The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-10-02
qaitI,mond nispatrh.
vEDNEsDAY....... OCTOBER 2, 1867,
The Generals and the Presidency.

sAN~
The Republic having arrived at the pc
Rod of the first development OF the ten
dency to disruption-a period which oc
ours naturally in all Republics-and hay
ing successfully resisted it, as o conse
oucnce it finds itself carried into the mill
tary age--thc age in which the military
mower is in the ascendant, and the govern
mcnt Of the country passes into the hands
&c military men. It is the beginning o.
The ncriod Of greatest vigor and power Of
tho notion-of the period of arbitrary and
decisive government, Of large armies
powerful navy, and proportlona'o eSpch
dturc.
1f We have history repeated here, the
Presidency will be for many terms be-
e.o,,od IN military men. And there IS but
ono difficulty in the way of this-thc in.
competency Of the more prominent mill
tory chieftains who earned distinction II
tbo late war. It must be confessed that
notwithstanding the length of the list OF
Generals Of the Federal army there is in II
avery great paucity of real ability. SiIEr,
,,v was the only man in the Federal
army that displayed anything like genius
Cn,ST showed none whatever. lie Is
merely . moderately sensible man, ana one
n;ghlr posscssed of the virtues OF trn'-
ness and perseverance. lie entitled h''''-
cove 70 . great deal Of respect by DIS con-
dnct after the war, exhibiting Iocrahly
towards the conquered army ana people
that displayed much of that nooieSt COM
non;on of the truest courage, magnanlm'ty'
T. * nrobable that General GRANT, in the
exhibition of this honorable disposition,
nod No idea of ever becoming President,
,oconso his conduct was altogether at war
with the sentiments and policy Of the
dominant party Of the country.
Rut unambitious General GRANT has,
i is now believed, been tempted to aspire
TO the Presidency, and the impression IS
worry much encouraged by the exhibition
of some unsteadincSS and inconsistency OF
conduct-a halting between sense OF duty
and an attempt, if not to secure the appro-
bationof the dominant party, at least 10
relieve himself Of their censures'
But General GRANT did not study the
part of politician, and being an unpre,
tending gentleman and a plain and frank
soldier, he did it so badly that he has
damaged himself amongst those whose
esteem for him was most sincere, While IL
has failed to advance his cause with those
whose good graccs Gf they have any he
desired to propitiate.
Looking, then, to this man, whose posi-
ton with reference to the conclusion Q
the war was most commanding, his pros
meets are somewhat complicated; anC
naturally Prcsident-makcrs have turned
about to canvass other claims. SHERMAN
the brightest man in the army, has not oee'
snokcn Of in connection with the position
yhv we cannot understand. 1t is report
ed that he is Democrat; but as far a
annearances since the war are to be con
s;dered. his Democracy won't hurt him
MCCLELLAN has been beaten once, and nc
too, is Democrat.
If IS somewhat singular that MCCLEI
Ian, FITz JOHN PORTER, and FRANKLIN
Democrats, were killed off, though the
were really amongst the most accomplish
cd gentlemen and soldiers in.the Fedora
army and MEADE, another Democrat, VII
absolutely fought the decisive battle OF tn
war-that of Gettysburg-and who com
manded the Army Of the Potomac 1ror
that time until the close of the war,
never mentioned. He is spoken Of no
honorcd 10 more than if he had not been /
the army at all. These men did not belon
TO the Radical crop Of Presidents ana chaH
pions, and hence they were poilncali
ham trung. Yet, in the viclssitudes
party, they may come to the top Oh III
wheel.
The man next in order-who has mao
moro nopularity than others, whose caree
was bright est from the fires which ho ila az
IN his march of the dwellings, tho mill
tho harms. and the grain-SuERIDAN-
beginning to attract some attention. "
doubt not, with references to the Pres
dencv. He is just now honorcd with muc
;n the way of ovation in the norther
cities. MEADE is 4 head and shoulder
above him in claims on northern natlona
gratitude for what he did TO "break do"
the rcbcllion,n and THOMAS IS 4 man G
larger stature and vastly superior services
Int SHERIDAN has the eClQt that such
temper as his and such services as he rem
dercd can secure among the more cruel
whose minds are yet somewhat DISTURBED
with implacability. The removal Of SHERI
DAN gave the pretext, and the honors pal'
him now are not only to pass censure o.
his removal, but to push him forward 10
the Presidency.
This movement will but vex the cues
ton of the Presidency unless there
force enough in the man to bear mn
through-which we do not believe. The
Immediate effect of his glorltication is Il
prejudice GRANTS prospects, and the pro
liability is that while he may help to dc
feat GRANT, he will only pave the way 70
some other man.
Still as is ALWAYS the case in an are l!k,