The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-17

under any and all circumstances. As q
proof of his friendship to Mr.. keim he
appointed him on a rowing commission to
inspect the consulates of the United States
in all parts of the world. Mr.. Young, who
made the circle of the world with Genera!
Grant and who shared his confidence as an
intimate friend, was afterward appointed
minister to China. In these two acts
General Grant recognized the corps of
special correspondents more than any
other president has ever done. The politi-
cal gifts of the average high official are
given generally to the proprietors or edi-
tors OF the newspapers. 1t is very rare
that special correspondent has been
recognized any more than by petty con-
sulship which no one of any standing could
possibly accept.
My first introduction to General Grant
was at the hands of Senator John A.
Logan. This was after Grant had re-
turned from his journey around the world,
and was shortly prior to the Chicago con-
vention which nominated Garfield. During
the eight years Grant was president l
never availed myself of my privileges as q
correspondent to go to the White House
except to an occasional formal reception.
General Logan, whom l had known for
years, was then very close to General
Grant. General Grant regarded Logan as
the one great general of the volunteer ser
vice of the war. General Logan was an
advocate of Grants nomination for third
term. l wished to ask General Grant his
views concerning the various candidates.
General Logan did not know whether the
ex-presIdent would care to talk or not, but
ha or of
mendation to him, in which he was kind
enough 10 say the general could talk to me
without fear of Misrepresentation.
found the general in his sitting-room
of suite of rooms in the Arlington hotel
at Washington City. He was recovering
from the effects of broken leg caused by
a fall on an icy sidewalk several weeks
previous. 1t was a narrow escape.
This visit to Washington City was Just
before the Grant & Ward failure, which
eliminated General Grant from the field as
a political figure, and afterward, as every
one believes, hastened the development of
the malady which took his life the follow
ing year.
The general was with Mrs. Grant. He
was seated in an easy chair with his in
iured leg resting upon another chair. He
seated in the window near him. The gen.
cral, after reading the letter of introduc-
ton carefully, presented me to Mrs. Grant,
and then turning asked me what wanted
to talk to him about. ! said at once that
l wished to ask him some questions con-
corning the coming convention and the
candidates. The general replied without
the slightest hesitation, giving opinions
on the rival candidates. With unusual
frankness he expressed the greatest posi-
bic hostility TO Senator John Sherman.
So vigorous was his language concerning
this gentleman that | hesitated when l
came TO write out what he had said.
The general talked with great rapidity
and freedom for about fifteen minutes,
and then he stopped suddenly. his face
assumed an expression of stolidity like
that of craven image, and not another
word would he say upon any other politi-
cal subject. Still what he had said was
quite enough TO make great sensation.
When | came TO write out the interview
| | was SO doubtful about the expressions oil
| opinion with regard to Senator Sherman
| that modified them considerably. 1t has
| been my experience as an interviewer oil
| public men that they do not love the con-
| troyersies which sometimes arise from
| their publicly expressed utterances. An
| interview dlscredited by the person inter
| viewed is absolutely worthless, and SC
| with public men of high position upon a
| subject of great importance 1 have in.
| variably made it a rule to submit the in.
| terview 10 the person giving il for revi
| sion. My visit TO the general upon the oc
| casion mentioned was in the morning.
| That afternoon, after | had written out
/ the interview | sent note TO Genera
| Grant and asked him if he would like tc
| see it written out He wrote back a very
| polite letter saying hs would be much
! pleased to see it. / called upon Genera