New-York tribune., 1867-08-17

he q RadicalP IL he is, let 1t be made ap-
parent. One word from Grant Is all we want
If he is not 9 Radical, very well. In that
case we shall not vote for him, although We
may respect him none the less. Ihere Is ilo
soldier. for instance, we honor more than zen
Sherman. We should crown him with laurels'
and write his name on a hundred monuments
But wo do not think we should VOte lor MN aS
President of the United States, because nc Is
an ayowed believer i'll the policy Oh Ahure"
Johnson. 1t is an honest difference Oh Opin-
ion. nothing more. Gen. Sherman Wouiu
mol,o q sincere President. He would do what
bo docmcd tobe best But bis policy would not
ho ouro his counsellors would, probably, be
MON we did not trust, and his administra-
tion would sustain principles which VIC
deem nernicious. 1t is because Gen. Sher-
man is SO regarded that his name is not men
toned by some of our friends as candidate
They honor him but unless he accepts their
platform they will not vote for him. Now, is
Grant not in precisely the same pOsitonY We
ask for information.
People tell us with wise mutterings that
Grant is sagacious, that he bides his time,
that the politicians will not trap him, that he
will run uncommitted, that if he takes the
Presidential Office he will do as he deems best,
and rise above party. Probably Cen. Grant
can afford to be deaf-and-dumb candIdate, Dut
this country cannot afford to elect deai-and-
dumb President If these were ordinary tIncs
of peace and the Executive Office meant the
appointment of tide-waiteTs, postmasters, ana
copsuIs. we might be content to see Grant III
tbe Office. even if he never had an opinion. III
the country were in the condition it was
when Johnson was elected, we might say,
"Take Grant; he is available; we shall have
an easy, pleasant canvass, and no Dother'
Rut VIC are now confronted with prob
lem more serious than any before known
in our country. 1t is problem that VIII not
permit of conservatism or compromise. 1t must
be radically treated, and we must have man
whose soul burns with the work. uhJld'
hesitating. unsympathetic President would bring
disaster, especially if his policy were masked
by the dazzling and seductive splendor oil
military fame If all our generals were
silent, if none of them had opinions
if the silence and uncertainty that rests
like q pail over the name of Grant were com
mon to these warriors, we might even theh con-
slider his candidacy unavoidable. But the tr'Hh
is. Grant is among the few generals VINO
have not spoken. We know where Sheridan
stands. We know what Thomas thinks. We
have heard Sicklcs and Pope speak. We are
sure of Butler and Logan. We have no iear
of these mon. They are not uniformed SphynNes
-sashed and girdcd statues. If it is necessary
that a general should settle Reconstruction, we
can easily find one.
The Republican party is too great; ITS mis-
sion is too mighty; to speak politically, it is too
strong-with three-fourths of the next electoral
college almost inevitably in its hands-to go
begging for n candidate, or TO intrust its work
70 man who does not feel in sympathy
with il. If Cen Grant is the man, we shall
be happy. But in the face of his recent
record, in the face of his silence, in the face OF
the appalling fact that the men who claim to
sneak for him are the men who planned the
great Copperhead Convention in Philadelphia,
we are anxious and dOubting. Great rs Grant
il. he cannot carry our banner unless lac
wears our uniform. He cannot lead
this party unless we know where he means 10
70 When he commanded our armies every
soldier knew who he meant to fight IL Is
proposcd TO give him higher command, ana
70 begin even a greater canvass. Is 1t too
much for us TO ask, before we fall IN line,
what colors are we to wear, aud who are our
foes 2