New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-09-08

him in a few minutes. Grant was en-
gagged with some Commission Of In
ternal Revenue on the question OF
some frauds which had just been ex-
posed, aud which demanded his imme-
date attention. In the meantime
Sumner paced the anterior like a
fretted lion. His wrath was up. He
took the delay as personal insult,
and, after waiting in the crowd for
twenty minutes, with all eyes fixed
upon him, he left the White House in
great Indignation. This was the thin
edge OF the wedge which separated
those two great men. The public
knows the rest. Had Grant been less
absorbed with public interest and
more deferential to great Senators, he
might have prevented the breach.
Had he sent for Sumner and heard
his business, or explained why he
could not see him, the estrangement
might have been prev ented. But
Grants great virtue was fidelity to
the public good. AS the personal
conflict grew in intensity, some one
remarked to Grant that Sumner did
not believein the New Testament, and
the latter replied: Gle would be-
lieve it if he had written it,
During the heat of the controversy
met Sumner in a street car. His
habitFwas to talk loud. He said to
me: "You, as a pastor, are in a
position to do great good in these
times. That man in the White House
reminds me of Dionysius, OF Syracuse,
who had big iron ear placed on the
wall of his palace to catch all the
ISLANDERS uttered against him." NV
reply was: "Grant is a soldier, and
when assaulted fights back"
Yet l admired Sumner He was ex-
ceedingly kind to me when Twas Chap
lain of the Senate, and frequently re.
ceived me at his home, where he enter.
tanned me by the wealth ofhis splendid
intellect and learning.
So, the breech between Grant and
Greeley had an Insignificant beginning
for which both were more or less re
sponsible. A little compliance on the
part of Grant and little patience
in Greeley would have prevent
ed the severance of their friendship.
When Colfax was Vice President
Greeley was his guest when in Wash
ington. Colfax was member of my
congregation, and a personal friend
whom esteemed very highly drop.
ped into his house one night when he
lived on Lafayette Square; and in a
large arm chair sat Greeley, his full
moon face bland and child-like in ex.
preston. Around him sat Colfax
and several other gentlemen on
lower chairs, in fact sitting at
the feet OF the great philoso.
pher of the tripod. The conversation
was general, but the scene was interest.
ing to me as observed with what def
erence the gentlemen present listened
with breathless attention to every
sentence that fell from Greeley's lips.
1t was a picture worthy of an artist.
Subsequently to that evening Colfax
related to me the following incident:
Dnring his visit Greeley said: "Colfax,
would like to take cup of tea at
the White House with Grant.
"Well," said Colfax, "Ihave no doubt
you will be welcome" The Vice.
President called upon Gen. Grant and
said, "Greeley is at my house, and has
expressed wish to take cup of tea
with YOU" The President replied: 81
will invite him to dine vito me to- NOR.
row." Colfax told me that when he
conveyed the invitation to the illus.
trious journalist Greeley was exceed
ingly pleased and accepted without
delay.
The other part of the story was
told by Grant. He said that at the
close of the office hours on that day
he remarked to himself, "Greeley Is
to dine with me this afternoon. With
what conversation shall I enter tair
him? He is here to talk politics, espe
cially about the New York appoint.
ments. I do not wish to consult him
on these matters just now, yet must
entertain him by some profitable con
versation. recalled the fact that
he had written book called, What
I Know About Farming and as
had been q farmer in Missouri, an6
supposing that agriculture would be
a subject of great interest to my guest.
resolved to talk to him on what ]
knew about farming Greedy came
in evening dress and never seemed
happier, or looked grander IN his life.
He escorted Mrs. Grant to the table.
The dinner was served in elegant style
When the time for conversation
came the President said, "Mr. Greeley,
believe you have written book
called What l know about Farm.
ing. Horace replied in his blandest
manner. Grant then talked about
stock, horses, cattle, sheep. Greeley's
replies were mere terse and tart. He
had come for nobler purpose, tc
discuss politics and the fate OF the re-
public, as he supposed. But Grant
was determined, and suggested the
relative value of farming in different
parts of the country Greeley's tenn
per was up. He had come to gain con
troll of the administration, OF the ap