The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-08-25

of their relations-of the things they did to-
eether. particularly in the closing days OF the
final campaign Readers of Grants report OF
that campairn will not be slow to perceive low
true this was. While
GRANT WAS DRAWING THE WEB OF FATE
around Lee he made hasty visit to Sheri-
dan in upner Virginia to make sure OF matters
there Only the briefest time and fewest WORDS
convinced him that looking after sheridan
was like watching the watchdog, and In almost
rs many words he says so in his final repart
it is simply true TO say that as to Sheridan
Gen. Grant felt that he was the right man IN
the right place and the world has never had
occasion to revise that opinion. At the same
time Sheridan felt that in working up to
Grants ideas and fulfilling his wishes he was
rendering the very highest service to the
country
Sheridan added poetry to heroism and gave
tinye of ramance to the severe actualiiies of
war As to tits the accounts OF hls cavalry
onprations in the rear of Lee Just before the
eollanse are prolific. As man. more especially
as a soldier Sheridan was not gaa5i or foolish.
There was pot weak trait IN hls character.
In the field and rs soldier at work. 1T is prob
able he would have lived longer. Lake at the
Capital was not the life for him. LIT is enough
10 saw that as husband and father he WAS not
less faithful than as Sheridan the WARRIOR. lie
was not taliser, as Sherman was,
BIT HE THOUGHT AND WROTE WELL
and unlike some Others he wrote and said few
things that had to be taken buck His con-
yictions were true and his perceptions clear
OF him ft en- be said that he did few things
which, in the light of history, it would have
been better had he not done them.
Gen. Sheridan was one of three or four csfi-
spicuous acters in the war Of the rebellion
whose services caused them TO be considered
for the Presidency; but never. not even with
Grant did this have the approval OF any one
of them. This may surprise soine readers, as TO
Grant especially. 1t viii net be out of place
TO say, as it can be said on indisputable author
ity, that Gen. Grant resisted sincerely and
resoluiely the purpose of running him for
President. 1t may be new TO same readers
that Democratic leaders early formed the idea
of making him the candidate of their party
not that Grant was known TO hold views that
would have made his candidacy even as appre-
priate or AZ consistent as Mr. Greeley's-but it
was the idea of certain Democrats that it would
be good thing TO
MAKE THE BREAK"
Tt is not known that there was anything
that Grant ever said or did to favor the sugges-
tion. On.the contrary, there were many reasons
why be should be taken up by the Republicans.
But this is no. the point now. II is that Grant
himself did net fall i'm with the idea. He was
welded to he Army, had won great distinction
in its service. and believed that there could be
no greater homer. not even tise Presidency. than
the rank of General OF the Army conferred.
saying nothing about the labors and perils OF
the Presidential office, especially at such time
as he found himself. at the close Of the war.
This is the testimony OF Army associates at that
time But it is the truth, so far as it is known,
that to a man these associates, those in partic-
ular who stood nearest to him, Sherman and
Sheridan. cenibatted Grants views and urged
him to yield them and take the Presidency.
What is TO become of the Army, said they !;
what of u.s. if things 60 By chance at the present
iuncture? 1t WAS not wholly political ques-
tion they argued. In every point OF view it
was question of the country's good, and that.
said Grants friends demanded that he should
take the Presidency. The rest is history. and
to that record il can be added that Gen. Grant
never revised his swn opinion 50 far as him.
self was concerned
But when the question of running for Presi-
dent Was presented to Sherman, as it was
urgently and apparently ia way that il only
needed his acqMiHseence, he refused absD uteiy
and finally. This the record shows After
ward, when scheme for bringing Sheridan
out for the Presidency was considerably ad-
vanced he put his foot on it." and not less
resolutely ard decisirely than had Sherman
done Both had their reasons but to these
il is not necessary to refer Now what was
good for Grant WAS not good for them. Years
had inrerrcnesl. and vast changes had taken
place Like Grant, Sherman and Sheridan
wanted to die in the Army.