New-York tribune., 1868-02-15
ppESrDEYuAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Several of our neighboring cotemporaries are
much exercised by the question whether the
President of the United States should be n
learned gentleman. For our own part, we
confess that we should think it at least con
venient for President to know how to spell,
and it would appear also to be somewhat de-
sirable that he should know how to speak and
write the English language with correctness
and propriety. The extraordinary literary and
rhetorical performances OF Mr. johnson have
sufficiently shown how dangerous little learn
ing is and as he is probably the most ignorant
man who has ever occupied the White House,
he furnishes reasoners upon either side with
handy illustration which appears to be about
all the good he is dong or is likely TO do. Yet
il is a curious fact, that the muddle of Mr.
Johnson's speeches reminds us of the muddle Of
Oliver Cromwells, the only difference being that
the Protector had something 70 say, and expe-
rienced difficulty in saying il, while our poor
President has nothing to say, and finds II ut
terly impossible TO conceal the melancholy fact.
Our own opinion is that no amount OF erudition
Wsl make good an incapacity for public affairs,
while man may be a very useful public ser
want with but limited literary and scientific ac-
ouirements-just as n merchant who does not
know how to spell "dolars" may make
five hundred thousand Of them by a
single operation in tobacco. The best
educated President we have ever had
was John Adams, who was walk
ing library of rare and curious learning, and
at the same time the least successful OF our
public men--partly because he could not con-
troll his temper, and partly because he would
rather have died than conceal an opinion,
however obnoxious to the multitude. But
Washington is by far our foremost example OF
fine public ability. without any extraordinary
scholastic cultivation. He knew himself thor
oughly, and he knew also what an enlightened
nation expected of its President; and he never
besitated to avail himself Of the services OF
others whenever document which was to be
made public was under his hand. AT
later period, it is well known
that Gen. jackson frequently employed
the critical skill of his more accomplished
friends. It has been stated that even Mr..
| Webster, who was master Of an admirable
English style, submitted the celebrated Hulse-
mann letter to the judgment OF Mr.. Everett.
Public characters in all ages have never dis
| claimed this kind of assistance; and when the
capacity of Gen. Grant is under discussion, the
main question, we suppose, is whether he has
good sense enough to form an accurate judg-
ment, and sufficient distrust Of himself to seek
for necessary assistance Gen. Grant may not be
an accomplished scholar in any department Of
human learning; but freedom from the vanity,
thepassion andthe obstinacy of Mr.. johnson may
compensate for deficiencies far greater than We
suppose Gen. Grants TO be. And IL may be
observed generally, that the habit into which
the commander of an army naturally falls, Of
relying to o certain extent upon the Judgment
and abilities of others, induces q quick appre'
hension of tho character Of subordinates, and o
ready tact in the selection Of fit and trust
| worthy instruments In this respect, the army
| is q good school even for the duties and the
| demands of civil position. Cesar, Frederick
and Napoleon were great statesmen as wen as
great generals and neither Of them could boast
of that limitless fund of erudition which ilu-
inmates the columns of several New-fork
| newspapers.
! OF Gen. Granite intellectual accomplishments