The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-11-14
General Grnnt,s PosItIon.

From the ". y. Tribune.
1t is not so very long since the popular cry
in political contests used to be Measures, not
men," Mr.. Andrew Johnson was nominated
for Vice-President of the United States in
accordance with the false principle embodied
in that cry. The disastrous result of the ex-
pertinent seems to be driving some of our
friends to the opposite extreme; and, with
the equally dangerous watchword of "Men,
not measures" they are bent upon intrusting
our national destinies to a General of whose
political principles nothing whatever is known,
and confding the most delicate functions of
craftsmanship to a man who has thus far
shown himself only as resolute and sue
cessful soldier. We have been at some pains
to collect all the accessible evidence as to
General Grants opinions on the great ques-
tions which divide the country, and the deci-
sion of which must shape for good or for i'll
our course during the next Presidential term.
We have at present list of twenty ''authOri-
tative'' explanations of the Generals position.
Nine represent him as an uncompromsing
radical; nine are positive that he is a straight
up-and-down Democrat; and two declare
that he is nothing at all, and will not
accept a nomination for the Presidency from
either party. Colonel Forney, for example,
published the other day, in his two papers,
five mortal columns of most excellent Repub-
lican sentiments, all of which he asserted that
he knew on most indubitable testimony to be
in Grants head, if they had not actually come
out of his mouth. The Boston Post next day
hastened to inform us that Grant repudiated
evely word of Colonel Forney's five columns,
and the Philadelphia Press replied by an ',au-
thorizedn contradiction of the Post. The
Philadelphia Post learns that Grant has no
sympathy with the radicals The Springfield
RepGbLican is certain that he is substantially
in accord with the party of freedom, only he
is not so foolish as to accept Colonel Forney
as his spokesman. The Rebel Mobile Tines
accepts him as a Copperhead the Macon Iete-
graph denOunces him as a radical; the Rich
mOnd Engurer believes he is no friend to the
niger, while General Rawlins VOWS on the
faith of a soldier that he is the best friend the
niger ever had. More than all this, the Hon.
L. B. Washbune, thoroughly disinterested
statesman, whose mission in life Is to get
Grant elected President has made long
speech to prove that his friend is everything
the most exacting voter can require. This
ought to have settled the whole business; but,
alas for the uncertainty of human affairs
Mr. WashbuIne has no sooner finished his ora
tion than up gets that pestiferOus Boston Post
again. and AYERS that Grant ''detests" Mr.
Washburne, doesn't know him, wants to get
rid OF HIN, and Is not responsible for any OF
his statements. The Washington Chronicle
says this is a lie, and Mr. Washburne, we pre-
sumo, is of the same opinion. The New York
| Ddy Book thinks any man who doubts Grant
to be in perfect accord with Congress is ''green
enough to be eaten up for grass" and right
on the heels of this comes statement in an
other Copperhead paper that the General has
| accepted a nomination from the Johnson
| Democracy. The Copperheads quote his ae-
| ceptance of Mr.. Stanton's place as proof that
| he is q Democrat; Colonel Forney quotes it as
| a proof that he is a radical. One gentleman
| heard him refer to the removal of Sheridan as
''more of the Presidents dirty work." and an
| other gentleman learns that he has taken
warning by Sheridan's 'ludicrous fate, and
| gone over to the conservative party.
Now we have no relish for getting Presi-
| dents out Of grabbing. We have no sympa-
| tbv with the 'hurrah' movement which
| hopes to rush a candidate into office, not be-
cause he is fit for the place, not because he
holds to the principles which the party IS
created to support but because he is a good
man to shout for at the hustings. We night 70
secure equal rights for all men, not to obtain
the election Of any President who can merely
be relied upon to distribute offices to the Re
publican party. The election by Republican
votes of a President who was not heart and
soul identified with Republican principles
would be greater disaster for us than an oper
defeat IN open battle at the polls, where the
lines We're sharply drawn, the standards boldly
| displayed, and the generals resOlutely commit
ted to the cause in which they engaged, IL il