Buchanan County bulletin and guardian., 1868-02-28

rily suffered by large portion Of our free
and enlightened citizens from the silence Of
General Grant, since bis name has been
mentioned for the Presidency. Reporters
after reporters have endeayored to sound and
coax him into just the least little implica>
tion, but be preferred the puff Of his Havan
ma to their newspaper putfs. 1t was more
soothing and certainly healthier.
One after one, and at last 10 crowds, the
excited and outraged pt ople-who were new.
er baffled before in their or slaught on pubs
lie characters-passedb before his gaze and
questioned him on the national events trans.
piring, and these which were looming up In
the near future but as travellers gaze into
the face Of the Sphynx, and are answered BY
the silent tranquility Of the changeless face,
SO were those who deligh, in tearing mems
characters to ta,ters in journals and ross
trums subdued aud irritased by the silence
Of Grant.
Empty heads wear open mouths Great
minds are felt only in great emergencies.
Had there been no French Revolution, there
had been no Napoleon. Had there been no
treason to the Republic, there had been no
General Grant. All generations. and all ma
tions, have their Napoleons and Grants hid,
den away among the people, and waiting
until their calls come
The country farmer, and the rugged mis-
ner who traded with the plain and unpre~
tending citizen, Grant, q few years ago, new
er dreamt that in that silent brain slept the
genius that, when reused, should spr,ng
above the level ways OF men, to unravel the
tangled web Of War, and weave it into the
golden garments of Peace ; ,ha. should take
up the taftered and trampied banner of the
Republic and set it above the fallen ram
parts OF slavery and despotisn, to light the
future world to liberty and happiness. 1t is
doubtful whether those who were the coun>
try neighbors Of Grant, and who chatted
over commonplace subjects with him, and
Tom, Dick, and Harry, can fully appreciate
bis greatness. So used are we to have he>
roes born in palaces, clothed in gold and as.
sociated with romance, that We can scarcely
believe that the man who walked by our
side, through the common ways Of life, .scan
he much of fellow after all
In Republican country like this, is it not
an anomaly to find the Republican sim
pllcity Of men set down to their credit Is
commonplace. The very unpre,ending
greatness of Grant, his utter violation OF the
regular rules that form the popular hero, has
been tortured by bis enemies, and the enc.
mics Of liberty, into a sign Of mediocrisy,
and, strange TO say, the people, above whom
Grant never wishes to soar, and the protec>
ton Of whose interests is his highest amei.
tlon-strange, is it not, we say, to End some
Of these same people-few, we admit-take
up the intentional insult to themselves aud
echo the cry, "This man is no hero; be
moves and talks like common man.
Let US take that beau ideal OF q hero, and
the pet of the Grant calumniators, General
Mcclellan. In the field, he rode surround,
ed by his aides-foreign lords aud counts
and princes for the most part-like the great
Napoleon. He had studied al the arts aud
science Of pictorial war. He knew where TO
place this aud that count, 6r lord, 50 Is to
make picture. His reviews were magniti-
cent, and his :" mess tent was monarchieal.
In fact, his field evolutions were grand
scenes. The blue light, and red lights we're
all displayed SO as to shine upon the hero,
and even the disastrous retreats In the back.
ground were glauzed over with the halo of
romance. Nevertheless the hero was fails
ure, and the man in military undress, with .
Few soldiers Of the Republic tor his aides,
dashed in through the retreating counts,
lords and princes in dishabille, and 10 the
retreat was changed to victory.
There were certain port on Of the citi>
Gems Of this great Republic who never doubt.
ed Grans through all his silence. They we're
the men who had seen him on the battles
field, aud learned to connect his name with
victory.
All, messieurs, these bronzed and battle,
SCARED veterans had heard him speak at
Vieksburg and at the Wilderness in tones
that should not so soon be forgotten, even
at the fresides Of the nation. When the
fate Of the Republic swing on the ridge Of
war, and when the world held its breath, lest
its youngest born and most beautiful should
20 down in blood, the voice OF this silent
man was heard and rebellion fed before it.
And now, after the silence Of the last six
months, be speaks once more, and treason
covers, even in the highest place in the na-
ton, before the voice Of the victor.
Could the man who was true in war be
faithless in peace?
In reading over the correspondence be-
tween Grant and johnson, one is struck with
the terrible earnestness and sublime indig>
nation with which Grant repels the attempts
of the President 10 ensnare him into . net Of
treason. What, be who carved his way
through the ranks Of chiyalrous treason, TO
be caught in the meshes Of corrupt and
designing politician!
Picture the soldier, the representative Of
Republican honor and straightforwardness
in the tolls Of those cunning and deceptive
foxes, Johnson and his Cabinet. Imagine
oil the ine-spun subtlety with which they
tried 70 WOO him into the nets which they
had spread for bis capture.
Well for the nation, today, that Grant was
incorruptible, that great as is the soldier, the
citizen Grant is greater. Had he consented
to retain the position Ut the head Of the War
Department, aud recognize the Dictator
Johnson as the voice Of the nation, contrary
to the voice Of the people through their rep.
resentatives, who can tell the Consequences
that would sollow7
| It needs no prophetic eye % see that the
man who risks his head now to thwart The
wishes Of the loyalty Of America, and wht
encourages treason throughout the land with
EXECUTIVE smiles and honors, would snaI
I his fingers at conyrsse; had b. tas army :