Evening journal., 1912-05-16
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
General Fred Grant and the
ViCiSSitudeS Of Politics
By Holland


A close personal friend Of General
Frederick Dent Grant said to me a
few days after the death of General
Grant:
Il think the time is now come wnen
the political experience which General
Fred Grant met with after the elec-
ton and Inauguration OF President
Mckinley may be told A few Of Cen
eral Grants friends knew Of that ex-
perience, for he had told them about
it, as he had me But he was not will
ing that there should be any public
mention made of it while he lived
General Grant was one of the
prominent citizens of New York state
who. in 1895. was in favor of the nom-
ination for President of William Nc
Kinley. For that reason he was not
elected a delegate to the Republican
convention at st. Louis; the New
York organization was naminally in
favor Of the nomination Of Governor
Levi p Morton, but was really sup
pOIllHR lnOUdS =. httu.
Mckinley knew that General Grant
favored his nomination. and he also
snew that General Grant had used
some influence which he possessed in
other States in behalf of Mckinley
The general went to St Louis and had
many discussions with delegates who
were somewhat doubtful whom they
should support.
Some weeks after the election Cen
eral Grant visited Major Mckinley by
invitation. The President-elect was
extremely cordial. He thanked Cen
eral Grant for his friendly services,
and in the course of the conversation
Mckinley intimated to General Grant
that if there was any appointment
which he. Grant, would like it would
be regarded as a favor II Grant would
mention II.
General Grant took this offer, in
direct as It was, as sincere one and
for that reason gave consideration to
it Subsequently he communicated
with Mckinley and said frankly that
II he could be appointed our diplo-
matte representative 10 one OF the
more important nations he would be
very glad Of the appointment. He said
furthermore that as he had already
been minister to Austria. It would be
gratifying to him II he were appointed
to a diplomatic position Of a little
higher rank than that of the Austrian
minister.
"A little later General Grant again
communicated with Mckinley in re-
sponse to request and stated frank
ly that he would be very glad to serve
as ambassador to Russia. In reply he
was informed that It was impossible
to appoint him ambassador to Russia,
since that Office had already been pro-
vided for
Again General Grant communicat-
ed with Mckinley, stating that he
would be glad to accept the post Of
minister TO Austria. since, while he
was minister to that country in Hsr-
risons administration he had made
many friends in Vienna. He was in
formed. however. that Mckinley found
! II impossible to nominate him minis
ter to Austria, since he had already
determined to appoint two citizens of
New York 10 important diplomatic
posts on the continent
Such are the vicissitudes Of poll
ties General Grant said, smiling dry
ly, 10 his friends. and 7 do not COM
plain
shortly before the inauguration Of
Mckinley, General Grant received a
communication from the President
elect asking him If he would accept
the post of assistant secretary Of war
That is another vicissitude OF
! politics. said General Grant TO his
friends, I cannot accept that offer
"He replied in a kindly communica-
ton 70 Mckinley declining the offer Of
assistant secretary Of war. He saw
nothing ahead but a return to pri-
vate life. after his term as police
commissioner of New York was ended
That office he was occupying when the
Spanish war broke out and he be-
gan anew his career as a soldier.
Nov. I have often wondered what
General Grants career would have
been had he accepted the offer of as
sistant secretary Of war The chances
are that he would have been COM
ueiled 10 stay in that office while the
Spanish war was in progress. n he
had done that he certainly could noi
have been restored 10 the United
states army and his title until his
death would have been colonel In
stead of msior-general"
Copyright, 1919. by f. ]. Edwards
All rights reserved }
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards VIII tell
Of theodore Roosevelt and General
/ f--o,4se Coraor.