The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-03-14
General Grant and the Press.

LatlOn auu popularity as SklllI0l and sue
cessful military commander. There are
few men, If any, who can exercise more
extended moral influence over the senti-
ments Of the people, and that influence has
been enhanced BY his modesty and reserve,
that, far from counting notoriety, seem to
shrink from the public admiration that
turns to gaze upon HIS laurels. In his ca
pacity Of soldier, without regard to the
merits Of political questions, the world &C.
cords to General Grant the tribute that is
due to excellence. It would be -apity to
have that reputation, won upon the fields
Of war, furnished by any inconsiderate Or
unpopular movement in the political arena,
where the issues of peace are, or should be,
determined.
The order issued on last Saturday by the
Lieutenant General assuming the censor
shpsef the public press, was ill-advised.
dangerous TO the country and to the sol
dierly fame ofits author. A single pohti-
cal error isoften sufficient to Not the re-
cord Of a life, and to dim the glory of many
victories. In commencing his campaign
against the liberty. of the press, General
Grant seems to be conscious IF the task.
His natural and accustomed frahkness, and
laconic directness Of expression forsake
him. He shas evidently no relish for the
work. He threatens the suppression Of
such journals "as contain sentiments of dis
loyalty and hostility to the Government in
any Of its branches
What, within the meaning Of the order,
is "tbe Government" 1sit the Executivel
Ia it the Federal Congress, or those mem,
'bers thereofthat support the Administers
ton, or those that oppose it Is it the
military power? Or is It one, or none, OF
all Of thesef There are some journals that
are hostile to the President and friendly to
the majorities in Congress. There are
others that are devoted to the vindication
Of the Executive policy, but hostile to the
revolutionary schemes Of the Radicals.
What, then. is the meaning Of disloyalty
in the sense of the Lieutenant General
Those that support the President must
necessarily be hostile to the dominant fac.
ton in the National Legislature. Those
that accept the Radical programme are in
direct antagonism with that of the Execu.
tive. What constitutes hostility to the
Government in any IF It's branches" when
thosel branches are In hostility against
themselves HGenerd Grant will give his
definition Of loyalty in the present condi.
ton of bitter strife between the Executive
and the legislative branches Of the Govern.
ment, the journals, to whom his menaces
are addressed will better uhderstaad how
they can express their sentiments freely
without danger of suppression. Or, per
haps, It would be simpler to prohibit all
comments uponpolitlcal subjects. There
would then be no possibility dfa mistake
and no unfortunate journalist; imagining
that he was doing his country service By
lapplauding Andrew johnson and deprsca,
ting the incendiary action Of Sumner and
Stevens, would be reminded Of his fault BY
an order ofsuppression, and find his occapa.
ton gone.
If General Grant will take . lesson from
the Emperor Napoleon, he will adopt ,
|juster system Of military censorship, i
there could be Justice in thing. Ths
French NespJt does Aot Keep his victims
in the dark. He traces clearly and def
nitely the limits Of their privileges as jour
nalists. He gives them to understand wha,
lis the Government" and to what extern,
their criticism will be tolerated. The for
hidden fruit is pointed out and they touch
IL at their peril. Let ID have similar facili
ties to exercise our vocation in compare
tive security. let the journals ofthe Soutl
know whether they can best approve theil
("loyalty" by abusing the Chief Ma8istrat'
(of the Republic, as do Sumner, Stsvehe
Wendell Phillips and their organs, orb
|applauding his efforts to restore thesc6hn
try to order and Tranquility. Lit the four
nalists of the North know whether it j
Iloyal to insult aud provoke the Southern
people, or to conciliate, them and encou,
age them to action in the work of recon
structidn. But, even five have to crop
our way in the dark, it is some consolation
to know that the power Of debating to pub
llicjournals the spirit and tenor 81 their a
|ticles, rests no longer with petty official
land subordinates, but has been assumed b
1.-THE Lieutenant General Of the Armies 3
the Republic. New York News. .,!s
Gsl. st Il t3q,fsf.