Many have asked them for mere
curiosity's sake, and to all such my answers have been
as short and abrupt as was consistent with common
politeness. I have observed that it is this class of
people who start rumors, sometimes harmless, but more
often the cause of needless trouble and ill-feeling.
I have considered such a class dangerous, and have
therefore avoided them as much as it was possible. I
will mention a single instance where such danger has
been made manifest.
A Democratic newspaper, published I know not where,
in summing up the faults of the Republican party,
took occasion to advert to West Point. It asserted in
bold characters that I had stolen a number of articles
from two cadets, had by them been detected in the very
act, had been seen by several other cadets who had been
summoned for the purpose that they might testify
against me, had been reported to the proper authorities,
the affair had been thoroughly investigated by them, my
guilt established beyond the possibility of doubt, and
yet my accusers had actually been dismissed while I was
retained.* This is cited as an example of Republican
rule; and the writer had the effrontery to ask, "How
long shall such things be?" I did not reply to it then,
nor do I intend to do so now. Such assertions from such
sources need no replies. I merely mention the incident
to show how wholly given to party prejudices some men
can be.
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