The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-22
PHILLIPS ON GRANT.
Wendell PhilIips' Views on General
Grants Acceptance of the War O1dce.

wendell PhtAItpR Views ON GomOfaI
Grants Acceptance of the War Omce'
From IeAnti- Slavery Standard Of this week.
When men offer poor excuses for an act, be
sure they have no good reasons to give The
journals betray a lurking distrust of the pro-
priety of General Grants act In assuming the
War Department, by the haste they make to
They tell us the General was obliged, as
military subordinate, TO obey the Presidents
order If the act was, without any doubt, q
good one, why seek to excuse it on the ground
OF compulsion2 When Chase accepted the
Chief Justiceship nobody went about to find
excuses for him. All gentlemen, this act of
General Grant you cannot think o good one,
else you would not seek to rob hlm of Its
merit, and make somebody else responsible
But we cannot do such dlscredit to the lead
ing journals of the Republican party as to sup
pose they believe their own statements. General
Grant is the Presidents military subordinate
not civil one. The President has right 10
order him to report for duty at Washington-to
give advice on the Indian war-to sit on mill.
tary commission. All such orders Grant is
But the President has no right to order Grant
to paint the White House. to take charge Of its
garden, prepare a report for the amendment of
The tariff, or do any other civil duty.
Now the War Department is q civil office.
These same journals allege that Johnson can
the Civil Office Tenure act, thus clearly confess
ing that the SecretaryshtD of War is a civil
Office; as, of course, it is Mr.. Johnson might.
toes behind the White House as to assume the
War Department, The journals know this. So
Indeed, the President in his communication
to Grant does not order him, but authorizes
and empowers" him to act as Secretary. And,
although Grants letter to Stanton speaks con-
fusedly of the Presidents directing me to
sumo" the office, still he has sense enough to
add:-"In notifying you of my acceptance"
Now, subordinates do not accept orders; they
obey them.
to take this office, as it said, he was obliged
to accompany 10 nson on that disgraceful
Western tour. On both occasions such state
ma lfC Nun In m fnH hxy
Grants toadies. to cover up the mistakes and
servtlity of their idol.
painful doubts of the mood in which Grant and
his friends are at this moment. Congress repre-
sents the Republican party stanton belongs
Grant is Republican, by what rule of party
fidelity does he accept the office out of which
Republican,? According to all the well-known
rules Of parties, Grant declares himself not
Republican. Any one who remembers Tylers
time will recall facts proving this.
The President put Grant into Stanton's place
only to divert public attention and soften The
Indignation at Stantons removal with the
content at Grants appointment. Grant will
serve TO bridge over from stanton TO Steed-
man, or some other hanger-on OF the White
House.
No doubt the President intends to remove the
District Commanders. Then he sees Grant
must either hold on and be responsible for 1t, or
resign and make way for some OF Johnsons
Grant should submit TO Sheridan's removal,
and still mold office under the plea of prevent
ing more mischief.
This is the plea on which Stanton has re-
mained in Office. He has worn it to rags.
This course is a sacrifice of all personal honor.
1t degrades man from Cabinet officer into
o spy. At such time as Buchanan's last six
months-the whole Government honey combed
with treason-such course is allowable, as 1t is
IN war. But in ordinary times no honorable
man would stoop to 1t. In ordinary times no
theory OF citizenship calls on man to spy and
listen under the windows and stand before the
world responsible for a policy he abhors, in
order, by such degredation, to serve his
country. 81 will die to serve my country" said
the old Scotsman, "but will not do mean
thing TO save her." II is time Americans
learned this lesson. Forgetting 1t was the
poison that ate out all national character in
times past
Besides, honest men consorting with knaves,
in order TO prevent their doing mischief is false
philosophy. 1t is the presence of honest men
In the crew that enables 1t to do mischief If
two years ago Stanton and other reputable men
had quilted johnson on the plea, which they
privately allowed, that he was traitor, he
would have been sheckmated and thrown over
board.
To-day, If Grant had answered the President
according 10 what is asserted to be his private
opinionG-"Sir, you have no authority to sus-
pend Stanton, and denying that right, as well
as detecting the policy which leads you to wish
his suspension, decline to accept the place."
johnson could not have suspended Stanton.
Cheered, taught, and sustained by such an act
on @rants part the public would have ex-
hibited such Indignation at Johnson, and such
approval of Grants gallant fidelity to his com.
rade and his principles, as to have overawed
Johnson. If after that he had dared to suspend
the post; and the moment Congress assembled
Johnson would have ceased to reign.
traitor President. Without him Jobpson pcoTI6 MD
neither stand nor walk. Grant to-day enables
the President to go on and remove Sheridan. 1t
is done, and cry out, "I dlsapprove." AS we'll
might the Accomplice who hands the dagger 20
the murderer cry out when the victim Is dead,
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