Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-12

some cruel fate was hanging over Washing
ton, UNTIL weary of the alarms, General
Grant sent Sheridan to devastate the rich
valley of the Shenandoah, that it might
no longer feed the enemy in his march upon
Washington by that highway.
When think of the appalling crisis to the
federal government that would have follow
ed the capture Of its seat of power, find it
very difficult to understand the folowip 6
comparison made by General Grant of the
two civil heroes
Mr.. Lincoln was not timd, and was will
ing to trust his generals in making and
executing their plans. The Secretary was
very timid, and it was impossible for him
to avoid interfering with the armies cover
ing the capital when it was sought to de-
1end 1t by an offensive movement against
the army guarding the confederate capital.
he could see our weakness, but he could not
see that the eEemy was in danger. The
enemy would not have been in danger if
Mr.. Starton had been in the field. These
characteristics of the two officials were
Clearly shown shortly after Early came so
near getting into the capital"
During all this time Of terrible strain in
his efforts to prevent the capture of the CITY,
the Secretary did not interfere with General
Grants plans, nor call for his troops, and l
think in his ron-interference he committed
grave mistake
The President, however, did become
alarmed, and very properly so, when, on
sunday, the 10th, just two hours and a half
after Early commenced his march from the
Mahocacy for Washington, he te!egraphcd
G y. sH Grant that there was no force here
nj Tor the field; that Wallace was badly
beaten at the Monocacy, and that he Grant
should provide to retain his hold where he
vas and bring the rest promptly to Wash
inSton. Twenty-four hours after this tele-
gram was sent Early was within four miles
OF the White House.
How Stanton Aided Grant.
In the call for To-day men the Secretary
IN his appeal said that our arms then an
peared to be victorious under Grant, and
asked for helping hand for him and for
the speedy restoration of peace, and de-
clafed that it was intended to keep up the
national force until rebellion was over
thrown. l know that Mr. Stanton con-
tflbuted largely to Gen. Grants success
and to his fame He constantly advised the
people, through Gen. Dix at New York, of
the sure Success of Grant against Lee and
IN one of his kilograms the Secretary sent
the words of Grant in his march to the
James: Il propose to fight 1t out on this
me II 1t takes all summer" From that
telegram to Gen. Dix at midnight these
words became famous, and went ringing to
the people and to the press in all the loyal
states. II was the campaign cry of vic
tory during Grants candidacy for Presi-
dent, and the people went to the polls saw
ing that they would vote on that line If it
took all summer. 1t was made the SUBJ
1ect of song in the home and in the theater.
IN the streets and in the clubs. 1t rang
through the convention that nornipa ted
Gen. Grant, and was the theme for all
campaign speakers
On the night of the assas sina ton of Pres
ldent Lincoln, Secretary Stanton took in
slant steps for Gen Grants safety II
was the Secretary who inspired Congress
TO confer ON Grant the lieutenant-general-
ship, and 1t was Mr.. Stanton who first pro
posed that Grant should come to the Army
OF the Potomac. In Grant he found the
general he had been longing for and so
told the people, and in doing SO demanded
their lives and their blood to save this re-
PUBIC 1t was Mr.. Stanton who saw in
advance the deplorable trouble with Presi-
dent johnson, and who suggested to Com
sress that Grant be made general with
powers and authority greater than that OF
the PRESIDENT, in view of the trouble which
MI. Stanton had feared from the new sur
roundings at the White House 1t was
Mr. stanton who summoned Gen. Grant to
meet him at Nashville and then went him
sen at an appalling speed to save the de-
1eated army al Chattanooga
When the war was over Mr. Stanton's
treuDie with President Johnson nearly
broke his heart. and 1 have recently read
IN the press statements attributed to Gen.
Schofeld that Gen. Grant opposed Mr.
Star ton as Secretary, and that President
Johnson's Gesire to get rid of the Secretary
Was brought about through Gen. Grant.
These alleged statements of Gen. Schofed,
l am persuaded, from what l then knew
and heard are well founded
L do not think Mr.. Stantons equal could
have beer found in all the world for the
mastery of the perils which confronted the
republic during the war. He did more in
making anc in pushing the armies upon the
foe than any other person in or out of the
army. He was the aggressive power of the
government His was the great brain tina t
knew the Importance of working while it
was day.
This WIS the estimation President Lin
coin had of him. and the day before the
murder of the President he came to the
War Department to confer with the Secre-
tary upon the great problem of reconstruct
ton. and 1t was then that Mr.. Stanton
plead with the President that such recon-
struction should not he delegated to the
rebel legislatures or allowed to be effected
by rebel organizations, but to be under fed
eral authority and control.
When, finally. he left the War Depart
ment Congress by resolution thanked him
for 1.-The great ability, purity and fidelity
with which he had discharged his public
duties" The legislatures and the people of
the loyal states sustained him, while his
enemies were heaping upon him the widest
abuse
For four years he had fought the enemy
at the front, at the rear and upon both
TANKS. and he had conquered. In his last
battle. as Secretary. he fought that enemy
at the White House and he was conquered.
A E. H. JOHNSON.