The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-09-11
PROSPECT OF A MILITARY EMPIRE.

In a recert conversation W til correspond
emit of the New York Herald-if we are to
believe the report of this correspondent-Mr
Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia, expressed
himself freely on the character of Grant, and
as to what would follow should he be elected
President. To the question, " What is your
opinion of Grant personally ?" Mr.. Stephens
answered in these words THAT he is entire
" moderated by the country and the press.
know him very well He is remarkable
man, and one that few appreciate of decided
military genius, indomitable energy, and de-
termined will-just the man for coup Fetat
such as the present Emperor Louis Napoleon
performed when he placed himself on the
throne of France"
| From other remarks of Mr.. Stephens in the
same conversation, it appears that he is
prepared to witness very soon-unless a
wonderful change political revolution"
| should occur meantime-the establishment of
military empire on the ruins of the once
great republic. elf Grant is elected next
November, said he; CT never expect
to see another Presidential election"
There is nothing new in this apprehension.
The hypothetical vaticination ofMr. Stephens
has been long on the tongues or in the
thoughts of thousands. The fact that such
an expectation is widely felt makes against
its fulfllment In changeful and convulsive
times, dangers the most generally appre-
hended are often found, in the end, to have
been the last that were to be feared. In such
aff
apt to come in surprising form, stranger
to the common fear or to the common hope
In such times it is the part of wise and brave
men to stand ready to face eventualities that
are the least expected
Mr.. Stephens may, or he may not, know
General Grant "very we'll" 1t is a rather
daring assertion to make with regard to any
mantle most obscure or the most conspicu-
GUS, the simplest and most unpretending, or
the most brilliant, exclusive and demonstra-
tive. But if Mr.. Stephens does know General
Grant to be just the man to undertake coup
detdt after the manner of the present French
emperor, and to wind up the Radical revolution
by establishing a military empire, he can
scarcely claim that he is solitary in the know |
ledge, or original in the discovery, of this
aspect of the generals character Mr.. Ste |
phens is not the sole possessor of key to |
unlock the secrets of Grants political medi- |
tations and tendencies. The first general in |
the army who coalesced with the Radical |
revolutlonists of Congress for the purpose of |
obtaining the presidency, is by no means SO |
much moderated or misunderstood as Mr.. |
Stephens supposes him to be. 1t has been |
plain to all rejecting minds that the Radical |
faction at Washington could present but one |
point of attraction for such a man as Grant |
its eagerness to discard the slow but safe
methods of a constitutional republic, and to
appeal to arbitrary force as the supreme
power in the government Here is the secret
of Grants affection for Radicalism. 1t is the
love which military chieftain, ambitious of
supreme civil distinction, but wholly incom-
petent for the statesmanlike adjustment of
civil affairs upon the basis of liberty, feels for
a bridge which he thinks will bear him to
despotic power.
Grant, in fact, is too well understood for the
part which many believe that he is destined to
play. In spite of his reticence he revealed
himself too soon. He will surprise nobody
4 he attempts coup detat a stroke which de-
nands, above all things, unexpectedness, and
therefore he is not "just the man for that
business"
But let us suppose that he succeeds, after
'ome fashion, in setting up a military empire
Where would we find the guarantees of its
peaceful continuance? Partial analogies are
Iery deceptive. To an imperial despotism
ike that of Rome under the Caesars, or of
france under the Napoleons, geographical and
lational circumstances are necessary which
his country does not offer. 1t is the pres
nee of foreign dangers inducing the (
maintenance of great standing armies ,
Tbich serves to perpetuate military ,
mpire and to permanently suppress domestic
berty. This condition is wholly wanting :
nth respect to the United States. The OBJ ;
ious and sole purpose of great standing I
my within its limits would be to enforce \
omestic tyranny-to subject all classes and 1
Il interests to the vexatious rigors and sitting I
estraints Of martial law. No people, situated I
5 the Americans are, were ever known to 7
i've the necessary men and money for the h
aintenance of such an army. Most men
ould prefer disunion, if there were no other
medy, to the permanent surrender of their
berties without any national compensations. :
ANY would prefer even anarchy. :,
Hence the road which the Grant Radical y
'alition is pursuing, though it might conduct :,
transitory military despotism, does not y
'int either to lasting Union or lasting :,
rather to the reverse of both.
NO SEPTEMBER SESSION. is