New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1899-07-05

1 |
I|GR NJ ca THEM
AN INCIDENT OF JofiN6oN's'FAMous
SWING ABOUND THE CIRCLE
q Painful Spectacle Which the Gen-s
eral Brought 10 a Close by Forcing
the Tumultuous Crowd to Listen to
the President.
There is nothing in history that cor.
responds to that wonderful swing OF
President johnson from Washing ton to.
Chicago by way Of Robin Hoods barn.
Mr.. johnson planned the trip with in
finite cunning. He prided himself on
being a commoner, and he believed
that he understood the people and
that IL he could meet them face to face
he could convince them that the presi-s
tdent was right and congress wrong To
get the love of the people he carried
with him General Grant, Admiral Far
iragut, Secretaries Seward, WeIles and
randall, General Custer and other men
well known to the people He reason
Led that, accompanied by the popular
idols 4of the day, he would be sure OF
enthusiastic option everywhere. That
was all that he asked. Give him q
| big crowd, and he was confident that
he could win them over.
The president started from Wash
fington with a chip on his shoulder The
very fist crowd he met knocked 1t off.
without ceremony. 1t soon became
clear the people were In a resentful
mood, and after two or three clashes
some of Mr.. Johnson's best friends
recommen ended a change of programme.
Many. believed that the president, see
ing the mood Of the people,, would
yield, but they didn't know. the man.
had seen him face all sorts Of crowds
| while he was military governor Of
Tennessee. I had heard him scold the
leading citizens Of Nashville as he
would lot of school children; had
seen him, when a mob threatened his
life, stride out into the street and
march the full length Of the city at the
head Of procession, carrying the stars
and stripes, and knew that he would
| relish keenly scrap with those who
| defied him 5s. sss .
At one point crowd Of sc, 900 people
had gathered, mainly to see Grant
Farragut and Seward There was ire
| mendous enthusiasm over the party,
| and the president was elated But
when he rose to speak the crowd boot
ed and Kissed and set up great shout
I for Grant. The people had seen through
the presidents scheme and were turn
ing the tables on him by using Grant
and Farragut to humiliate and punish
| him. The president saw the strategy
Of the move, and he was as furious as
he was helpless. In every interval Of
quiet he would attempt to speak, but
every word he uttered would be lost In
the thunder Of the shouts for Grant.
It was a painful spectacle, and every
body was embarrassed. The crowd
would not listen to the chairman or
any other local celebrity.
General Custer, then at the height OF
his popularity, stepped forward in his
dramatic, imperious way, believing
that he could quiet the tumult The
crowd was friendly, but it howled him
down, and the dashing cavalryman
took his seat, with the remark that he
would like to clear the grounds with a
brigade Of cavalry,
johnson, looking down on the tums,!t,
saw smiling, contemptuous faces, but
no hatred. He turned to Grant who
had retired to the rear of the platform,
and said petulantly, General, you will
have to speak to Them
General Grant said decisively, 81 will
not
Then the president said, more gra-
ctously, won't you show yourself.
| general"
Grant stepped forward, and, after a
| round Of cheers, the people were as
quiet as church in prayer time Wait
ing an instant, Grant raised his hand,
| made q gesture toward Johnson and
| p<hAN ~SACdAAy, Int pIVSlOcuL III LIE
| United States"
The incident was simple one, but 1t
spoke volumes. Grants face was full
Of indignation and reproach, and the
| crowd, accepting his rebuke, listened
to the president for an hour. And the
president did not spare the people. He
scolded them to his hearts content, re
Piled to all their taunts, talked back to
every man that opened his mouth and
seemed to enjoy the performance as a
war horse would a battle. The people
took the scolding in good part and re
allied that they had come in contact
with new sort Of president. They
heard him Id respectful silence, but
| they disapproyed Of him, as the presi-
dent knew when the votes were count
| ed at the election that fall
| Stewards face at such meetings was