Year: 1869

sold Hen waden aad General Grant


Tho Cigar In the White House.


The report which we published yesterday Of
the little familiar conversation the day before
between ''Old Ben Wade" and General Grant
is very interesting. sold Ben, as bold and
fearless pioneer abolitionst, as leading
republican politician, and as reformer on
negros rights, womens rights and the rights
of labor has the record of stout and aggres-
sive old Puritan of the school Of Cromwelrs
''Ironsides;" but as philosopher on the
retired list Of politicians he is, in his rough
way, really charming. Having come within
one vote Of the White House before the nomi-
nation of Grant, and having no politicians or
place-hunters to fear and no favors to ask, be
can afford to speak his mind freely to the
Gsueral, as he did. We find, too, in the con-


idences exchanged between these two extra
ordinary men some facts from the one and
SONS hints from the other worth remembering.
General Grant, for instance, says that the
White House sis not what it is cracked up to
be )" that SIT is hard work, hard work, and
small thanks;" that sit is hopeless
task to try to please everybody that friends
are exorbitant in their demands, and that
private life is the best after ALL ''That's
been the complaint" said Wade, ''of every
President ; and yet every politician
in the country is crazy for the Presi-
dency." He might have added that not
withstanding the galley slaves life of
the President since the time of Jackson, who
began the mischief of a Wholesale distribution
Of the spoils to his party politicians, we have
not had more than one or two Presidents who
the country upside down to get a sec ond term;
and that the only one since Jackson elected to
second term Lincoln) was the only one OF
the lot who made no efforts to get It,


But while the President and Mr.. Wade, his
confidential adviser, smoked their pipe Of
peace together, OF their friendly cigar, which
Is the same thing, sold Ben" got off good
hint or two In the way of advice, especially in
these remarks--that he would be his own mas


ter, anyhow and that ''When I was in the
Senate I never allowed any Of those fellows
to boss me-" and 10 this, II would do as well
as GOULD for my friends and let the other
fellows growl and 60 to the devil. They
would make noise, anyhow" We think that
General Grant may advantageously ponder
upon these things through the smoking of many
u quiet cigar, when there is no scheming or
begging politician near to disturb his renec-
tiOns.


In the next place il is curious to relate that
on the same day Of this historical visit
of Mr.. Wade the President was honored
with another visit from ''the man Of
Ross" or rather from Ross himself,
the man of Kansas, who could have made
Wade President, but preferred Andy Johnson.
The same Ross who, not long ago, In high
dudgeon about some petty Office, told the
President to go to hell, and that he, the indig-
nant Ross, would never trouble him with
another call. This next visit was short and
polite on both sides; but there was no ex-
change of cigars, as in the meeting with
Wade Here, then, we see the important dis
tinction between cigar and no cigar in the
White House. When the President passes
over his cigar case to visitor, or vice verso,
it means confidence and business, as between
friends; when there is no Introduction of the
cigar il is simply visit of ceremony or official
routine. We think, however, If Ross had
offered the President first rate cigar it would
have been fine stroke of diplomacy. 1t
would have signifed, IL ask pardon, Mr..
President. take II all back and wish 1t to
end in smoke" But Ross evidently does not
understand these nice expedients of diplo-
macy, and so he still appears as only the place
hunting politician. Finally, we think 1t ad-
visable to cay that it win be in bad taste for
the politicians generally, in visiting the Pres


dent, to expect or try the example of Mr..
Wade with his confidential cigar. As in the
calls of ladies upon each other it is only the
favored few who are invited to lunch, so In the
calls upon the President it Is only few who
are invited to smoke with him or who may
judiciousy pass him the confidential cigar,
unless you have something to say about Cuba.



RAILWAY CoNsoLIDATfoN.-At through rail-
way corporation between the cities Of New
York and Chicago seems an accomplished
tart pouy that Comn,ofore Vanderbilt has on