The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-22
49, posi,iou of General Grant.

Tur nremature bringing forward of General
Grants name as a candidate for the Presi-
donov nv a set of mercenary politicians in
New York. who desire by that device TO mo-
ponolize favors at his hands should he succeed,
has preoipitated discussion Of the Generals
.,o,;t;ooI nosition in which considerable aoer-
bi,v Of failing has already been displayed, and
that certainly has not, in any degree, improved
his chances for the Republican nomination. 1t
Is unite probable that full justice is not done
70 the real position of General Grant in these
discussions. Every man must be judged, to
certain extent, by his own standard. General
Grant has never set himself up as a speech
maker. His reticenoe, so far as public addresses
are concerned, has been habitual and Of long
standing. Itcould not reasonably be expected,
therefore, that he should mount the rostrum,
and in formal speech make known his po-
litical views. And yet, really, as to the great
dividing line Of our politics, General Grants
position has been clear and well defined. The
aninatng principles which divide parties now
are identical with those which divided them
during the war. ALI of our issues are
such as have naturally developed out of
the issues involved in that struggle. 1t
is true that some men who labored and
fought with the Union or Republican party
during the war have now gone over to the
Democracy, but their numbers are not large,
and it is they, and not the Democracy, who
have changed, The Democratic leaders are the
same as during the war-the Pendletons, the
Vallandighams, the SeymOurs, the Woods, the
Blacks, the Clymers, etc. Their principles are
the same. Now, in regard to this whole class
ofpoitioians, their schemes, their policy, their
character, General Grants position has never
been equivocal. He has aL'0ayS manifested for
them the most undiSguiSSd contempt and Aversion.
He sanctioned the very measures during the
war which called out their most envenomed
opposition, and on several occasion he has ex-
pressed himself as in favor of severer repres-
sive measures towards their acts of disloyalty
than were adopted. A "Copperhead' has
been General Grants peculiar aversion. In
our political contest last fall, when the Demo
Gratis were so assiduously endeavoring to make
capital out of his presence with the President
during his memorable stumping tour, the
General took occasion to let his position in re-
gard to this subject be clearly understood.
AS to General Grants position upon the
fundamental issues of our politics, we think,
therefore, no man has any ground for doubt.
Nor do we think that recent events have
afforded just cause for imputing to him any
odhacin,1 fo of ToI,,,
sons policy. 1t is true he accepted the posi-
ton of Secretary of War ad interim, upon the
temporary suspension of Secretary Stanton.
But the President had, prtmG taCie, the right
of suspension under the Tenure of Office bill
General Grant could not, therefore, have pre-
vented the suspension. But when he relieved
Secretary Stanton he took care to emphatically
endorse his administration, and in such form
as, under the circumstances, was direct re-
Election upon the President for suspending him;
for if Secretary Stanton had conducted the
affairs of the War Department in the manner
indicated by General Grant, then the Presi-
dent had no sufficient and just cause for his
suspension.
In the case of Sheridan's removal, we find
General Grant still more openly opposing the
President. He protested in writing against
the removal. But the President had the power
to order it, and did order it. Grant publishes
the Presidents order, that the responsibility
OF the act may be fixed upon the proper party.
But when it comes to giving instructions to
the new commander, General Grant then
speaks in his own name, and by the authority
specially conferred upon him by Congress.
And what does he sayH Why, his very first
order is an endorsement of every official act
done by General Sheridan, and a command to
General Thomas to continue all of General
Sheridan's orders in force until specially
modified by Grant himself No more emphatic
or authoritative condemnation of the Presi
dents course in removing General Sheridan
could be desired. No more emphatic endorse
ment Of Sheridan's course could have beer
given. The very acts which the conservatives
have been condemning in General Sheridan
and which involve the essence of the who'll
reconstruction policy of Congress, are thu
publicly and officially assumed by Genera
Grant as his O,On. This is the more signiAcar
as Congress, during its late session, formal
endorsed General Sheridan's administration
thus drawing the line between him and til
President so plainly that none could mistak
it. Grant now adds his testimony, and rang
himself alongside of Congress. This one act
worth dozen speeches.
y oe 4J,;s condition of affaira ,ua :