the Presidency. He put the subject by, saying, "Let us first settle the war, and it will be time enough then to talk upon that subject." A little while afterwards some one referred to a certain resolute effort to make him talked of as a candidate, and he then laid down his famous Side-walk Platform: "When this war is over," said he, "I intend to run for mayor of Galena, and if elected I intend to have the sidewalk fixed up between my house and the depot." Properly understood, this is a very quiet but very sarcastic valuation of office-seeking. Not long ago, Senator Wade complained to a newspaper reporter who immediately printed the story, that he "had often tried to find out whether Grant was for Congress or Johnson, or what the devil he was for, but never could get anything out of him, for as quick as he'd talk politics Grant would talk horse, and he could talk horse by the hour." This was a horrible irritation to the old politician, who could not be content to judge the man by his acts. This was a great error. One would imagine that of all men a veteran politician would have been first to recognize the utter emptiness of words and professions. If Gen. Grant's views are not consistent with the unbroken record of his whole life of action, he is the most gigantic hypocrite the world ever saw, and in that event it is certainly useless to try to make him expose himself now. If his views are in harmony with his acts, it is assuredly useless to state them, and as a respectable citizen and a man of dignified self-respect, he may justly be offended at such superfluous attempts to coax him to make affidavits to his own character. QUALIFICATIONS AS A RULER. 151 A Texas political editor, in November, 1867, while Gen. Grant was acting Secretary of War, pushed his way into the General's private office, and "had an interview" with him. He went right to work with his feelers, as is the method of this species of insect, and told Grant that "the people of his section wanted the General for President." Grant turned the subject. The editor, being one of that sort of "gentlemen' who see no connection between politics and politeness, turned the subject promptly back again, saying, "General, we want to run you for President, and I want to know what I can say when I return home." Grant answered with peremptory decision, "Say nothing, sir; I want nothing said." No other but a man of his peculiar character and power could have borne the ordeal of forming a part of the President's suite in his late unpopular progress through the Northern States. The discretion, delicacy and wisdom with which he sustained himself, show a character capable of the most skillful adaptations. We are indebted to his wise presence and temperate advice in averting the threatened danger of civil war in Maryland: for, like all wise and great Generals, Grant is duly impressed with the horrors of war, and will be always for every possible means of averting such an evil. Gen. Grant was trimphantly elected to the presidency in 1868, and the success of his administration, especially with reference to the financial interests of the country, has been generally acknowledged. The republican party in convention at Philadelphia, in June, 1872, placed him in nomination again for another term. CHAPTER III. WILLIAM LLOYD GARRISON. Mr. Garrison's Birth and Parents-His Mother-Her Conversion-His Boyhood -Apprenticed to a Printer-First Anti-Slavery Address-Advice to Dr. Beecher Benjamin Lundy-Garrison goes to Baltimore-First Battle with Slavery—In Jail-First number of the Liberator-Threats and Rage from the South-The American Anti-Slavery Society-First Visit to England-The Era of Mob Violence-The Respectable Boston Mob-Mr. Garrison's account —Again in Jail—The Massachusetts Legislature Uncivil to the Abolitionists— Logical Vigor of the Slaveholders-Garrison's Disunionism-Denounces the Church-Libera'ity of the Liberator-The Southerners' own Testimony-Mr. Garrison's Bland Manners-His Steady Nerves-His use of Language-Things by their Right Names-Abolitionist "Hard Language ;" Garrison's Argument on it-Protest for Woman's Rights-The triumph of his Cause-" The Liberator" Discontinued-Second Visit to England-Letter to Mrs. Stowe. WE have written the name of a man who has had a more marked influence on our late national history than any other person who could be mentioned. No man has been more positively active in bringing on that great moral and political agitation whose issues have been in those recent scenes and events which no American can ever forget. When we remember that it was begun by one man, singlehanded, alone, unfriended, despised and poor, we must feel in advance that such a man came of no common stock, and possessed no common elements of character. We are interested to inquire after the parentage and the early forming causes which have produced such results. In Mr. Garrison's case he frankly ascribes all that he is, or has ever been or done, to the training, example and influence of a mother whose 154 |