Year: 1868

a correspondent writes the follow
ing note, and as the same inquiry is
frequently made by others who hon.
estly fear TO trust the highest Office in
the nation in the hands Of a man
gwen TO the excessive use of intOXicat-
ing liquors, we give some space to the
matter in reply to our correspondents
Which is as follows:


Editors Blade There is a great
deal of inquiry here in regard to Gen.
Grants moral character: and in re-
gard TO his use of spirituOus drinks.
mere are a good many cOpperheads
VINO charge that he is agreat drunk
ara. Please inform US through the
columns of the Blade whether there
Is any foundation for these charges or
not, and oblige, MANY READERS.


We thought the silly charges trump
cd up some time ago against Gen.
Jrant'a character for sObriety had
been so thoroughly refuted that they
would need no further attention.


Some months ago. Theodore Tilton
editor of the New York IlBdeDendent
was in Washington, and was imposed
upon with the silly story that General
Grant had been seen on a Sunday
drunk on the streets of Washington.
With greater haste than wisdom he
hurried offa letter to his paper giving
currency to the charges. 1t was a
mean thing for a man in Mr.. TiltOn's
position to do, and he was soon heartily
ashamed of it, and sorry that he had
allowed himself to be thus imposed
on. There was not a particle of truth
in the story, and Mr.. TiltOn, as soon as
he was satisfied that he had been i'm
posed upon, made the amend hOnOra-
bLe.


We know that during the war
stories of Grants drunkenness were
circulated by his enemies, but on in
vestigatiOn the charges were, in every
instance, found to be without fOunda-
ton In truth. The elamented President
Lincoln remarked to one who went to
him with this charge against Grant,
that he wished all his Generals would
use Grants whisky.


Before the Chicago Convention this
charge against General Grant was
thoroughly investigated by a number
Of gentlemen who felt very keenly
the disgrace that has been brought up
on the country by Andrew JOhnsOn's
drunkenness, and who were determin-
ed to oppose his nomination if there
should be any truth in the charges.
They were soon completely satisfied
that the charges were maliciOusly
false in every particular, and that Gen.
Grant was man Of strictly temperate
habits.


If the Democrats to whom our cor
respondent refers will consult the most
influential and respectable papers of
their party, they will find that this
charge against the General was some
time ago abandoned by them. There
are, of course, through the country,
some Insignificant Democratic sheets,
of neither character nor influence
which persist in the charge. 1t mat
tiers not to such as these whether it is
true or false. 1t serves their purpose
to injure as they think, a political
opponent, and that is all they care
for.


Gen. Grant is a regular attendant at
one of the Methodist churches in
Washington, and those who know
him best are the most emphatic in
their praises of the purity of his life.


His public history has been such as
to give the lie to the vile charges of
dissipation.


Our correspondent and his friends,
who have had some anxiety concern
ing this matter, may quiet their fears.
They will never have occasion to blush
for General Grant when he becomes
President, as they and the whole cOun-
try have had to do for Andrew John
son.-FFODl the Toledo Blade.