New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-07-12
Can Grant be Beaten ?

J
Grant and Colfax will be beaten in
November?
1t has always been the custom for
people to confer the highest civil
honors upon those who have been very
successful upon the battle field. Man
kind have ever been more prone to
reward great military chieftains than
any other class of individuals. Half
the statues of the world and almost all
those of the ancients are those which
have been erected to commemorate
the names and actions of successful
military chieftains.
In the earlier ages of republican
Rome great triumph was always
decreed to the returning hero who
had successfully reared the banners of
the republic over a PROSTATE empire
and in later days the imperial diadem,
the kingdom, and the throne were the
sure rewards of the returning victor.
In republican America this example
Of the old world seems not wholly to
have been lost. Six times since the
birthday of our independence have the
people brought forward for Presiden
tial honors such of their distinguished
citizens as had been successful upon
the red fields of war. Washington,
jackson, Harrison, Taylor, Scott, and
Grant are the six names which success
full military events have brought for
ward as competitors for Presidential
honors, and in every instance thus far
save one we're they successful.
General Winfield Scott is alone the
only individual case in which the name
of great military chief has ever been
defeated for the highest Office in the
gift of the American people. 1t re-
mains for the ensuing ides of Novem-
Der to demonstrate whether the irrev-
ocable fat of the American people
will call this now greatest military
chieftain to preside over them for the
next four years; or whether the re-
membranoe and recognition of his
great deeds shall be clouded by lyon
minious defeat. His very nomination
is an almost sure prelude of victory.
Had he been a Democrat, and nOmi-
mated by that party, although the
weaker one, his opponent could have
hoped for nothing but defeat, His very
name is the synonym of victory.
This was shown plainly at Chicago
when, with a unanimity unparalleled
in the whole annals of conventions,
the delegates from all our widespread
land from PASSPORT to Alaska, from
the snow-clad hills of Maine to the
far distant Rio Grande, responded
with unity which seemed guided by
Omnipotence, and with one pulsing
heart, one united voice, gave their
votes for the laureled Hero of the
West,
His enemies complain that he is reti-
cent-that he is taciturn. "A still
tongue shows wise head"
and surely with the noisy
gable of the present occupant of the
White House before him, he is con-
tinually impressed with the necessi-
ty, if not with the decenoy of tact
turnity.
The Democratic sheets tell us he is
only capable of deciding upon the
respective merits of cigars, clans,
and horses. Strange, indeed, that
with a genius never rising above these
three small things he was chosen
by the wisdom of the nation to lead
her conquering cohorts to battle, and
stranger still that with this little mod
ioum of talent he was not only enabled
to defeat the bravest armies marshaled
by the most warlike chieftains of the
age, but also organized victory out of
the very debris of defeat.
How hopeless, indeed, was the Union
cause when he was called to lead her
armies in the West. How successful
ly he foiled the efforts of Sidney
johnson with his reported 100000
men at Bowling Green. See how he
fanked this great host, and caused
the evacuation of Kentucky, and in
the depth Of mid winter threw his
Western legions around Fort Donel-
son, and regardless of the rigors of
winter, or the dreadful resistance
made by Buckner, he at length COM
PEELED the evacuation Of that strong
fortress, and opened the way for the
Federal feet to the capital of Ten
nessee.
See him again On the heights of
Shiloh, combating a resistance which
seemed oyerpowering, and after sus-
tanning a check in that first days
fight that would have induced almost
any other leader to evacuate the field.
again at early dawn leading his gallant
egions to battle; displaying through