I like the part about Communists in 1879...
Grant was speaking to Li Hongzhang, an interesting fellow unto himself :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_HongzhangIn Today's context love this part where he tells NYTimes person:
"In a famous interview published by The New York Times on September 3, 1896, Li was asked whether he favored the introduction of the newspaper into China as developed in the U.S. or in Europe. Li's answer was stunningly honest: "There are newspapers in China, but the Chinese editors, unfortunately, do not tell the truth. They do not, as your papers, tell 'the truth, whole truth, and nothing but the truth.' The editors in China are great economizers of the truth; they tell only a part of it. They do not have, therefore, the great circulations that your papers have. Because this economy of the truth, our papers fail in the mission of a great press, to be one of the means of civilization."[18]
18 ;"LI ON AMERICAN HATRED: CHINESE LABORERS, HE SAYS, HAVE HIGHER VIRTUES. Argues for Free Competition in Labor as Well as Free Trade in Commodities -- The Geary Act Most Unfair, He Says in a Formal Audience with Reporters -- Amazed by Our Tall Buildings and Pleased with Most Things He Sees". The New York Times. September 3, 1896. p. 10.
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I am sure the NYT loved that ......