The Lincoln County herald., 1868-05-28

In view OF the nomination Of General
Grant BY the Radical party fer the Pres.
idency, . question arises Of more than
ordinary importance 70 the people Of this
country. He ID the arst general Of the
armies Of the United land disunited1
States intrus,ed with power which has
invested no other man iu the military his.
tory Of the republic. Washington was
but lieutenant general, and Scott became
lieutenant general only after tho break.
ing out Of the civil war, and ~ an empty
ompl:meut to reconcile him to being
shslved on account Of his iu6rmities. But
Grant was elevated over his peers and his
superiors Ia the dizzy height Of general
"a position whence he could almost defy
the constitutional commander-in.c chef,
tho President, and whom he certainly
thwartcd at all points where their opin-
lens or interests camo in conflict. And
here comes contrast. Washington laid
down his commission and hung up his
sword at the end of the Revelation, and
never resumed any military position ex.
cept that Of er.cffoio commander.in chief
Of the armies and navies Of tho United
States, the constitutional function Of the
President. Major General Taylor, with
less severe republican taste, conditionally
resigned his commission, which went into
effect ouly upon the certainty Of his clcc.
ton as President. Brcvct Lieutenant
General Scott put his resignation in the
hands or his friends in case Of election,
and to be suppressed in case Of failure.
These two latter were the two prominent
instances in poin. Of trying to be surc Of
one Office while seeking an election to
better one. During the late war few
Congressman attempted the double duty
Of holding military commissions and ex.
ercising legislative functions, but the gen.
cral voice Of tho people forced them to
resign one or the other. When General
Fremont accepted the Radical nomination
at Cleveland, he promptly resigned his
position in the regular army. Geucral
Mcclellan was equally prompt to diseu-
barrass himself Of the clamor which would
have been raised had he undertaken the
double performance. Mr.. Fremont dis.
playcd-for him-unusual dclicacy in
submitting himself for popular suffrage
without shoulder. straps.
Now, what vii. Grant do? Has he the
moral courage to lay aside his high rank,
and make the canvass upon his past repu.
tation and his merits as q private citizen ?
Or will he continue to wie!d tho powerful
engine Of the army, as ITS general, in his
own behalf. to elevate himself TO the
Presidency? His ambition has gono
wild with his over.rapid elevation, and
there is danger that his vaulting ambi.
ton may desire to center in the Presi
dent the military and civil chieftainship
Of the armed forces Of the country. The
Radical party would bo only too willing
to reward him with such Unprecedented
powers. if he, as their last hope, can pull
them through the inire Of disaster with
which they arc surrounded. General
Grant once rode mule in circus with q
monkey pcrched. on his shoulders. Pos.
sibly he will not object to running q
Presidential race with his uniform upon
hi, back. 1t remains to be seen, however,
whether lie will follow the example of
Washington, Of Fremuot and Mcclellan,
and divest himself his soldierly tcggery
and make the race rquarely upon his own
merits. Grant has been said to be mod.
est man. Now is the time for him to
demo ustrate the fact.-St. Louis Times.