Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-12-31
THE RREHInENCY.


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TINE PRESIDENCY.
The American people will soon be called
upon 10 discharge most important duty,
80 sslec. one from their midst who shall
hold the highest otiiee in their gifs for the
next four years. Already. the politicians OF
evsry party are sounding the praises. and
waiting the fame OF those who have pledged
20 them, in the event Of success. the emo'n-
sussts Or Office. Il 10 but natural that they
uhould do %. Such has been the history Of
che past, such the history Of the present.
nd no oae doubts but il will be o. the fa-
sure. The love Of gain ionseasss the con-
dacs Of most men. Man 10 10 constituted
shat b locke TO his own interests. This
hslds good Of the masses - veil - Ok the
politician. The masses aud the politicians,
hs~svsr, are not alike in this rsspect. Il Is
che interest of the former to see that only
good men arc placed in Office; men who
viii faithfully execute the laws. visilAnuy
gusrd their rights, for they know that their
safety 10 10 The supremacy Of the law. Saius
Pspsli ssprsms les. But IL may, or may not
be, che interest Of the latter to have honeat,
uniiisching and devoted men, elevated to
power. Experience has shown that the Is
pisaot for political distinction is frequently
unscupulous. Before his elevation he dis
Stimulates no as to deceive the masses, but
assss, he appears in his true light. These
are the manner Of men on whom politicians
Gan operate. and who will promise to ALLOW
them to bleed the treasury IL they labor for
shsir success. The upright man, the man
Of liberal views, tbs statesman. cannot be
tAus infasnecd. The glory Of his country
10 paramount 70 everything else. and hence
he points tho Ragcr Of scorn At those who
would bsibs him. Patrotism apurns brides.
end the true statesman, W take IL. is true
patriot.
Success 10 the goal Of the politician. and
% reach il he would not only peril the ibsr-
siss Of tho people. but completely swamp
them. Therefore II 10, that At this time.
whom the ali-absesbing question 10, who
shsll b our next President. that the Amer
ican people should be on their guard. They
have bssn deceived bofore---they may be
deceived again. The present incumbent
has aessd didssensly from what most men
expected. The voice Of experience rings
Loudly in our ears. let us not disrcgard il.
Aud fsss. in considering this question.
Ne wosid ask, who ere now most psomi-
nsnsly before 10, aad what their qualifica-
tioasi The recent ssbelion-- unhappy Ia
its origin. glorious in it's contamination :
has furnished 10 with those from whom, in
oil probability, We are 10 select onr next
President. In the opinion II many the
man who has not killed. or ordered some
body TO be killed. is. just now. . cipher. II
wc know anything OF public opinion, as
moulded At Washington, it is that knowl
edge OF Hardcc's tactics is more essential
than knowledge Of the science Of govern.
menA In this connection, tho first name
that presents itsolfis that ofGrant-a name
already conseorassd in American history,
and which the victories OF Shiloh Donaldson
and Vicksburg have placed side by side
IN military annsls, with those of Marlbo-
scash. Napoleon and Wellington. Grant
has demonstrated to the worli that he 10 a
wuatl taRx D.. A.. l. e.
We oan aes, shown himself qualified to dis
charge the onerous duties Of the prcsiien-
CIV. We will not asscrt he lacks the OLE
msats Of . statesman, for, judging by the
past. Ne may DO deceived. None who
knew him in his obscure position a. Galcns
ever drcamt the world would ono day sing
his praises ~ warrior In this respect he has
even defed all expectation. He may, too,
10 The other. but he has let many opportuni
siss pass wherein he could, IL 20 disposed
have ahown whether or not, he possessed
the elements that make statesmen.
Since the war the political horizon has
been dark, the country has needed the aid
81 wise council, and the people have natu
rally turned 10 the hero OF the rebellion for
advice. but he has preserved a silence
worthy ola Trappi,s monk or and Egyp-
tisn mummy. In tho troublesome times
through which wo have passed, was this
she part Of patriot. Of . statesman, who
knew. who felt he had influence, and that
II he had spoken he might have done much
20 quiet the waters Of political discord ?
We think not. He is then either not .
statesman, or, II he be. not patriotic one.
bscasss his silence has shown him wholly
indiGercn. g The welfare Of his country
Those who point 70 the insignia Of his rank
lily understand their duties Is American
citizens. II 10 the duty OF every man, be
he soldier or civilian, in times Of danger. 10
exsrt his influence to guard against il. II
IL gree: mistake ~ think that soldiers are
made solely 70 seeurgs society. The I'd.
mirses Of Grant can take either horn Of tho
dilemma.
Sherman 10 next in prominence. Unlike
Grsns be Is NOT " gloomy and peculiar"
lie ice plain, blunt. straightforward, ensr-
essic man. He not only thinks and acta.
but speaks. He is positive. wherever be
sess wrong he dsoeuncss it. He has not
only ably discharged the duties incumbsn.
on him ~ soldier. but has also had the
honesty. nerve and patriotism to advocate
che rights the people under the Coustitu-
ticn and laws. He carss not . whit for
pssssnsl popularity. A stranger to dscep-
s'oa. As 70 On enemy 70 everything which
scsssss - idea tAas The people Of one SEQ
sion are better than those Of smother. He
knowsno NORTH. no South, no East, no West.
He 10 in fine, . model soldier and . model
citizen. II then, integrity. honesty Of pur-
pose, quick perception, iron determination,
selErslisnec and patriotism, DO The chief
requisites for the presidency. there can be
no doubt that sherman possesses them in
IN eminent degree. We question, however
whether the politicians will nominate him.
He is TOO honest Tor them.
The other stars in the military cons,sll..
ton are Sheridan and Hancock. The She