The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-14

world from the standpoint OF a presi-
dent. believe the United States would
have been greatly benefited by him had
he had another term. Had he been
elected again he would have brought
about diplomatic relations which would
have brought us the bulk of the trade
of the Orient This would have meant
an increase to us of more than one
hundred million dollars a year. He
would have made the United States the
leading country of the world in the
eyes of the far East, and we should
have been looked upon as it's protector
and friend"
AUTHOR OF RECIPROCITY.
Speaking of our foreign trade, Col
Grant, had your father any ideas of re-
ciprocity as a means of increasing it,"
Yes" was the reply. Gen. Grant
was in fact the real author of recipro-
city as an American policy. While he
was president 1T became advisable to
decrease the revenues, and there was a
movement in congress to take the taxes
off coffee and tea, which articles were
then called the poor mans luXurieS.'
Father sent for James G. Blaine, who
was then in congress. and told him
what afterward proved to be the fact
that if the United States took the tax
off coffee Brazil would add export
duties equal to the amount taken Off
and the people would have to pay the
same for their coffee nevertheless. He
advised Blaine to make the reduction
the basis of a reciprocity treaty, which
should prevent such action by Brazil
and at the same time increase our
trade. Mr.. Blaine liked the idea, but
he said that the cry Of the poor man s
luxuries' had been made so prominent
that he did not know that the mat
ter could be arranged. He kept faith
er's suggestion in mind, however, and
from it. I believe. evolved the recipro-
city scheme which is now connected
with his name"
A BOY IN BATTLE
The conversation here turned to Gen.
Grants war experiences. His father
took him to the field with him when he
was only twelve years Of age He was
with Grant in BATTLE again and again
throughout the war, and was close to
him throughout the whole Of the Vicks-
burg campaign. At this time he was
wounded and he had many narrow es-
capes. l asked him how the general
happened to allow him to come to him.
He replied: MY father liked to have
me with him. l suppose he wanted me
to see something of the war. was only
twelve years of age, and was at school
at CoVlngton, Ky, in 1863 when he
wrote me that l could join him in the
field. l met him at Young's Point
where he was just before he attacked
V1ckSburg. l remember the first thing
L did on my arrival was to visit the
gunboat Benton with him. This was
the flagship Of Admiral Porter. I was
shown over the gunboat while father
talked to the admiral, and 1 have since
understood that while [ was absent
father first suggested passing the bat
teries Of Vicksburg. 1t was this sug-
gestion that brought about the cam
paign which was afterward carried
out"
Were you on the boat when they
ran the battery?" 1 asked
Yes, l was with father. We had six
gunboats and three transports. The
Gunboats were to engage the enemy
while the transports got by. 1 remem-
Der there were bales of hay packed
around the boilers in order to protect
them. The night we started it was very
dark. All of our lights were put out
We left about 10 o'clock. We had not
gone far, however, before a rocket went
up from the shore. Then a cannon ball
flew across the river in front of our
beats. A moment later the flames
burst out of a house at the little town
of De Soto, opposite Vicksburg. Then
another building was fired on the river
front and soon there were fires burning
all along the shore so that the river
was almost as bright as day. Through
this flaming pathway moved our six
g'unboats. 1 remember it seemed to me
that, they looked like great black tur-
ties. Behind us came the@three trans
ports, all floating directly toward the
batteries of Vicksburg AS we went
onward the guns on the hills opened
their fire, the batteries sent broadsfde
after broadside, and in less than ten
minutes all of our boats were in the
midst of the battle. You must remem-
Der 1 was only a boy of thirteen and
the scene was terrible one to me- Our
beats were pouring out shot and she'll