New-York tribune., 1868-01-06
NEW-YoRK, MONDAY, JANUARY 6. 1868.

Hill. Freedom is almost incompatible with
military spirit. A warrior who rises by his
sword cannot always resist the temptation to
rise still higher on the shields of his soldiers.
And yet we love these men of blood with
that lusty, ravenous, unreasoning love that be-
longs to our baser nature. Because our politics
are controlled by men Of baser nature, our
party leaders have never dared to oppose the
principle that success in war is the highest
recommendation for the Presidency. Because
the halting, cowardly, and time-serving policy
of the Republican party led to its defeat at the
recent elections, they must enter a new cam
paign with soldier candidate. The party does
not want soldier if it had carried Pennsyl-
vania, it would have done without him. But
this is the hour Of its despair, and only SOL
dier can save it, This argument-resting only
upon necessity-is urged in spite of reason, expe-
rience and common sense, not only by Demo
Gratis but by Republicans. There is not poll
tician here of any party with skill enough to
do the rule of three who does not feel that
military service is the last qualification for the
Presidency. And yet the leaders of all parties,
Republican as well as Democratic, are striving
to induce some available Major General Com
manulnR 10 accept JnelT SulTdScs.
The friends of Chase, Colfax and the rest,
argue earnestly that the nomination of n
mere soldier, whose principles are negative and
uncertain, and who has no claim but successful
military service ends the mission of the Re-
publican party as the party of Progress and
Justice. There was, perhaps, reason, and
that not the most creditable, wbya new party
forming its ranks and aiming to rally the young
men. should nominate Col. Fremont in 1856. 1t
was necessary to reach the imagination of the
young. A man was named who had climbed the
Rocky Mountains and planted the American flag
in midsummer snow. 1t served its purpose, and
the young men shouted, and cheered, and sung
themselves into Republicanism. When The party
was strong enough to win, ii selected states
man. 1t was strong enough to reelect hlm-in
the agony of the war-and to defeat the most
popular soldier of the day. If it were wise to
give a civilian the direction of the war, why Is
it necessary to give warrior the direction OF
peace9 If the party Is not strong enough to
elect statesman, let it avoid the errors which
have shorn it of its strength. They argue that
to nominate any man, soldier or citizen, who is
not a conspicuous representative of Republican
principles, il TO admit that the party is no
longer worthy to defend those principles, but
really TO abandon the cause which has given
il so much glory, power, and usefulness
The South the South After all, the
Presidency is the mere toying of children COM
pared with the necessities of this unhappy region.
Do you remember Dante entering Hell and
seeing the souls of millions whirled around
in tyrannous gust. and with restless fury, and
his visit to the troubled waters of the Sty-
gian lake, underneath which were buried the
multitude, whose sighs were only known by the
bubbles that heaved along the surfacel Such a
doom seems to have fallen upon the South.
By the cowardce and tardness of the Repub-
can party and the treachery of the President,
we have reduced that region to a wretched
condition. The President has a simple policy.
1t means ANARCHY. If he can lind Generals
enough To do his bidding, he will throw the
South into chaos rather than see it come back
into the Union under Republican auspices.
Plainly, Reconstruction is only half performed.
So long as Tammany- Hall Hancock can drive
Flanders out of the Governors chair, and re-
mand the negro TO the Rebel courts-so long
as he can defeat any Constitution or select
any Congressmen he pleases, Reconstruc-
and White, understand is FORCE. Mr.. Stevens
and Mr.. Butler may write the most radical
speeches-we may send as many political mission
aries as the Catholic Church has in her service
so long as the Rebel and the negro see the power
to strike down the loyal generals, to send Sherl-
dan to the Indian country, and take the stars
from Sickles, they cannot respect Congress.
After the Extra Session, when Sheridan was
removed, we were assured that, so soon as Con-
gress reassembled, the law would be so amended
that Grant could have absolute advisory and
directory power. Yet Congress has met and
Grant is still cipher the hand that counter
signs Johnsons orders; and, while Radical
members are eating turkey and plum pudding
in the most cheerful and domestic manner the
President whrls Pope from his seat. That one
act does more TO strengthen the President in
the South than hundred Reconstruction laws
to weaken him. And yet we have Republicans,
conspicuous among them Mr. Raymond q call
him Republican for the sake of argument, who
say: "For Heavens sake, friends, do MT
IVORY the President; do MT quarrel with him
"you are as bad as he is do MT exasperate
him he cannot be controlled, and you can.
LET us smile upon him benignantly, and have
"peacen There is something sweet and beau
tiful in the New-Testament virtue of these
sanity men-somethng edifying in this turning
the smitten cheek to the smiter-this kissing
the hand that gives the blow. The only in
stance like tiff you will allow me to make
another familiar illustration-is that of the
caned and beaten Pecksniff, who sinks away,
with battered head saying: If you should
"wish to have anything inscribed upon your