The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-11-18

General Grant and Our Diplomatic Ser
vicc-Is tho Army Going 60 Europes
One of our newspaper contemporaries, who
has kindly undertaken the Office of the grand
almoner of both our political parties, urges,
first of all, the claims of the editorial frater-
nifty. In this philanthropic vein he recon-
mends to General Grant the appointment of
Horace Greeley, by way of beginning, as
his Minister to England, subject to the court
regulations in the matter Of diplomatic coats
and breaches. But we have another hint from
different quarter-a hint that the claims Of
the army to these nice places abroad cannot
be and will not be overlooked by General
Grant. We have the opinion of General Blair
before us that If General Grant once gets into
the chair Of the White House he will never
leave it while he lives; that he is substan-
italy an Oliver Cromwell or Bonaparte in
disguise; that there is no end to his ambition;
that he will make himself dictator that thus
our blessed constitution will be trampled under
the iron-shod feet of q military despotism, and
that Grants election, in fact, will be the last
glimmer of the great republic.
Now. General Blair, if we are not mistaken,
went into Vicksburg with General Grant and
down to the sea with General Sherman; and.
therefore, he ought to know something of the
President elect. But assuming, at any rate,
that General Grants programme is to estab-
lish another empire and another line of the
Caesars, is it not his policy to have some one
Of his army officers at every court or govern
ment in both hemispheres, as well as in every
important Office at home, from the Cabinet to
the Custom Houses and so on down to the
whiskey gaugers? Just SO. According to
General Blair's theory, then, of Grants adj
ministration, the ''Boys in Blue" must rule
the roast, and the poor civilians who did the
rough work of the late canvass will have, like
Andy Johnson's rebels, to take back seats till
they can ''swing round the circle"
But again. Assuming that General Blair
was only talking for buncombe in this theory
of his before tho election, and assuming that
in his administration Of the government
General Grant will adhere to the constitution
and cast about for the best men to represent
the government at home and abroad, the
claims of the army and of his subordinate
officers in the war must still be respected.
What does he know Of the politicians Very
little. But he thoroughly understands such
men as Sherman, Thomas and Sheridan, and
hundreds of others of his tried and trusty fell
low soldiers. Therefore we may look for
liberal infusion of army officers among our
representatives abroad under General Grant.
1t is already rumored that General Meade
will be sent as Minister to France. And why
not fill up the whole European schedule with
shoulder straps? This would give the crowned
heads on the other side of the water some
conception of the magnitude and results of our
late civil war. They would be impressed, too,
with the idea that the United States have
become nation of soldiers and are no longer
to be trifed with anywhere. A hint from
General Thomas, with Grant to back him, as
our Minister at London, would to Lord Stan :
of Reverdy Johnson put together in the settle
ment Of the Alabama claims. And so with
regard to every other European government,
from the Seine to the Golden Horn. It would
be good thing, too, for the anti-Butler repob-
licans to send off General Butler to China !;
and we shall want such man out there before
long. Lastly, in diffusing our army officers
all over the world under Grant we shall
get rid Of good many men who may other
wise turn up as candidates for the succession
or for Congress.
As for the navy, Admiral FarrayAt, in the
place of old Mr.. Welles, will take care of that.
We are dealing with the army; and in view Of
the fact that Europe is drifting to general
war we approve the suggestion of strong
military representation over there from Gen
eral Grants administration. Thus our modest
but strong-willed soldier President, not only
in the work Of reconstruction at home but
throughout the world, may be Che great peace
maker, and thus victorious as that of the
immortal Constantine may be the motto Of
Grant, ''Let us have peace"
Geverul Grant I'm Nexy