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The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant v. 29; October 1, 1878-September 30, 1880 (Hardcover, Parental Adviso)
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The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant v. 29; October 1, 1878-September 30, 1880 (Hardcover, Parental Adviso)
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By late 1878, after a year and a half abroad, Ulysses S. Grant had
visited every country in Europe, and he was homesick. "I have seen
nothing to make me regret that I am an American. Our country: its
resources; energy, inginuity and intelligence of the people,
&c. is more appreciated abroad than at home." Grant decided to
return through Asia. After "a delightful run" to Dublin and
northern Ireland, he left Paris with his wife Julia, son Frederick,
and a few friends in January, 1879. Heading east, Grant kept a
travel diary. On the voyage to Bombay, travelers socialized on
deck. "Four of the lady passengers and one of the gentlemen Amature
Artists, amused themselves by sketching me." Crossing India
overland, the Grant party rode elephants, visited the Taj Mahal,
and witnessed Hindu ceremonies. From Calcutta, Grant sailed for
Burma, Singapore, and Siam, where he found young King Chulalongkorn
"quite impressive in appearance and intelligent." After stops at
Hong Kong and Canton, Grant wrote: "I am satisfied that the Chinese
are badly treated at home by europeans as well as when they
emigrate." At Tientsin, Grant befriended Viceroy Li Hung-chang,
"probably the most intelligent and most advanced ruler--if not
man--in China," and at Peking he agreed to mediate a dispute with
Japan over the Ryukyu Islands. While China languished, Japan had
made "almost inconceivable" progress since the 1868 Meiji
Restoration. During a "very delightful" ten weeks, Grant met the
Emperor, visited shrines and hot springs, attended a play and a
lantern parade in his honor, and held talks on the Ryukyu dispute.
He departed "with assurances that pleasant recollections of my
present visit will not vanish while my lifelasts." Throngs welcomed
Grant to San Francisco on September 20, 1879. Grant assured all
that the United States stood second to none in the world in its
people, institutions, and ideals. He told Confederate veterans: "I
have an abiding faith that we will remain together in future
harmony." Grant toured Yosemite and visited scenes from his army
days in Oregon and Washington Territory, then headed east again,
his train cheered at every stop. At Galena and Chicago he basked in
the warmth of ovations and old friends. Another series of crowds
and banquets culminated in December at Philadelphia, where Grant
completed his circuit of the globe. As 1880 began, Grant headed
south. He marveled at Florida's potential and groused at Cuba's
heat, then reached Mexico, a country he had long ago admired as
part of an occupying army. "The climate is perfection, the scenery
unsurpassed and the people as clever and hospitable as it is
possible for them to be." Grant met influential leaders, toured
silver mines and old battlefields, and encouraged development.
Grant returned to New Orleans and more banquets and speeches,
touting reconciliation and praising black advancement. His progress
north took on the air of a campaign as the Republican convention
loomed. Newspapers debated a third term while Grant kept silent. In
June, at Chicago, delegates split between Grant and James G.
Blaine, and settled on dark horse James A. Garfield. Grant
expressed relief at avoiding a "most violent campaign." Grant spent
the summer in the Rocky Mountains inspecting mines, sometimes by
pack mule, for possible investments. In September, back in Galena,
he rejoined the political fray, attacking Garfield's opponent,
Major GeneralWinfield S. Hancock, in an interview. "He is the most
selfish man I know.... He can not bear to hear anyone else praised,
but can take any amount of flattery." With the election weeks away,
and the outcome in doubt, Grant took to the stump. "I am a
Republican," he told an Ohio crowd, "as the two great political
parties are now divided, because the Republican Party is a national
party seeking the greatest good for the greatest number of
citizens."
General
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