Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-01-30
President Making.

President Making.
General Grant has hitherto been both
wise and fortunate in keeping clear of the
political arena. He is no politician. He is
simply soldier, earnest, brave, daring and
provident,' whose highest ambition is to whip
the enemy and save the Union. He is un-
derstood to approve the war policy of the
National Administration, but being too busy
or having NO faculty for speech-making or
letter writing. the county has not been fa,
vored with any elaborate expression of his
views. And the country requires no such
verbal declarations from one whose deeds
have such convincing eloquencc. But it
would be in vain to expect the politicians to
refrain from seeking to weave the hero's
glory into the tissue of their schemes. The
decisive victory at Chattanooga, which set
tied the question Of Grants superior militia
ry genius, seems to have started afresh in
trigucs for dragging the conqueror's name
into prominence as candidate for Office.
The Washington correspondent of the N.
Y. Times, under date of Nov. oath, gives
this hint of military combination for the
Presidential canvass of 1864:
The enthusiasm of Grant begins to be
history TO suppress the fact that thousands
name him as the next President. In the sud-
den supremacy Of grateful and exultant mill
tary feeling, men strike hands over Grant and
Butler, and commit the country to their
care.
The more sagacious Of the Coppcrhcad poll
ticians-those who are not pro-slavery fanat-
ics-have no hope Of arousing any enthusiasm
for McClelIen, who will receive the nomina-
ton of their party nevertheless. Their only
chance of success lies in division Of the
great Union organization; and if they can
find sufficient number of sore headed poll
tcians who have been rebuffed at Washington,
to rally to the standard of popular General
it is supposed the desired split may be effect.
ed. The Blairs are said to be anxious to get
possession Of Grant for political purposes.
We shall be greatly mistaken, however, if
such projects are not scattered to the winds
by the good sense and tirmness of Tho General
himself. Grant is not the counterpart of Nc.
Clcllan in any respect. Sustained as he has
been. through evil as we'll as good report by
President Lincoln, tho General, instead of
seeking to make capital against the Admins
tration by inventing excuses for delay; or
trying to shift the responsibility for unsatis-
factory results to the shoulders Gf persons at
Washington, has quietly and steadily devoted
himself to his military duties. His renown
is the result not of industrious puffery and
partisan association, but Of patient labor, uu.
daunre6 energy and the rapid development of
his natural genious for war. Shiloh did not
cast him down, Vicksburg and Chattanooga
will not initiate his vanity. Such man can
not be made the tool Of dcmagogues. His
proper posi,ion-that of Lieutenant General
of the Union armies-will doubtless be at
tanned in due season, through tho high appre-
citation the President has of his talents and
services. Beyond that, if We are not mistak-
en-, this true aud splendid soldier will not care
to go, while the country needs head and y
heart like bis in the field. Certainly Grant
will not lend his name to any scheme for d.
vding Union men and exal,ing a Copper
head while there remains rebel regiment in
arms. And yet it is quite probable that if
Grant lives, he will one day bc nominated for
and elected to tho Presidency.