The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-03-22
GRANT AND 0AUEAu.

Letter From Cen. Grant Refusing to
Comply With Extortionate De-
mands Made by 1adeau--Crant
Would Make No Dishonest Claims
to Authorship.
New York, Special Telegram, March H.
| It was rumored that Gen Badeau had be-
gun legal proceedings against the widow OF
Gen. Grant to recover $4,000. These
| rumors have now taken definite shape,
and it is known that Gen. Badeau has
| made his claim for alleged literary work
done on the book known as Gen. Grants 8
Memoirs" 1t is also fact that
Senator Roscoe Conkling have been
asked by Mrs. Grant to defend the suit,
but these men refuse to talk ON the sub
| iect, and return ambiguous answers to all
| inquiries. 1t is stated, however, that Mr..
| Conkling has said that he would see to it
that the rights OF the widow OF his old
friend would be properly guarded and pro-
tected. A gentleman who is well acquaint-
ed with the facts surrounding the writing
OF the memoirs told reporter that Col.
Fred Grant had said that when
Gen. Grant was working on the book
he had called Gen. Badeau to his assist
anes to verify certain data appertaining
to battles and incidents in the late civil
war, and that further than that, that Gen.
Badeau had nothing to do with the writing
OF the book. Col. Frederick d. Grant an.
| swers the various stories that have been
in circulation by giving the whole CORE
spondence to the world. Gen. Badeau was
engaged by Gen. Grant in 1884 to as.
sist him in the preparation OF
his personal memoirs. His work was
to be chat OF an amanuensis. This Gen.
Badeau explains and admits in one OF the
letters when he says: Il have no desire,
I, / -, \, |, ~
Of our book. The composition Is entire :
ly your own" After Gen. Grants sudden
relapse in 1885 Gen. Badeau made, as APP
pears in the correspondence. a demand up
on Gen. Grant that he should be paid
certain sum per month and likewise q
share in the profits. The proposition
Gen. Grant evidently regarded as
a su.ges ton that Gen. Badeau
should practically write his book and Gen.
Grant assume the credit. Gen. Grant in q
long letter under date OF May 5, 1885,
says:
Since pondering over the contents OF
your letter. and more particularly over
the conclusions have drawn from it. and
reflections based upon what you say, and
my knowledge OF your temper and disposi.
ton, l understand the letter better than
you do. l have concluded that you and
must give up all association SO lar as the
which is to bear my signature. In all other
respects hope our rela tions may continue
as they have always been, pleasant and
friendly. You say that am a man OF
affairs, ETC., and can tell simple story.
etc. You imply that literary man must
suppy some deficiencies, and that you are
the only man who can do it. II this is the
case. general, do not want book bear
ing my name to go before the world which
did not write to such an extent rs to be
fully entitled to the credit OF authorship. I
do not want secret between me and some
one else which would destroy my honor il
it was divulged. l cannot think OF hold.
ing myself as dependent upon any person
to supply a capacity which l am lacking.
1 may FAIL but l will not put myself in
amy such a position. You ask for a con-
advance until the work is completed, and
10 per cent OF the entire profits arising
from the sale of the work after it is put unon
the market. This would make you part
ner with my family as long as the book
found sale. This is preposterous. Not
for one moment has your proposition
been entertained by me. This, with the
statements enumerated in this letter and
others contained in yours. makes it i'm
possible Tor US to be associated in q work
which is to bear my name. 1t
would be degradation for me to
accept honors and profit from the
work OF another man, while declaring to
the public that it was the product OF my
own brain and hand. write frankly, be-
cause want you to know why l cannot
receive your services now on any terms.
I hope that it will not disturb the rela-
tions which has heretofore existed between
us in all particulars. Your prosperity in
life will crafty me. This correspond
ence between lis may be unknown to the
world if you choose. do not ask secresy,
but the necessity for publicity will not oc-
cur through any fault OF mine.