Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-07-22
GRANTS SENSE OF HONOR.

Chicago Times-Herald: Great men
frequently discover that relatives are not
the most charming things to have or Gull
tivate, after greatness comes. Were it
possible to nduce public men Of the past
and present 70 reveal just what they
thought Of their relatives, the revela-
tons might furnish some most Interest,"
ing side lights on certain famous careers.
To Walpole is attributed the bitter ex-
clamatton:
Relatives are tails to already over
loaded kites"
This may be an unwelcore truth, since
history contains many instances where
cousins and aunts have proved treacher-
Gus stumbling blocks for ambitious lead
erS.
General Grant was at Memphis in COM
mand of the Army Of the West, and just
before his elevation to the command of
all the armies Of the union. when he re-
ceived word that bis father was about
to make his headquarters a visit. The
news did not please him. His staff no.
ticed his perturbation, but passed it by
without One night shortly
before the arrival of his sire he sent for
General Dickie. his chief of cavalry.
General Dickie afterward became chief
justice OF the supreme court Of Illinois,
and, strangely enough. died at Atlantic
City on the same day that Grant passed
AWE vat McGregor.
10 DlChle Generdl GfaNt said:
Il nave sent for you as d personal
friend. My father is coming TO visit me.
and what 1 have got to tell you about
that visit IS not pleasing to me, but
something must be done SOM of OF the
money sharks and cotton Spectators
have gained an un~warrantable influence
over the old man. and he IS really COM
ing down here to use his influence over
me 10 gain favors for them. This cannot
be done. l do not wish to wound his feel
ines. I do not wish him to know that I
understand the object of his visit. have
prepared a plan of action which l wish
you to aid me in carrying OUT
General Dickle understood the charae-
ter of Grant as few men did. He prom
Used his aid. General Grant then said:
You are relieved from all duty from
this time IN until the departure of my
father. The instant he arrives l wish
you to take him to 0 tent and enter
tain him there. Keep him there all the
time. Under no circumstances allow him
. to be with me alone While he is here"
General Dickie Immediately made pre-
parations for the old gentleman, and
when he came received him with open
arms. He was Very anxious to see his
! son, but glad to take Dickie's headquar-
tiers for hiss own, and pleased with the
cordially displayed toward him.. AS soon
as he was settled he made vigorous eff
forts to have a personal interview with
his son, but something always happened
to prevent.
Wherever he turned Dickie was by his
side. General Grant called on him daily.
but never alone. If he went to the gener-
ais quarters he always found him occu-
pied. If he tried to meet him in Dickie'S
tent Dickie was sure to be around. and
personal conversation was an impossi-
bility. At the end of four or five days the
old gentleman was very restless, but
there was no chance for him to protest
and no chance for him to get closer than
a public audience with his son. For near
ly ten days he made the effort, but failed,
and then left for home, happy as to the
entertainment he had received, but dis
mayed at his inability to see his son
alone. AS coon as he was gone Grant re-
stored General Dickie to cavalry duty,
but never referred again to the purpose
of his fathers visit. General Dickie told
the story shortly before his death to a
Chicago lawyer, but it has never been
printed until now.
In a semi-public letter written by Cen
eral Grant after his retirement from the
presidency there occurs the lines:
"Whatever mistakes l nave made in
my public life. 1 have never erred for my
own gain. What l have done for the re-
public has been from a sense of duty. and
not with any thought as to what i,
would profit me. Many unkind things
have been said and written of me bv
those who least know how l have been
situated, hut my acts have been inspired
by the highest sense of fealty to my
country and government