Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-06-11
The Republican Candidate for
President.

the forest that had stood upon the
same ground the preceding year. no
body would be apt TO think well OF
his judgmentin the selection Of a uten.
sil. As we are not TO have war,
there is less fitness in the selection of
a general than of a statesman, as a
candidate for President. Gen. Grant
has been nominated solely in conse-
quence of his military reputation
Waving, for the present, the funda-
mertal objection that the instrument
is not adapted to the proposed use
and that tho Presidency, during the
next term, will afford no scope for
the exerlion of military talent, we
challenge inquiry into the grounds OF
General Grants fame as a soldier
We suppose that none of his friends
will seriously maintain that be is en-
titled to be called a great general
merely because he has commanded
great armies, much less because he
has exposed and lest in battle great
multitudes Of men. His reputation
rests upon the fact that all his cam
paigns have been successful But sue
cess against such adversaries as Pill
low or PembertOn in the West is no
very signal proof Of abilities, unless
they commanded greater forces ;
which they did not. General Lee
was a more worthy antagonist but
General Lee was not conquered by
fighting him, but by exhausting his
resources. lie stood on the defensive
for nearly year after Grant assumed
command in the East, although the
COnfederacy was even then, when
Grant crossed the Rapidan, tOttering
and well nigh spent by three years
exertion in strenuous and unequal
struggle. 1t is certainly just 70 cred
it Grant with the capture of Lee but
there is a debit as well as a credit side
TO the account What General Scott
called "tbe economy Of life by means
of head work" viii be sought for in
vain in the campaigns Of Gen. Grant.
His successes have been won by q
prodigal expenditure OF his soldiers.
In his last and greatest campaign be
pitted al enormous army against o
small one, and sacrificed twice as
many men as Gen. Lee had under bis
command. 1t is not justice, but ad-
ulatiOn, 70 praise him as if he had con.
quered an army as large as his own.
1t is not justice but an affront 10 hu-
manity 20 give him as much credit as
if be had achieved thesame result
without such wholesale sacrifices
of men. The following is an au-
thentic statement Of the respec
tive forces and losses Of Generals
Grant and Lee between the Rapidan
and the James.
Grant, on assuming command May
4, 1864, had of effective men besides
the reserve, when be crossed the Rap
idan, l25 600.
Lee at the same date had an effec-
tive force Of 81, 900.
Grants reinforcements up to the
battle of Cold Harbor, June Sd, were
97 1000.
Lees reiaiorcements up to the same
date were $4,000.
Grants total force, including rein
fOrcements, was 222 900.
Lees total force, including rein
fOrcements, was 10000.
Returns 10 their respective govern.
ments showed that when both armies
had reached the James, June 10, the
the number OF Grants army that had
boon put h0rs du combat was III, ,000
Up to the same date, the number
Of Lees men who had been put h0rs
du combat was 10000.
The two armies then met in front
Of Petersburg.
We have been at some pains TO as
certain and verify these figures, ard
we vouch for their substantial accura
cy. We shall take care that they dc
not escape the notice nor slip the rec
objection Of the country. We cheer
fully concede to General Grant the
merit Of success but it is right that
the country should know the terrible
cost at which that success was pur.
chased.
The trucst test Of military genius
is the accomplishment. Of great results
with slender means We can recall
no instance unless Grant be an in
stance) of a general who established
his title TO be called great otherwise
than by Succeeding against great dis
neutrality-suspicious. superior numbers
or consummate abilities in the com
manders opposed TO him, or fOrmida
bic physical obstacles. A man dOei
not prove that he possesses a giants
strength by overmastering an invalid
or cripple. A general does not estab
7 lish his title TO be considered grea
by subduing an army one-third as
large as his own and losing five Of hi
own men for every one that he disa
bles of the enemy.
We have had some experience be
fore OF running successful generals al
candidates for the presidency; bu
their achievements were, in this par
ticular, a great contrast to those o
I General Grant. General Jackson woI
his brilliant victory at New Orlean
with 1000 men against a British ar
my Of 1900. General Taylor hai
but about 6,o00 men at Buena Visit
and the Mexicans twice or thrice tha
number. General Scott had s 500 8
Ccrro GOrdo, the Mexicans y O00
The splendid victory Of Contrera
was achieved by Scott with 4.50
men against $4,000 Mexicans. Gen
eral Scott in his report TO the Secrs
tnrr of War snnal,inr of the haifln