New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-09-26
SUNDAY EDITION.
SEPT. as, 1886.

vice III the struggle. lie went Oh ~ l1 Us 10
could from tho turmoil, and directed that MS
| letters should not be forwarded 10 him. nor even
| opcned Grant indeed nj this time, meant
TO keep himself unir;mmcl!cd by pledges n2o
only about place, but even about policy. TO
had some idea Of being the President OF the
people rather than Of party. lie bccamo
absolutely "a politician afcrwad but only this
idea will account dor much that was cNtraor-
binary in his course, both during the canvass
and even after the election lie had no thought
Of being untrue to those who supported INN,
but he bad not sought the nomination, ana
he felt himself moro FREQ on this account and
he meant TO keep himself So. This is not
surmise of mine; it is what have heard him
declare.
When he went to Galcna I remained in
Washington writing a pamphlet history OF
his.lfe for the campaign. lie knew my occu-
patton and approved it, so that he was noe
after all Indifferent to success nor TO the means
TO insure it, He simply did not wish to use
these means himself in this campaign. ITO
wanted TO feel that he had not strivcn Tor
his own elevation.
When my work was complete he wrote mo
the following letter:
GALESA. ILL.,. August IS. '6s.
DEAR BApEAU: As have cor cludsd to remain
had better OF en- letters that have accunlulaed
| In Washington. Such a. are on official snoles~
refer to Rawlius. All others do with as your luos
| ment dictates Onlv do not send any to me except
such You think absolutely rcqnire my AFTERNOON
| and will not keep till my return. If you are not
otherwise more agrseably engaged think You Will
hrd it pleasant here for while and then to return
| with have also written to Constock 10 CONS
out II he feels like it, The family are al well
| Yours truly. l. .. uRANi'
Accordingly. I opened the hundreds Of let
| ters that had been received since his depart
| nrc, answered those that required answering
| and took dozen or two with me to Galcna.
| There | remained until the election. for Grant
| did not return to Washington before Noycm-
Der. In all this period only one or two OF the
political people of consequence ventnIed TO
write to him, but many letters were addressed
| to me whose contents were evidently intended
| for my chief OF course, laid all these before
him, and my answers were governed oy ms
| wishes but he still refused TO advise. much
| more to dictate any Of the strategy OF the cam
pagn. F. B. Washhurnc and Russell Jones
were the only politicians OF note who saw MN
! often during the canvass but they were MS
| intimate personal friends and in his confidence
in many ways. Rawlins remained at wash
! ingt0n. He wrote rarely but in constant
communication with the political managers.
| He was without orders or express SANCTION from
| Grant for this course, bnt Grant knew thao
| Rawlins was acting in his interest Just as no
knew that | had written his history FOR the
campaign. COmstock, one Of the aides-dc-camp'
was also at Galcna, but he abstalncd scrup-
ulously from politics lie prdcd hln'ch Oh
being a soldier, pure and simple
Two instances of Grants persistent deter
mination not to lie partisan can now recall
General Frank Blair was tho Democratic can
didate for the Vice Presidency, and IN ms
speeches made repeated ana offensive IclL 80
| TO Grant pronouncing HIM military deslot,
! a tool Of the politicians. etc. etc. ctc;' pur
Grant refused TO resent the language. lie haa
hccn warm personal friend Of Blair and eN.
cuscd the heat OF his expressions IN p oI.cu
| campaign, though there were many mlll'aIy
! and political associates Of each who ,thoughe
these expressions objectionable for BLAIR had
| received advancement and recognition from
Grant, and WAS thoroughly conscious o, INC
| purity Of Grants intentions. All ms mluc ho
| difference in their personal relations ana whcn
Grant FIRST met Blair after the canvass was
over. he received him rs cordially as ever
The other circums ancc relates 10 sherman
MANY of Grants friends thought that an ex-
preston of sympathy from Sherman. the W,
tcrance of a wish for Grants success, Would
have great weight with sherman S, old sol.
diers, il certainly would have hfn ou'
Sherman was determined to keep himself en-
trely ont of practical politics. lie had oc-
sides I always supposed, some sort OF sym,
pathy with the view that the South should
have been allowed TO return without so many
res rictions and harsh cond tons and he was
unwilling 10 say one word to imply contrary
feeling. even in favor Of Grant. His silence
provoked some caus'c criticism from mary
IL never aft .cted Grant. He respected Sher,,
mans individuality he thought sherman haH
a right TO his own views he was sure OF sher-
mans friendship and Shermans reucence IN
lpSSpncd
am sure that Grant wanted the expression thas
Sherman withheld. both as matter OF ieei,
ing and because he knew the weight II would
carry He was disappointed when the ex,
preston did not come; but heard HIM defend
Sherman for not giving it. Their friendship
stood this test also
: During the political campaign Grant went
about the country very little. once ne WIS,
tied St. Louis and once Chicago, but attended,
no polical meetings He STAYED at the houses
- ~ n
nojitical demonstrations. There was polt-
zeal meeting IN Galcna, but he was not pres
ent His mornings were passed IN reading
and answering letters, or giving me dlrec-
DIV to, though he often said Say nothing
, Ia that. II YOU do not answer, the letter VIII
answer itself" He was always clever, and
sometimes adroit in his rcticcnce
, He read the newspapers closely, and discussed
, public affairs, even the chances OF the cleo
ton for with all his tacturnitv with NIL BIS
anoarcnt inacton. he would have been pro-
, f6umdlv mortified at defeat: In the aficrnoo1
he drove or walked, paid visits TO ms ola
,, friends about Galcna, sat in their Offices and
warehouses and took tea with their famllc;
in tnrn He had many transient visitors and
; entertained them in the same simple fashion
. to which he had been accustomed before III
greatness; PERKINS, NTH more lloera' hosp'
: On the day Of the election I accomnanie 20
T him 10 the polls where he voted for Wash
0 burnc for member Of Congress and lndcce
. cast his ballo, for the entire Republican ticket
! eyccpt for President He was a citizen o.
r (;alena when the war broke ont. and had no.
y lost his franchise.
5 At about 10 o'clock in the evening he wen
r to Wash burncs house. not TAR from MS own
n Announcements had been made there to recelv,
: he news. Wires were laid to connect viii
r The Office Of the telegraph and by these thu
n messages came which were to announce the name
= NJ the next President There were in The room
q anrcr or more of the citizens Of Galcna, ono
" or two CORRESPONDENTS of the Republican press
n .nd a few political people. but except Wash
$ mrne none of national importance.
Y Every man present was more eXcred thai
S he whose stake was greatest OF All. lie u