The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-04-13
Grants Popularity.


that Grant will be nominated by the repub
lcan national convention for the presidency.
In fact, the press of that party does not now
talk of any other candidate. H. G. retains
his partiahty for Judge Chase, but comedies
that the chief justice cannot get delegation
from single state in the convention. Wade,
Coltax. Trumbull, and other Jacobin poll
ticians with presidential aspirations, have
withdrawn from the course, and are making
calculations for their political future based on
the chances of Grants election.
Assuming that he will be nominated, it is
of interest to inquire what elements of popu-
larity he possesses that will unite the party
nov ID power IN his support, or which will
be likely to draw to him that class of waver
ing voters who decide our elections. First
In order, in this inquiry, comes his military
record. He has apparently been a success
full soldier, if not skilful and gallant one,
and our presidential elections have given
very good proof of the willingness of the
American people to honor those whom they
believe to be military heroes" In this,
General Scott proved to be an exception
He was wanting in the qualities which awak-
en- enthusiasm. He was egotistical, selfish,
calculating, and ambitious.
These qualities blinded the people to his
nobler and more generous ones, and it is not
probable that the same characteristics in
Grant will be overlooked By the voters in the
coming presidential champaign. Scott was
a true friend and an honest partisan. Grant
has, by turns, been treacherous to the Prssi.
dent, to the radicals in congress, to Stanton,
and to the conservatives. The foibles of
Scott were redeemed by sterling worth, prop
er geptlemanly pride, and an unsullied char
acter. The meanness and selfishness of
Grant are made more disgusting by his dis
solute habits. Scotts military fame rested
upon victories achieved by an inferior over
superior force. Grant never won battle
with an inferior force !; and, in his last cam
paIgn against Richmond he lost more men
than Lee had In his entire army. This fact,
together with the biunders at Donelson, Bel
mont, and Shiloh, resulting either from
drants intemperance or incapacity, or both,
Is wet blanket upon popular enthusiasm
over his career as soldier
Ills political stutus is alike unsatisfactory
to both wings of the party in power. He
was democrat during the war, a conserva.
tive at its close, and Jumping jack in the
hands of the President until warned by
Washburne and other leaders of the rumI
that he must do works meet for radicalism
II he hoped to obtain the Jacobin nomina
ton. Upon this hint he acted. When stan
ton was suspended in August, Grant had no
MADE up his mind as to which, if either
party ne would ally himself. Up to tina
date, the radical press daily proclaimed that
he was acting with the President, and hi.
acceptance OF the war department was pub
lished as proof Of the fact. He did agree
the senate to reinstate Stanton This h.
has confessed. He did agree to give the
President timely notice of an intention tt
vacate the war department, should he con
clude to obey the decision of the senate con
corning the reinstatement of Stanton. H
violated this agreement, and denied that h
made it; but he has been convicted in thi
OF faisehood and perfdy by proof which car
not be controverted. His conduct in this al
fair was so mean and dishonorable that it
looked upon with contempt, even by bite
partisans who respect good faith and detes
treachery.
On the whole, We may conclude tina
Grants military record will not overshadoy
the political issue of the champaign; an,
MS political history has about it much tina
IS repuisive to all parties and branches O
parties. de is the least Objectionable of th
Jaeo bin candidates and, could he be cleo
ed, ne probably would Tylerize the party.-
Chicago Times.
In relation to the charges of corruption
against the friends of the President m,
Washington correspondent. of the N. Y
World says:
III now turns out that the only corrup
practices resorted to in this trial have bee,
prac'ised by the impeachers themselves VIII
"ave oeen, and are now engaged in bring
ing various influences 70 bear upon sue
senaIors VINO are not regarded as eertai,
lor convicaon. In confederation of INV a.
sertIon as to the purposes Of tbe ;mns my a. Il
ers bring members of the house to the s ser
ate, and that they charged tho, sa,. 90,
were to be bought up, it may be stated saA ~,
day or two before the house aereed - 'n 20
tend the senate in a body, a membsr Of ,h.
house rom East Tennessee wrote to ono ,
his constituents that there never was a ho
ter chance for sena tors to make fortune
and damn themselves forever than is mo-
offered, but that the house would attep
en- masse to give backbone" to the seua
IN the impeachment trial, etc."