New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-03-14
PIE ARMY AND THE REPUBLIC.


PIE ARMY AND THE REPUBLIC
Military ambition has always been held TO be
the principal danger of republic, especially
republic which has pugnacious spirit. Other
republics than this have found it so. Rome
found her Caesar and France, when, after
long fighting, che had established her ReDub-
lie amidst an ocean of blood, found her NapO-
leon. Franco turned herself into vast camp.
made all her young mon soldiers. accepted
fighting as her everyday business, only to
establish her freedom But the power she Gre
ated destroyed her. The young Corsican, who
ran up all tho grades of the army till he be-
came the Alexander of the age, WAS no sooner
the here Of France than he made himself her
Emperor. 1t Is with nations as with women
those whom they love they long to serve, and
are often not content till the woOer becomes
the master Military ambition is not so dan
gerous to a monarchy, because when general
wins too many victories they manage to get him
defeated.
Thsddeus Stevens said the other day that
the military would rule this country for
twentySlve years He accepted Grant as the
inevitable NEXT President. It may be 80. The
Mexican war made Zachary Taylor our Presi
dent and it was of no use to talk to the
Wing party about the long services of Henry
Clay aud Daniel Webster while the battle
smoke Of Buena Vista was still in the sky.
When Zachary Taylor said, Give them O
little more grape, Captain Bragg" no uncon-
sciously ordered a battery to annihilate his fu-
ture Presidential rivals. Gen. Grant was
equally fortunate when he wrote that he meant
"to fight il out on this line, If it takes all
" Summer" Every man can understand cour-
age, and every one admires soldier. But II is
not every one who understands statesman.
The moment you publish Oh opinion on Ma
tional finances, or make q speech on recon
struction, you make one party or the other
your enemy, and half your friends
begin to doubt your political soundness.
Gen. Butler may explain aud explain,
but people wilI say that he is in favor
of Reputation. ice-President Wade made
some kind of speech out West, and to the
end of his life thousands Of his countrymen will
denOunce him as an Agrarian. What an Agra
ran is, it is not necessary for them to know ;
but the word is very good word for Demo
cratic orator. Chief-Justice Chase, when Secre-
tary of the Treasury, found way to got the
money to carry on the war. at q time when It
was hard to get money TO carry on anything.
What has happened TO Mr. Chase in cOnse-
quence Every man who has MT FiveTwenty
bond, and who envies every other man who
has, is Inclined to consider Mr.. Chase his per-
sonal enemy. Gen. Grant has escaped all these
little embarrassments. lie was IN command Of
the armies that put down the Rebellion lie
quarreed with Andrew johnson; the people
believe in his honesty and patriotism; and
these broad facts push aside oil inquiry into
his opinions Of negro suffrage. and the finances,
and the tariff. But if Gen. Grant wants to be
q successful candidate let him maintain his 81
lence never make a speech about agrarianism,
or propose any plan for the resumption of spe-
Gle payments. Nothing is moro common than
for politician TO commit suicide by cutting his
own throat with his toDgue--a fact which shows
what great thing it 10 to be eloquent.
But, whether Gen. Grant Is TO be the next
President or not, we do not at present inquire.
We are interested In Mr.. Stevens's speculations
about quarter of century Of military rule.
Surely, there are generals and heroes enough
to furnish half dozen countries with fret-class
| rulers. There are Sherman, Sheridan, George
| N. Thomas, Sickles, Meade. After Grant goes
out of the Presidency-ot course we assume that
| he goes in-is each Of these Generals to have
| his turnf There are six Of them altogether;
and, if we give them four years Of Office each,
six tours are twenty -four, which is near TO Mr.
| Stevens's estimate. This is q state Of things
which Is likely to throw q gloom over the
aspiring souls Of the gentlemen who have never
been lucky enough TO seeh the bubble Presi-
/ dency at the cannOn's mouth.
4 But, to return to tie worst aspect Of the ease
| so far, We have no proof that the Republic y IN
! danger from the Army. The army'is dispersed
! sss sssSssy. IN Il CIV zsS No 10 ssS-
mauded it show the most dutiful obedience to
| the laws. None Of them betray the ambition
of q Napoleon, or even Of Crom'
well. Grant surrenders the War Ofhce
at the bidding Of the Senate. Only 10
renso Thomas shows an ambition 10 otertdfn
the Constitution and seize the supreme power
\ Il may be prudent to keep o close watch upon
\ rim. Int Il "a hardly n0Qoavary Coz "a 20 look out