Evening journal., 1912-12-19
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
An UnreCOrded Speech by
General Grant
BY Holland.

some time IN the lall OF lbbb 1 spent
an afternoon with General Augustus
L. Chetlain and his intimate personal
friend, John NJ. Francis. who few
years earlier, had served as Uuited
States Minister to Austria.
Something IN the course Of the con-
versation brought up a reference to
the now historic speech which Cen
erai Grant made at Warren, Ohio, in
the campaign Of 1880. in support of
the presidential candidacy Of General
James A. Garfield NIr Francis. said
General Grants speech at Warren
turned the tide which had been set
ting against Garfield so that it low-
ed very strongly in his favor / have
always regarded that speech as the
chief influence which brought about
the election Of Garfield for President.
But ! must say that ! was aston
ishod when heard that Grant was
going to talk on this memorable occa-
sion, for ! was one of those who be-
lieved that Grant couldn't make a
speech If he tried"
"A great many persons made that
mistake" declared General Chetlain,
but ] knew. when heard that
Grant was going to speak for Car
field at a great mass meeting in
Warren, that he would present a very
effective argument and that his ad-
dress would open the eyes Of the
American people to a gift of Oratory,
which none but those who like my
self. wor0 early associates of Grant,
ever knew that he possessed.
Il was elected captain OF the first
company Of volunteers, which, was
enlisted at Galena, ILL.,, I'm response
to President Lincoln's proclamation
calling for seventy-hve thousand
troops Grant would have Had my
place II he had been willing to ac-
cept the offer of the captaincy. He
declined II and ] was elected. But
Grant drilled the company and look
ed out for its equipment He went
to Springfield with it,
"Just after the enlistment Office
was opened at Galena we got word
that. il we could send somebody to
a little settlement a few miles out
side of the city to make an address,
we probably would be able to enlist
ten or fifteen men,
"I suggested to Grant who was
then clerk in his fathers leather
store, that he take John Rawlins, at
that time a young lawyer practicing
in Galcna. and drive out to that little
settlement. to make speeches at a pa
triotic mass meeting
Grant told me that he would 90
if Rawlins would go. He said I
can say a few words and they, per-
J.. I.a.aa
know that I was a United States Of
fcer I'm the Mexican war Rawlins
will make a good speech.
$50 will you, ] replied
81 knew perfectly we'll that a man.
who could talk as clearly, as luently
and as logically as Grant often used
to talk to people who met in his faith
\ er's leather store would be able to
make a stirring speech
well, he and Rawlins drove out to
the little settlement where they
found q considerable crowd awaiting
them I'm the school house. Grant
made the first address. II was en-
Enthusiastically received He did not
hesitate a minute II was fully as
good speech as was the one made
by Rawlins. who followed him. ! re-
called that speech when | heard that
Grant was going to make an appeal
for Garfield at the mass meeting in
Warren, Ohio, and ! felt confident of
his success as a public speaker.
"l know Grant we'll. He was my
roommate at Springfield, when om
regiment was being mustered in He
was not taciturn man. He was
really a great talkcr But he was
silent man I'm the war because he
knew that silence at that time was
Imperative
WAS the John Rawlins. the young
lawyer to whom you just referred
the man who aftorward became
Grants chief of stan and member
of his cabinot?' asked General Chet
lain.
He was the same man. the gem
eral replied
Copyright. 1912. by g. j. Edwards
All rights reseryed)
Tomorrow Mr. Edwards will tell of