Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-10-27
ATTACKING SIBERIAN.

Few persons in the South have sup
posed that they would live to see W. T.
Sherman (the desolator of their coun
try, become an object of Radical abuse
The telegram that reported his probable
appointment to the war office, throw the
Jacobins into dismay. They began al
once 10 question his patriotism, and to
fear his force of character. Turned
with all his fiery energy upon rebel
lious North, they have an example in
the South of the color and description Of
the trail he would leave behind him.
Among the foremost Of those who are
assaiIing him, is the Chicago Republican.
1t speaks at length and desperately OF
The situation, with Johnson and Sherman
commanding Grant The following ex-
tracts from "a leading article affords
abundant food for reflection
While we have followed General Sher-
mans brilliant career as a soldier, there
fore with intense interest, and have ac-
corded to him, as Field Marshal, our
unqualified admiration; while if the need
of the hour were a military commander
who would lead an American army
across the continent of Europe itself, in
the teeth of the opposing forces of six
empires, we would have full confidence
in General W. T. Sherman, we affirm
that there is little in his record to excite
political confidence, and much in his
character and career to excite grave dis
trust in him as an officer who is to stand
at the right hand of President johnson,
over General Grant, and WELD the mill
tary power of the nation in the midst of
the political difficulties which ara now
impending over us, and which may
prove so difficult of peaceable settlement
To appreciate the situation it is neces-
sary to reflect that there sits in the Pres
idential chair bold, bad man, full of
crude, unconstitutional, and almost trea-
sonable notions of the steps he, as Pres
ident, ought to take to restore the seeded
States to their seats in Congress. Set
ting out as the magnanimous patron OF
the rebel element, he has at last become
their bitter, savage champion, crashing
his teeth over the crushing hostility with
which the masses ofthe people watch and
attempt to foil by their votes his assump-
tons Of power and his attempts to force
an unconstitutional policy on the peo-
Pile
Under these perilous conditions, the
public confidence has anchored strongly
on two men-Secretary Stanton and
Gen. Grant. With the army in the i'm
mediate control of these two men, the
people have trusted that no attempt
even could be made TO carry out any
revolutionary design for subverting or
forcibly reconstructing Congress. Mr..
Stanton's patriotism has been tried in
the fercest fires Of revolutionary ex-
element and rebellious commotion, but
he has always stood firm, clear, cool,
prompt and forcible.
Grants calm judgment, tenacious will,
and well poised mind would also inspire
perpect confidence in his action. so long
as his decisions we're selfmade But
the Presidents stroke accomplishes the
double purpose Of removing Stanton's
iron will and lion heart, and placing
superior in Office over Gen Grant
This superior, Gen. Sherman, is really
no more of a statesman than Gen. Grant,
but he lacks that just estimate of himself
which enables Gen. Grant to ignore pol
itics, and leave craftsmanship to civil
ians. At that precise point in Grant s
character where, not foolish diffidence,
but wise modesty, tells him TO pause,
Gen. Sherman's intense egotism impels
him to rush forward Despite his polit-
ical deficiencies Of education and exps-
rience, which obtrude themselves in
all his speeches, be itches to dis.
tinguish himself in politics His law.
less contempt for legal and constiiu-
tional obstacles arises not more from bis
direct, forcible, Napoleonic way Of look
ing to physical means to accomplish
every result, than from his crude, blunt
soldierly contempt Of political principles
and confusion of political distinctions
which, to statesmen, lawyers and politi
clans, are all important Il is part Of
the soldierly character to sever every
Gordian knot in politics with the sword
to make force do the work Of argument
the army overturn the results Of the
ballot box. Hence, military heroes, es
pecially those endowed with egotism and
ambition, as Gen. Sherman certainly is
are the most dangerous enemies to re
publics Gen. Sherman belongs 70 the
order of CRsars, Cromwells and Napo
Icons Il is Of such idols Of the people
u-fh briltianf rnt1t4o~r ronoe1 trraof ~,