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But he conquered some of these prejudices first in Grant himself, and then with Grant's aid was able to do a great work for his own country and to attempt the binding of the two republics with closer ligaments of mutual prosperity.
When General Grant fell into misfortune and for a while even his good name was assailed in many mouths, when he was tortured by the apprehension of absolute want, and hosts of rich and powerful and intimate friends of his prosperous hours forgot to enquire if he needed money—the man of another race was the first and almost the only one to offer pecuniary assistance.
Those who had benefited by Grant's success—not only the men who like the whole country owed the existence of their wealth to the triumph of his arms, but others whose individual advancement and fortune were directly traceable to their connection with him —neglected to say, ‘General, can we help you?’
But Romero, the Mexican, came to him at once and insisted on lending him a thousand dollars. If he had not so insisted, General Grant would have suffered for want of money.
After this their relations became almost tender.
Grant accepted the temporary assistance, and was grateful.
Romero was much with him in the last summer the General spent at Long Branch, and when Grant became seriously ill, Romero was one of the first to whom he confided his situation.
After this the latter was frequently by the side of the friend of his nation.
He sat quietly by the sufferer for hours, anxious to indicate his sympathy, and Grant was always pleased to have him there.
Romero even visited the dying General at Mount McGregor, and in the midst of his sufferings and anxieties the hero turned from his pains or his literary labor, to write when he could not talk, on Mexican affairs, and to manifest his interest even then in that country for which they had striven so earnestly together.
The faithful diplomatist followed his great coadjutor in the procession that conveyed the remains of Grant to their
S. S. Scranton and Co., Hartford, 1887.
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