet history of his life for
| the campaign. He knew my occupation, and
| approved it, so that he not, after all, indif
| ferentto success nor to the means to insure it.
| He simply did not wish to use those means him
| self in this campaign. He wanted to feel that
Io1 ok,;x, l.;
| When my work was complete he wrote me
| the following letter.
"GALENA ILL.,, Aug. 18, 1868.
| "Dear Badeau-As / have concluded to re-
| main mere till about the close of September,
| think you had better open the letters that have
accumulated in Washington Such are on
official subjects refer to Rawlins. All others do
| with as your Judgment dictates, only do not
| send any to me except such as you think abso-
| lutey require my attention and will not keep
| till my return. If you are not otherwise more
agreeably engaged, l think you will find it pleas
ant here for while, and then to return with me.
| | have also written to Comstock to come out if
he feels like it, The family are all we'll. Yours
| truly. "U. S. GRANT"
| Accordingly. I opened the hundreds of letters
| that had been received since mis- departure,
swered those that required answering, and took
| a dozen or two with me to Galena There
| remained until the election, for Grant did not
return to Washington before November. In all
| this period only one or two of the political peo-
| pie of consequence ventured to write to him,
but many letters were addressed to me whose
contents were evidently intended for my chief.
| OF course, I laid all these before him,
and my answers we're governed by his
| wishes; but he still refused to advise, much
| moro to dictate any of the strategy of the cam
and
| were the only politicians of note who saw him
| often during the canvass; but they were his in
innate personal friends, and in his confidence in
many ways Rawlins remained at Washington.
He wrote rarely, but was in constant communi-
cation with the political managers. He was with
out orders express sanction from Grant for
this course, but Grant knew that Rawlins was
acting in his interest, just at he knew that had
written his history for the campaign. Com
| stock one of the ads-de-camp. was also at Ga
| lena, but he abstained scrupulously from poll
| tics He prided himself of being soldier. pure
aud simple.
| Two instances of Grants persistent determi
nation not to be partisan can now recall Gen.
Frank Blair was the Democratic candidate for
the vice-presdency, and in his speeches made
repeated and offensive references to Grant. pro-
nouncing him military despot tool of the
| politicians, ETC.; but Grant refused to resent
| the language He had been a warm personal
friend Blair and excused the heat of his expires
sions in political campaign, though there
were many military and political asso
ciates of each who thought these ex-
pressions unpardonable for Blair had
received advancement and recognition from
Grant, and was thoroughly conscious of the
purity of Grants intentions. All this made no
difference in their personal relations; and when
| Grant first met Blair after the canvass was
over he received him as cordially as ever.
The other circumstance relates to Sherman.
Many of Grants friends thought that an express
a;or of sum m thy from Sharma n-tha M