Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-07-24
GENERAL GRANT.

A DEMOCRATIC OPINION OF HIS ''soLm
PUBLIC SERVICES" THE 'ssTRADINEss
AND sTAUNCHNEss OF HIS PATRIOTISM, =
AND THE 'UPRIGHTNEss OF HIS CHAR
ACTER.
General Grants temporary acceptance of
the War Department causes a stir in the
Republican party, which confuses the cal
culations of those Republicans who, five
weeks ago, counted securely on his nomina-
ton as their candidate for the Presidency.
Those Republican newspapers, therefore,
which, like the Times, are trying to identify
General Grant a0ith the Republican party,
are opposing a strong presumption by the
thinnest and ieeblest of shadowy differences.
Gen. Grant, TO be sure, f1UorS Me execution
of The Reconstruction acts. but so also does
President johnson. AS they do not differ
on this point, they probably differ on none
which is pertinent to the present posture Of
affairs. President johnson would indeed
have had no such laws passed as he feels
constrained to executS; nor IS there any eUi-
deace that Gen. Grant eUeT fdUored, or tried
TO promote their passage President John
son comedies that Congress has practical
control Of reconstruction by consentiRg to
execute The Lalos 1t has passed on that sub
iect; and Gen. Grant finding these laws in
force, recognizes their authority, a0ttt0at
going behind them to inquire whether they
ought to have been enacted. There is no
evidence that the President and Acting
Secretary of War differ on any important
practical question. The fact that the TiIb-
stae and other Republican journals object to
Gen. Grant that he has never signifed his
assent to their principles, deserves notice
and consideration. OF the SteddiaeSS and
stauachRess Of Gen. Grants patriotism, or
the uprightHeSS and The solidity Of his char
acter, no man IN the country doubts, nor Of
fectS TO doubt. The most perfect loyalty,
then, may stand with the most absolute in
difference to those objects which the Repub-
hcan party regards as supreme. Or, to ex-
press the same idea differently, devotion 10
Republican shibboleth is no test of devotion
to the country On tie score of loyalty and
solid public services, no man IN the country
can come into competition lcitb this Hlustrious
solder. But measure him by the usual
Loyal League standards, aud it requires a
magnifying glass of very extraordinary pow
er to discover that he has ony merit Of pa
tri0tisn, at dH
The Tribune is clamorous to have Gener-
al Grant show his colors and take sides in
the party squabbles of the day. We rgoice
that there Is one man an The c0lnltIlj lcho Is
ADORE the necessity Of SHeh belittlng partisan
ship. We trust that Gen. Grant loves his
whole country; that he desires the good of
oil its citizens, without regard to any diVi-
ding lines-whether they be lines of party,
or section, or race, or color. 1t is the no
hlest reward of great services like his, that
it exalts the character of this high level;
that it enables a man to act nobly without
appearing to be pretentious. Gen. Grant
is under a moral necessity Of respecting the
great renown of his past services. 1t is be-
meath him TO play any common part in vul-
gar politics. The Presidency can be moth
ing to him; he has more valuable office.
But If IN the hands Qt' Providence, he could
Je an Instrument for traRquiliziRg the conn
trg, that Is an honor for lohich he could df
ford to sacrifice ease, c0ageajat pursuits, and
the responsibilities Of greater fame as sol
der
God forbid that he should descend into
the arena of party contests. If he cannot
be elected President without such a decent,
he can do no good in the Presidency. Our
torn, lacerated, exasperated country needs
soothing, needs paciticati0n, needs oil on
the troubled waters, which still toss and
dash after the recent tempest We would
hO hoIS nave Oeu6Idl VI dut OeCOiue q DaI-
ty politician than, if we had lived in Wash
ington time, we would have wished him
to give and return party blows AS Wash
ington was elected and reelected on the
strength of his character and services, with
out pledges either asked or given, zee tf1,St
that General Grant 10H be elected, If at all,
IN the same scdy, aud lUith the same gener-
ouS confidence HaUiag restored the author
Hy Of the Government, lCe hope that he may
add the highest clUic to the highest military
fame by restoring long lost cordially Of Jcel-
ing. From the Nei0 York Horld.