Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1868-09-03
04)lp pStatesnran,
The IsraeIises and Gen. Grant.

The IsraeIfses and Gen! Grant.
To Henry Green5auns, of Chicago, Ill.,,
a9d Simon Vol, Of Washington, d.
O. = Propag gdndists in the Interest Of
Gen. Grants Presidential Claims:
GENEtEMRN-By dint of talent and
position in the community in which you
live, you are deservedly representative
men in your several spheres, and your
opinions on any stated subjectwould be
read and studied with some interest and
to some purpose. You have chosen to
exercise your rights as.American cleo
tors by an open advocacy of Gen. Grants g
Presidential aspirations, in the face of
his damaging order No. i l and, with
this motive you assume to speak for and
on behalf Of t.Iewish intellect and try
to convince your coreligionists to adopt
your mode Of thinking and acting. Let
us quietly talk over this, matter, and
perhaps those who honestly differ from
your conclusions will" not sink all be-
meath the weight of personal vindictiEe
revenge, or even Of holy Indignation" r:
You, gentlemen, take the ground that
you cannot forget your country which
protects you and has made you citizen,
and infictwounds upon otherslwhich we
have suffered. ourselves; andnyou are,
therefore, willing to forget personal
matter in view Of overwhelming nation
al issues. This is your position, as I
understand it. Now, were this con-
test between liberalism on the one side
and despotism on the other, the question
would not, be debatable one; for I trust
that Israelites, who ought to know the
blessings of liberty and good govern
ment, will ever, as, they have in the
past, rally under the banner of liberal
principles. But this is a contest be-
tween the great political parties of our
country, each in its own method seeking
the good of the public veal. The party
to which you profess loyalty places
upon a platform of professedly liberal
principles candidate who, in moment
of power, has tried to fasten the Nessus
shirt of traditional prejudice upon us,
from which we and our successors
will naturally enough suffer. A
traditional ill-will has, been written
upon the pages of American his
tory by an American General, who stig-
matized our people en- msasse as ga class"
of miscreants, fit only to be summarily
expelled from military district within
the compass of twenty-four hours. No
complicated military responsibilities"
can excuse even the embryo thought
which would indelibly stamp an entire
people with shame and reproach. You
solemnly protest against this " ancient
grudge; !" but what availeth an empty
protest2 You know, gentlemen, that
this. increasing prejudice has haunted
our steps in the old despotic countries,
in the public school, at the university,
in private life as well as on the public
marts, and has no less reared its abom-
Unable medi@val front even in this coun-
try, on the sidewalks, in the bar-room,
in the pulpit, in the press, in'congress-
ional reports. and last, but not least, In
a military order. began the enumer-
alton with the sidewalk and the bar
room-for we. can tontemptuously pass
by the kissing tongues OF the rabble;
but, who can, we'll forget the deliberate
SANDER of the educated, when it re-
solves into filtration of intolerance
and bigotry! Gen. Grant, now can
didate for the highest order in the land.
has added his bayonet-thrust to the
kicks and cuffs of for mer times, and has
perforated our good name In manner
which at once evoked countermand by
his superior, Abraham Lincoln. A Dem
ocratic Congressman tried the question
before congressional tribunal, and a
Republican Congress stified Judgment.
Our ancestors fought this issue before
us. We, ourselves, daily protest, fill
up petitions, write scathing articles for
the press, enlist the sympathies of lib
eral governments, and, in fact, use every
engine to wipe away ancient errors.
Protestatlons and appeals have done I'M
mense good, but will not cure radical,
inherited prejudices. Free institutions
furnish us terrible weapon, which
move US to leave the defensive, whereby
we can influence masses who would
otherwise be deaf to appeals. mean
the ballot. Backed up by great and
powerful organization, whose selfish mo.
tive may gradually be metamorphosed
into righteous conviction, We have one
more weapon furnished us to fight an
error which chills our best intentions
and eclipses for us the bright luminary
the sun of liberty radiating the face Of
the nineteenth century. 20 asHsc
l am with you, heart and soul, in di
recting the fight to be fought in oul
capacity as American citizens, and pre-
venting our indignation from placing us
in false light by giving the question 6
denoniinational coloring. This we car
a., CO.. Gon Grant IN ;nsnlt;no III.