cers) During President Grant's administrations the taxes had been reduced over $300,000,000, the national debt over $450,000,000, the interest on the debt from $160,000,000 to $100,000,000; the balance of trade had changed from $130,000,000 against this country to $130,000,000 in its favor; the reconstruction of the southern states had been completed; the first trans-continental railroad had been finished; all threatening foreign complications had been satisfactorily settled; and all exciting national questions seemed to have been determined and removed from the arena of political contests. Gen. Grant, while president, exhibited the same executive ability as in the army, insisting upon a proper division of labor among the different branches of the government, leaving the head of each department great freedom of action, and holding him to a strict accountability for the conduct of the affairs of his office. He decided with great promptness all questions referred to him, and suggested many measures for improving the government service, but left the carrying out of details to the proper chiefs. While positive in his views, and tenacious of his opinions when they had been formed after due reflection, he listened patiently to suggestions and arguments, and had no pride of opinion as to changing his mind, if convincing reasons were presented to him. He was generally a patient listener while others presented their views, and seldom gave his opinions until they were thoroughly matured; then he talked freely and with great force and effect. He was one of the most accessible of all the presidents. He reserved no hours that he could call his own, but was ready to see all classes of people at all times, whether they were high in position or from the ranks of the plain people. His patience was one of the most characteristic traits of his character, and his treatment of those who came in contact with him was frank and cordial to the highest degree. His devotion to his friends was proverbial, and his loyalty to others commanded loyalty from them, and accounted, in great measure, for the warmth and devotion of his followers. Wherever he placed trust he reposed rare confidence, until it was shaken by actual proofs of betrayal. This characteristic of his nature led him at times to be imposed upon by those who were not worthy of the faith he placed in them; but persons that once lost his confidence never regained it.
After retiring from the presidency, 4 March,
1877, Gen. Grant decided to visit the countries of
the Old World, and on May 17 he sailed from
Philadelphia for Liverpool on the steamer “Indiana,”
accompanied by his wife and one son. His departure
was the occasion for a memorable demonstration
on the Delaware. Distinguished men from all
parts of the country had assembled to bid him
good-by, and accompanied him down the river.
A fleet of naval and commercial vessels and river
boats, decorated with brilliant banners, convoyed
his steamer, crowds lined the shores, greeting him
with cheers, bells rang, whistles sounded from
mills and factories, and innumerable flags
saluted as he passed. On his arrival in Liverpool,
28 May, he received the first of a series of ovations
in foreign lands scarcely less cordial and
demonstrative than those which had been accorded him
in his own country. The river Mersey was
covered with vessels displaying the flags of all
nations, and all vied with each other in their
demonstrations of welcome. He visited the places of
greatest interest in Great Britain, and was accorded
the freedom of her chief cities, which means the
granting of citizenship. He received a greater
number of such honors than had ever been
bestowed even upon the most illustrious Englishman.
In London he was received by the queen
and the Prince of Wales, and afterward visited
her majesty at Windsor Castle. While he was
entertained in a princely manner by royalty, the
most enthusiastic greetings came from the masses
of the people, who everywhere turned out to
welcome him. His replies to the numerous addresses
of welcome were marked by exceeding good taste
and were read with much favor by his own
countrymen. Upon leaving England he visited the
continent, and the greetings there from crowned
heads and common people were repetitions of the
receptions he had met ever since he landed in
Europe. The United States man-of-war “Vandalia”
had been put at his disposal, and on board that
vessel he made a cruise in the Mediterranean,
visiting Italy, Egypt, and the Holy Land. He sailed
from Marseilles for India, 23 Jan., 1879, arrived at
Bombay, 12 Feb., and from there visited Calcutta
and many other places of interest. His journey
through the country called forth a series of
demonstrations which resembled the greetings to an
emperor passing through his own realms. He
sailed in the latter part of March for Burmah, and
afterward visited the Malacca peninsula, Siam,
Cochin China, and Hong-Kong, arriving at the
latter place on 30 April. He made a tour into the
interior of China, and was everywhere received
with honors greater than had ever been bestowed
upon a foreigner. At Pekin, Prince Kung
requested him to act as sole arbitrator in the settlement
of the dispute between that country and
Japan concerning the Loo Choo islands. His
plans prevented him from entering upon the duties
of arbitrator, but he studied the questions involved
and gave his advice on the subject, and the
matters in dispute were afterward settled without war.
On 21 June he reached Nagasaki, where he was
received by the imperial officials and became the
guest of the mikado. The attention shown him
while in Japan exceeded in some of its features
that which he had received in any of the other
countries included in his tour. The entertainments
prepared in his honor were memorable in
