Year: 1869

Idon,t sneak Of such As we imported, but what we
coined ourse,ves-that vast amount dug out OF our
own EARTH why, 1t E locked up In the vaui's oi sne
credit arlstocraoy Now, SIR, 1t is singular tnins
that no country yet has ever paid on great ma
tional debt without reputation. 1t may startle
you to hear It, but Is true. Look over history ana
you viii nnd am right and wherever yoa will nnd
a permanent national debt, one that has not been
PAID or you win fnd there ia no freedom. spain is
not free France is not free, Russia s not
free England is not free, because each Oh
those countries has permanent natiohai
debt ii 10 in the nature OF things, for wherever
there are power and moneyed aristOcracy there IL
always desire for union between the two. here
we have an executive power controlled oy
the bondholders Grant Is ruled by MIS-
cradle set of hucksters and bondholders.
He is in their hands completely. and there
fore we are in danger. The country is In peru
for the bondhoders striving to rule the govern
ment. The people ought to be made to understand
this condition The people need to be indoctrfnated
with the truth, and you gentlemen OF the press can
do it. You write o great deal and all that, Out
sometimes you write things and shoot OH
to the public without due consideration. You
do good deal of harm, and 1t takes good
deal of time TO remove the effect. Now you have an
opportunity to do good BY explaining these matters
to the people through the press The farmer and





posed to do what they think right. You
can show them the right. They have an
interest in doing what s best but you must explain
what the best course s and then they will adoptit.
So you must make them understand what produce Is
worth and what the credit Of the bondholder Is good
for. You must give proper direction and these
VIII follow.


CoRREsPoNDENr-what do you regard as the
proper course for the crisis


ANDY JoHNsoN-Why, sir i sometimes wonder
whether there be not some strange hallucination
over me. Iput my hand to my head and ask myself
If am sane. I find myself use arguments
that were deemed sensible and irressti.
bic by some Of the greatest minds OF the
country, ana yet they are unneeded, perhaps
laughed at. l have found myself obliged to think
deeply, when was President, over great constitu.
tional questions. have called to my aid the most
capable minds in the country, and have drawn from
them their advice and wisdom, and then comparing
all, and adding what little might arise in
my own mind have endeavored to present
a close, cogent logical statement to the people, and
vet have seen such arguments fall upon the public
mind just like water on ducks back. They rolled
of without making an impression, as drops Of water
from the back Of duck. l have been
almost stunned at the apathy in the
public mind. Talk OF the constitution and





violable, and you deemed scarcely worthy of an
answer other than laughter. What we want, what
the country demands, is solid, constitutional
government. Take my own State Of Ten
nessee, and only use it as an illustration, there
all the wealth, all the element that pays the taxes,
that combines the intelligence and respectabiity Of
the State, is deprived OF the ballot. Fifty thousand
negroes, with twenty thousand whites, make gov.
ernment there for one million two hundred
thousand people. Seventy thousand out OF
voting population of two hundred thousand
make the laws, while that seventy thousand does
not represent the wealth, respectablity or inteli-
gence Of the State. Seventy thousand voters en-.
slave one hundred and thirty thousand voters and
population Of twelve hundred thousand.


CoRREsPoNDENT-What do you think will be the
result Of the contest In Tennessees


ANDY JoHNsoN-I think Senter viii be elected
Thousands who remained quiet peIurr now ec-
lively at work In tho State. Thousands who kept
away from the polls are now making themselves
heard and are determined upon being heard II they
be not allowed to vote. They will talk and talk
until they make public sentiment unanimous for
justice and fair play. That Is what is being done in
Tennessee now. Even Old BrOwnlow Is coming
around wishing to be on the winning side and seeing
the change coming. You notice he opposes further
prescription. He does this not from principle but
from policy. 1t is precisely the same way In
Virginia and other Southern States. / tell
you, sir, II this country is to be kept from despo
tism, anarchy or Imperialism, the nucleus has to
come from the South, when restored II will be
small at first, but mark me, SIR 1t Will
come that way. Grant would see this II he
had an idea in his head, but he has not.
He has no political creed at all. would
rather have'a good hereto than man without any
faith. would place more dependence on such a
man. As said before ne Ia mere incident. There
has been great social upheavai and Grant is left
on the top and thinks there is something In him. 1t
Is precisely like volcanic disturbance The natural
condition OF the earth is broken up strata after
strata Is broken through things are displaced ana
turned upside down and what should be at the bot
tom is thrown high up. That is Just Grants case
Why, Ben Butler had wonderfully correct idea of
Grant, He used to come to see me much at one
time and expressed the profoundest contempt for
Grant. His estimate OF Grant was about the same
as my own. He thought Grant could be made do any,
thing, that he could be made complete tool and that
II he desired he could have himself invited to Grants
house. 1t happened precisely so, afterward Just as
Butler boasted. You remember Butler was invited
to Grants house, ana 1t was brought about
by Butler himself Butler understands Grant
thoroughly. ] have no hesitation In declaring that
Grant Is mean, avarlcous, cunning, spteful man
a complete bundle Of petty jealousies spites and
les He has no courage. / made him
fairly quail before my glance at that Cabinet
meeting when / asked him about that famous cor.
respondence concerning stanton. asked him ques
tlon after question: and he quaed. When finished
be stood up took his hat In his hand, and In mean
sneaklng way, said, 'Gentlemen, have you any more
questions to ask" and skunk out OF the ROOM I
convicted him Of lying and cowardice then and you
remember all about 1t, sir. for you published IL at
the time.


The ex-President said great many other things
spicy and interesting, but as the hour Is SO late am
Obliged to break or.


Secretary Robeson's Good Points--How He


?. - Obtained His Appointment.


President Grant seems TO be governed very much
by the same principles In the choice Of bis Cabinet
ofcers tnat he Is In the selection Of his horses The
-, a., ~ sh,s s nnnJ X AZ .xaa syN