The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-06-21
GRANT AND sALNAvE.

few months ago the New York Tribune
teemed with eloquent exhortation to its
party in favor of making distinguished civil
ability the test of fitness for the presidential
Office, and with pungent exposure of the unfit
mes of General Grant, judged by such test,
for that Office. Since its party, as a desperate
expedient, has done, in the nomination of
Grant the very thing which the Tribune
declared would be an unprincipled, idiotic
and suicidal proceeding, that paper decently
forbears from directly depreciating the nomi-
nee, and puts the best face on the matter by
| representing him as well fitted to be useful
executive tool, and convenient presidential
nonentty, for the radical oligarchy. But the
Tribune is not TO be defeated of the gratifca-
ton OF its favorite spites by the surface re-
quirements of decency. 1t cannot forgive
Grant for standing before the world at large
with more prestige as a soldier than dignity
and fair fame as the eleventh-hour expediency
OF desperate political faction. 1t dislikes
Grant because, however pliable he may be to
the manipulation of radical politicians, and
however ready he may be to supply the brute
force required in their electioneering scheme.
he is still, by rank and by antecedents, con-
splcuous type of profession in which
are demanded and cultivated qualities that
cannot co-exist with the merciless IA
naticism and the cowardly ferocity of a
whole-souled radical AS military man
committed to ignominious work for politi-
cal usurpation, the Tribune is very eager to
use him but as a military man presump-
lively possessed of the proverbial virtues
and faults Of his profession, it despises and
distrusts him, and does not willingly let an
opportunity pass to disparage and denounce
him and his class. Hence, while forbearing
for decency's sake to openly attack its own
presidential candidate, it takes occasion to
lash him over the vicarious shoulders of Gen.
Salnave, of Hayti. Speaking literally of the |
latter parsonage, but with the pen of literary |
nnuendo pointing to Grant, it says: " The |
overthrow of President Salnave is only ques-
ton of time. He has been able to retain his |
position at the capital only by establishing a
reign of terror there. Salnaves short rule |
has been troublous time for Hayti, and his
recent high handed doings, taken in conec-
ton with his record previous to his elevation
to the presidency, show that he belongs to
that class of military Adventures whose ILL
directed ambition, and reckless disregard of
constitutional safeguards and restraints. are a
source of perpetual disorder and misery to
many Of the infant republics of the new
world. The analogies between the case of
Salnave and the case of Grant, as here drawn
by the Tribune, leave no doubt of its in
vidious purpose with respect to the
latter in stigmatizing the rule of the
Haytien president-general. Salnave was. in
he official classification of Hayti, as Grant is,
n the official nomenclature prescribed bv
Congress, the General commanding our
Armies" He plunged into Haytien politics
IS military adventurer inspired with ille-
climate ambition, and wholly regardless of
constitutional guarantees and limitations.
Ind Gen. Grant has been induced by the rad
cal politicians around him to enter American
'olltics as mere military adventurer, totally
ynorant of civil affairs and bent on obtaining
he presidency-whether for himself or for
be radical oligarcby is yet a problem-by l
uch means as may be necessary and avail
BILE, let them he outside or inside of the Con-
titution. Imagine him to be installed at
Washington, in defiance of the Constitution
nd the will of the nation, president Cen
raj commanding our Armies" and we can =
salize the prophetic force of the Tribune's
marks, ostensibly applied in the preterit F
nse to the Haytien usurper Salnave-a He c
as been able to maintain his position at the
lpital only by establishing reign of terror Il
lere;" and che belongs to that class of mill !!
ny adventures whose ill-directed ambition y
I'd reckless disregard of constitutional safe r
iards and restraints are a perpetual source a
disorder and misery to many of the infant II
publics of the New World" The republic
the United States is yet, historically con. Vi
iered in its infancy, and if the Grant-radi- b
combination succeed, there is grave doubt p
its ever reaching maturity.