Connecticut western news., 1900-02-08
GRANTCALMED THEM
AN INCIDENT OF JoHNsoN's FAMOUS
 SWING AROUND THE CIRCLE.
4 Painful Spectacle Which the Gem ~ral Brought to a Close by Forcing the Tumultuous Crowd to Listen to the President.


 <ral Brought to a Close by Forcing the Tumultuous Crowd Co Listen to the President.
 There is nothing in history that cor responds to that wonderful swing of President Johnson from Washington to Chicago by way of Robin Hoods barn. MT. Johnson planned the trip with in- finite cunning. He prided himself on being commoner, and he believed that he understood the people and that if he could meet them face to face he could convince them that the presi- dent was right and congress wrong. To get the love of the people he carried with him General Grant. Admiral Far ragut. Secretaries Seward. Welles and Randall. General Custer and other men we'll known to the people. He reason ed that accompanied hy the popular idols of the day. he would be sure of enthusiastic reception everywhere. That was all that he asked. Give him a big crowd. and he was confident that he could win them over.
 The president started from Wash. lngton with a chip on his shoulder The very fist crowd he met knocked 1t ofr without ceremony. It soon became clear the people were in a resentful mood. and after two or three clashes some of MT. Johnson's best friesds recommended a change of programme. Many believed that the president. see ing the mood of the people, would yield. but they didn't know rhe man. I had seen him face all sorts of crowds while he was military governor of Tennessee. l 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 l knew that he would relish keenly q scrap with those who defied him
 At one point crowd of c0.ooo people had gathered. mainly to see Grant, Farragut and Seward. There was tre- mendous enthusiasm over the party. and the president was elated. But ! when he rose to speak the crowd hoot- i cd and hissed 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 ' If the move. and he was as furious as ! he was helpless. In every interval of | luiet he would attempt to speak. but | every word he uttered would be lost in ! the thunder of the shouts for Grant. [ It was 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 hls 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 tumult, 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 10 speak to them."
 General Grant said decisively, "I win not"
 Then the president said. more gra- ciously, Won't you show yourself, general?"
 Grant stepped forward, and, after a round of cheers, the people were as quiet as a church in prayer time. Walt Ing an instant. Grant raised his hand made a gesture toward Johnson and said clearly. -The president of the United States"
 | The incident was a simple one. but it 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 scoldcd them to his hearts content, re piled to all their taunts, talked back tc every man that opened his mouth and seemed to enjoy the performance as s war horse would a battle. The people took the scolding in good part and re allzed that they had come iIt contact with a new sort of president They heard him in respectful silence, but they disapproved of him, as the presi dent knew when the votes were count ed at the election that fall
 Stewards face at such meetings was study. The wound in his neck wa: only fairly healed, and the people took deferential attitude toward him. Bu still everybody wanted to see him anC shake hands with him.
 Farragut, in crossing the rotunda oi the capitol. came upon a group of Ia dies. one of whom turned toward hin and eagerly inquired, Are you Mir Seward?" Faragut answered without a moments hesitation:
 "No; I am a handsomer man thar Seward. My name is Farragut "--Chi cago Inter Ocean.