The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-11-13
The PR ESS.
Friday Morning, November Is, 1868,


Grant BeiSa3ueFeOs
1t is a grand thing to be President no doubt,
but whether on the whole it exctes ecstatic
emotions to have ones letters presented in
bushel baskets is another question. 1t may
not be entirely satisfactory to have ones hama
shaken two hours in succession on public occa-
sons, even if one realizes the country poS
dream of Presidential bliss and mas c1ioAeu
pie for dinner every day of his me- Nei'nsi
would one suppose on general prihoiP"s 'H"'
it would lend to promote sleep o nights 10
have Congressional Chaplains in their opening
nravers refer to ones probable assassination,
as Rev DIR. Boynton was pleased to do with
rafarence to Grant in the House the ether
day.
But this isn't the worst of it. Office-begging
letters, hand -shakings and vivid impressions
of huge fellows logging his footsteps with inn
mense knives and a small armory of revolvers,
might possibly be endured by gentleman OF
Grants philosophical temperament But how
can he endure that last torment that his enc
mics have devised? How will he pear WIN
patience to be claimed by them as De'onsNS
to their dark companionship-they VIM n"'e
naintea him nc q b,,tcber a sot, an imbecile-
thew who howe dubbed him II Tram Simpson
Trlvssas Co., ou Last and worst of ALL how will
his am.rble soul" support the pang of being
c,aimad Inv the Blotrs as their leader against
the Radicals?
The manner in which it came about that the
Democrats claimed Grant Immediately after
election is well described by contemporary
who says that it is the old scene in the farce:
"Tell me, in mercy tell me, have you got such
off
arm?" "No." "No? Then you are my long
lost brotherl' Having lost the election there
was nothing for Democracy to do but to see il
they could not manipulate Grant as they did
johnson. The first scene opens thus: Are
you, in mercy tell us, in favor of "a white
mans government" the overthrow of recon-
struction and the payment of government
bonds in greenbacks?" NO" "No? Then
you are our long lost brother!"
Now there it no more danger of Grants
apostatizing than there is of Mt Washingtons
losing its equilibrium. That firm Napoeonic
Jaw of his does not belong to man whom all
the Blairs assembled in solemn conclave at Sill
yer Springs, or the suave diplomacy OF Seward
can with all his fattery and chicanery move
from his settled purposes
speaks for the great soldier if any man in the
world does, made speech at Galena the Sat
urday night before the election which may be
regarded as in some sense foreshadowing the
policy of the new administration. That speech
was such one as Sumner himself might have
delivered full of the spirit of the most ad
-vanced Radicalism
At the same place Hon. E. 3. Washburne,
Grants intimate political and personal friend,
made the following declaration: "ihe election
of Gen. Grant means that the country shall
have peace; that the people shall have an hon
est and economical administration of the gov
eminent; that the flag shall be everywhere re-
spected and that the rights and liberty and
property of all men of all colors and chimes
shall be protected and indicated throughout
the length and breadth Pour land"
But FOR those who have studied the character
of Gen. Grant nothing more is necessary than
his own words in his letter of acceptance:
To Gen. Joseph r. Haacley, President National
Union Republican Convention:
In formally accepting the nomination of the
Nationa. Union Republican Convention of the
21st of May, instant, it seems proper that some
statement of views beyond the mere accept
ance of the nomination should be expressed.
Line proceedings OF the convention were mark
ed with WISDOM moderation and patriotism,
and believe express the feelings of the great
mass of those who sustained the country
through its recent trials. i1adorSe the resolu-
ton. Ii elected to the Office of President of
the United States, it will be my endeavor to
administer all the laos in good faith NTH econo
n.y. and Nth the Uie,o of giUing peace quiet and
protection eueTyaohere. In times like the pres
ent, it is impossible, or at least eminently i'm
proper, to lay doom policy to be adhered to,
right or orong, through an administration of
four years. New political issues, not foreseen,
are constantly arising; the views of the public
on old ones are constantly changing, aud
purely administrative officer should always be
left free to execute the aoiH Of the people. L al
scays haze respected that aoM end and ataodys
shall. Peace and universal prosperity-its Sc
quence-with economy of administration, viii
tighten the burden of taxation, while it con-
stantly reduces the national debt. LET US
HAVE PEACE.