The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-08
GRANT.


GENERAL GRANT.
One of the most prominent results OF the
late war is to be found in the forced retire
ment of thousands ofable and distinguished
men fr, public positions of trust anddlon-
or. and the elevation to those positions OF
men of little ability, less, reputation, and'no
integrity. Among the public officials who
have been recently dragged'from a lifelong
and deserved obscurity, and hoisted into
public prominence, there are few more ut
terly untitled for the duties, and undeserv-
inc Of the honors, which have been thrust
upon them, than the Individual whose name
appears at the head of this article. As a
soldi.r, the only commendable quality he
has ever exhibited is one which characterlz,
ed whole regiments Of the Germans who
wore the blue uniform, and whom he hur-
ried into untimely graves,-the bulldog
quality of perseverance. Mcclellan, sher-
man. and even Sheridan, tower SO far above
him in point Of military ability, that it seems
an insult to those generals to compare them
with him. AS a private citizen, and as a
business. man, the utmost vigilance of his
admirers has failed to discover the slightest
claim to superiority. Military success: and
the lowest order of military success at that
1.-The success of the many over the few-of
the brigade over the company--ls General
Grants only. title to fame. ..,,a
His marked reticence on political affairs
is susceptible Of but one explanation: it is
owing solely to his profound, ignorance oil
such subjects and it is something to his:
credit that he has thus far succeeded in baf-
fling the hosts of anxious and shrewd poiltl-
clans that surround him, by .perslstently
ssroaaD4y b s~rsvuSshsshut~S Silence is upaues-
unruly member, the tongue, in absolute sub
lection is certainly a; presumption of great
ness. This presumption, however, is liable
.sa. BE- Eehntted.. Because ignorance Is gen.
aid when a man chooses to take a position
in which his sentiments are important to the
public, the public have a right to demand
their expression. Grant is confessedly am.
bilious. He desires nothing less than the
presidency of the nation, and just now the
nation does not desire an. owl for its presi.
dent Staggering under q load of financial
embarrassment, it needs a head that can do
something morethan merely to talk horse"
Even the ~infantile intellect can comprehend
that "the horse is & useful animal but
it is not quite SO easy to perceive that an a.
BILE horse jockey is necessarily an able states
man. -,
In view Of his desire, and probable nomi-
nation, for the presidency, General Grants
political ignorance is unfortunately not the
greatest objection to his success. He has
r~Hwn himself to be utterly unworthy Of
puoiic trust and even of private confidence.
lie stands before the nation s~elf-convicted
of those basest of crimes-ingratitude and
son"hsry, Accepting from President John
Of the degraded vacated by the removal
der q solemn pledge not to r%essaifranton, un
once without previous and timely notice ~
the President, so that the latter might 50.
ieet and appoint a desirable successor. Re
deliberately and secretly conniyed with Con.
g 'ssi and with Stanton, and invited the lat.
Ter 70 creep into the Office while be crept ont
OF 1t, and then coolly informed the Pres;dent
.'nat his treachery was accomplished. At .
subsequent meeting ofths President and bic
Cabinet Granthad the effrontery to ackpovl.
ease his duplicity, and to refuse to a count
for it. @.#,-
Close upon. the heels Of this Hhuumiliut;ne
expose followed the disclosure that the or;ai
fator OF the mis-ealled scheme of 4son,barn
reconstruction, the necessary and recen,lv
acknowledged object Of which. is the nsrr,..
nent dissolution..of the Union, and.the sub.
ola military for a civil form. OF gov.
ernment, was not Thaddeus Stevens. but
Ulysses S. Grant. : L
Fin the face d these disclosures the neonIe
IRE willing to believe the recently published
statements that he is opposed to the new !,
reconstruction bill, which confessedly makes /,
INN permanent Dictator. of the Southern !,
they are more grossly crcdulous than i
ny people under the sun. America is pro- Z
hc IN hunbugs, but the commathder,s :;
f American hunbugs is certain p,
raj Grant. u
pr