The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-04-30
GRANT A GREATER WARRIOR THAN
MARLBOROUGH

Mr.. Stephen B. EIkins. sometimes from
West Virginia. at others from whatever place
it's most convenient to be from familiarly
known until recently as Steve by all the
bar-room bummers and ward politicians of
Washington and New York cities. is now
very great man. Steve" has long purse,
in filling which they do say that he was
not over particular; so it occurred to that
good man. BENJAMIN Harrison. that "Steve's"
familiarity with the boys" and his financial
ability TO import negroes into West Virginia
at election times-that State having no regis.
tration laws-mIght make him very useful in
connection with the next Presidential nomi-
nation and election. Accordingly the good
Benjamin. as he had previously done in the
case Of pious Wanamaker, made Steve"
Cabinet officer. the difference being that pious
John had already rendered his corruption
service while "Steve's" was yet to be rem
dered.
Steve" was of military age during the
late war, but having unfnchingly and sue
cessfnlly evaded the conscrpt officers. war
was determined TO be his forte. and he was
selected for the post of Secretary of War
some months back. No man living was more
astonished at his appointment a. Secretary Of
War than Steve" himself. and from two
points of view; first. that it should ever have
entered into the head of any man to make
him Cabinet officer at all. and, second, that
he should have been selected for the office Of
war. However. to the mind of good man
like Benjamin Harrison trifies OF that sort are
never TO be considered when Presidential
nominations and elections are in hand. SO
Steve was duly gazetted Secretary of War.
Well. since it turned out that Chill had
already agreed to our demands before Mr..
Harrison sent her that famous utimatum.
aud since the sequel shows that Lord Sails
bury had already virtually agreed to a DodUs
Uircndt before hs sent him that powder and
ball cable, "Steve's" chances of showing the
world what he knew of war were manfestly
growing small. 1t was plain that the country
was going very soon TO relieve itself of the
services of that good man Benjamin, and
there was no probability that his successor
would think "Steves' peculiar adaptation to
the Republican politics of West Virginia con-
stituted very important qualifications for the
leader and guide of our armies. Therefore it
was plain to Steve that. unless he soon
found an opportunity 10 show the world what
he knew of war, his accidental incumbency
of the war office would close in inglorious
and unknown ease.
The opportunity has come and Steve"
has seized on it, At a banquet ut belmont
cos on Wednesday night in New York 10
celebrate General Grants birthday Steve"
was the special orator, and to show that he
knew all about war, he said: Grant was
greater than Marlborough in battle and no
clearer or more classic English ever came
from general than that penned by Grant on
the battlefield
The latter OF these assertions may be en-
trely true. but then Steve" by virtue of his
official position having great advantage of
the generals, ought to have had generosity
enough not To- be so hard on their English
However Steve took full advantage of his
opportunity TO show what he knew OF war
and he hes shown it. Good-natured, bull
dog. blundering Grant. greater in battle than
Marlborough, second among European gen.
erals to Napoleon alone Whew.,
All our readers recollect the incident of the
Yankee publisher who. for motives purely
patriotic and disinterested, wanted to get Mr.
Simon Sugg's picture inserted into his
.monthly periodical. and how that gentleman
on finding in the course of the negotiation
that it would cost him $50, wrote the editor
the following letter:
Dear Mr.. Editor-In your D. S. which
seems to be the GREEN of your correspondents
you say | can't git in your book without pay
ing one hundred and fifty dollirs-pretty tall
entrants feel suppose though children and
niggers half price. believe III pass
And so say We. We believe we will pass