Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-01
EXPLAINED BY TAFT
HIS REFERENCE TO GRANTS
INCLINATION TO DRINK.

Secretary Taft made a statement last
night for publication when he learned
that his reference IN his Memorial day
address in New York to Gen. L. s.
Grants resignation from the army prior
TO the civil war had caused considerable
comment. He said:
Il am very much distressed that any
thing, have said should be construed to
be an attack upon Gen. Grants mem
ory. l yield to no man in my admira-
,ion for Gen Grant. In my high estimate
of his remarkable qualities and character
and OF the great debt that the nation
owes him. In my memorial address l at
tributed his resignation from the army IN
1854 to his weakness for strong drink
because from Mr.. Garland's life OF Gen.
Grant and the evidence he cites. and
from other histories. l supposed II was
undoubtedly true.
II referred to the matter only because
ii seemed to me that II was one or the
great victories OF his life that he suDse-
Quently nvercame the weakness The won
der of his life was that with all the dis
couragements that he encountered before
the civil war including this. he became
The nations chief instrument In suppress
ing the rebellion. venture to say that
no impartial man can read my Memorial
day address and say do not give to Gen
Grant place in history as high AZ that
given him by any of his historians or his
admirers.
THE lives Of our great men belong t"
the country. If facts are told showing
that they had weaknesses which they
overcame. the force of their successful
example is greater to HIT the youth of the
country up to emulate them than if thu
are painted as perfect without temptation
and without weaknesses.
Regret and Surprise Expressed.
Mingled censure. regret aud surprise
found expression today among Washing
ron veterans OF The civil war because of
Secretary Tafts reference to the weak
ness OF Gen Grant for strong drink
Il regret exceedingly" said Mrs. John
A. Logan today, that any one should SD
far forget himself upon such AN occasion
and at such place To make such Il state
ment. which II would be impossible to
prove. think the memory of Gen. Grant
should be sacred Ia the nation.
4 past commander of the g. A. R.. in
expressing his regrets that Secretary
Taft should have found II necessary to
make the statement concerning the life
of Gen. Grant. declared:
Most great men in the past had expert
ences that reflected on their honor but /:
-
things from the grave of the past. Brave
generous men do not dig up such matters.
"AlI the great generals of the civil war
with the exception Of Howard I've heard.
were drinkers OF ardent spirits. What
ever may have been Gen. Grants weak
neSses. they cannot in one iOta det ra Ct
from the grandeur of his character In his
later life. nor from the great and signal
successes he won as leader OF men and
commander Of great armies.
do
pArtment commander. denied he state
ment made by Secretary Taft that Gen.
Grant left the army because ils feared ne
would be court-martialed and dismissed.
He said Gen. Grant In his memoirs ex-
plains his reasons at some length for re-
signing from the army while he was sta
toned in California during the gold fever
period when provisions were so high In
price that he could not on his salary sup
port his wife and several children Gen
Grant had said that the man cook for his
army mess received more salary than he
tSrant) did captain.