he allegation against Great Britain, growing out of her recognition,
in May, 1861, of the belligerent character of the Confederacy, could
be maintained upon the principles of public law. Upon his own judgment
he reached the conclusion that the act was an act of sovereignty within
the discretion of the ruler, for which a claim in money could not be
made. This opinion was accepted, finally, by his advisers, by the
negotiators, and by the country.

General Grant was not a trained statesman. His methods of action were
direct and clear. His conduct was free from duplicity, and artifice of
every sort was foreign to his nature. In the first years of his
administration he relied upon his Cabinet in all minor matters relating
to the departments. Acting upon military ideas, he held the head of a
department to his full responsibility, and he waited, consequently,
until his opinion was sought or his instructions were solicited.

In his conferences with the members of his Cabinet he expressed his
opinions with the greatest freedom, and, upon discussion, he often
yielded to the suggestions or arguments of others. He was so great
that it was not a humiliation to acknowledge a change in opinion, or
to admit an error in policy or purpose.

In his intercourse with members of Congress upon the business of the
Government, he gave his opinions without reserve when he had reached
definite conclusions, but he often remained a silent listener to the
discussion of topics which he had not considered maturely.

His politics were not narrow nor exclusive. He believed in the growth
of the country, and in the power of republican ideas. He was free from
race prejudice, and free from national jealousy, but he believed in the
enlargement of our territory by peaceful means, in the spread of
republican institutions, and in the predominance of the English-
speaking race in the affairs of the world.

The spirit of philanthropy animated his politics, and the doctrines of
peace controlled his public policy.

[* This article was printed in Appleton's Cyclopedia for the year 1885.
Copyright, 1886, by D. Appleton & Co.]

XXXIX
REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN

GENERAL BANKS

Of the men whom I have known in public affairs, General Banks was in
his personality one of a small number who were always agreeable and
permanently attractive. He was the possessor of an elastic spirit;
he was always hopeful of the future and in adversity he saw or fancie