Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-08-06
Hard to Get Up any Hoorah for
(sraut.


While, like the mighty swell Of the
ocean, the people are moving for Sey-
mour and Blair, from Maine to Calfor'
MIA, because Of the great principles they
represent, and the whole land is ablaze
with Examinations and the fires OF
liberty, FIRST kindled ia patriot hearts 1t
is a hard and difficult business to move
the masses in favor of Grant and Colfax,
whose greatness falls short of being
illustrious, who have been agents and
instruments, rather than great leaders,
and who represent no great principle
which can fire the hearts and stir the
blood Of people accustomed to be free.
The more intelligent classes of.Northern
mind honor Robert E. Lee, defeated, as
the representative hero of the American
States more day than they do Ulysses
S. Grant, who, as their last leader, hap
pened to bear with overwhelming forces
their banner to victory. And while, as
partisans, many may support Grant in
the present contest, they dread him as a
possible coming iyrsnt, and as the mere
instrument of Congress, which over
rides the Constitution and tramples lib
erty under its feet. They know that in
the war, the victory of their overpower-
ing forces is due not to him, who, with
such aids, could scarce have escaped
victory, but to themselves and 70 his sub
ordinate generals, and the exhaustion Of
the Confederate supplies and numbers.
Hence the name Of Grant gives no con-
siderable prestige-not even so much as
that of Sherman would do. And when
they can render no reason why the ella
walton OF so Indifferent man TO power
over great statesman, whose statesman
chip is needed, il is therefore next to i'm
possible that any considerable enthn-
siasm should be enlisted in his behalf. 1t
follows, as might well be expected, and
as is now becoming daily more and more
evident, that his support must be alto
ge,her partisan, and is wholly dependent
90 the present Republican party, which
indeed is growing small by degrees and
beautifully iess."
On the one hand we have the fact Of
an oyerpowering enthusiasm, actually
existing for Seymour and Blair. with all
those great moving causes calculated to
grouse the intelligent, the virtuous, and
chose determined to be free, with free
Constitution honored and obeyed in this
land, as necessary to the liberty OF ell
sections. Aud on the other there is the
desperation of an oligarchy, the earnest
ness of tyrants accustomed to dominate
the machinery Of party and the army o.
ofice-hoIding possessors of power. Bu
the peopls-the great mass Of the Amer
scan freemen, who love justice, equality
che Constitution, and government viii
departments hutnluiotcicu WIN iotchttJ
more than the higher law, Of ineertitude
instability, extravagance and corruption
are no, moved, and though on the RI
publican side. scarce know what to do.
We could well have anticipated, unds
all the circumstances, that it would be q
But now already We have the fact aetu
ally exhibited before our eyes. At hi
late day their great chief Greeley,
engaged in caiechising and insiruetin
them in the very alphabet Of how TO
Il The resolves Of freemsn do not CON
sponsAneOusly. and the work begin fro
in,uisire instinct for Grant and COlfa'
becsuse there is not that in them
,hsir principles or their cause Who
wins the heart. and Requires no pupilae
Had il been Otherwise they would hn'
sprung With alscrity ere this . ms gre