The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1868-02-18
For the Spirit ]

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presented to the people of this country
than that now exhibited by General
Grant. A high crime requiring boldness
or skill for its consummation demands, in
spite of US, certain degree of admira-
tion for the diabolical cunning and power
of its perpetrator; but when nothing is
required but shameful duplicity and in
born baseness there is no redeeming fea-
fture-he can excite no feeling but scorn
and detestation.
The United States now displays to the
world the General of all her armies and
/ a prospective candidate for the Presiden-
Icy convicted in the, face Of all mankind
of betraying the confidence o. his supe-
rior- processing to assist while concealing
"a determination to thwart him-and
finally of downright and unequiyocal
lfalsehood. 4;3
Grant accepted the position of Secre.
ltary Of War knowing the Presidents de.
termination to keep Stanton out Of that
position until the Courts should decide
upon the law under which be was remoy-
led. The President distinctly stated this
Ito Grant on many occasions, although it
was already known to Grant and every
body else. Grant stated to the President
that he would hold on to the Office until
the question was decided, or, If he should
decide not to do this, he would notify the
President in time to allow that officer to
appoint a successor who would SO hold
the position.
Instead of doing as he had assured the
President he would he basely surrender
ed the Office to Stanton, and then notified
the President of what he had done.
The President called together the Cab
met and General Grant, and then and
there, in the presence of the. Cabinet,
Grant acknowledged the propAse he had
made, and gave an 'uninteligible" excuse
for it. No wonder johnson says that
when Grant left the room he was the
'smeanest looking man I ever saw, and
didn't look bigger than my fist"
But this is not all, or scarcely the
worst Grant in his correspondence bra
Esnly denied that be had ever made such
q promise, or that he had ever aeknowl-
edged in the presence Of the Cabinet that
he bad SO promisedi and impudently de-
clafed that he was all the time scheming
for Stanton 5 reinstatement
Here was the issue fairly made in off,
cial correspondence. Either the Presi
dent of the United States. or the General
of the United States Armies and candi-
date for President, had officially uttered
and published delibsszte and malicious
liel
Grants statement is supported by no
circumstance and mo authority but his
own allegation. On the other hand Pres
ident johnson is fully and triumphantly
sustained by published letters from Mr..
Seward, Secretary of State, Mr.. Brown
ing, Secretary Of the Interior, Mr. Ran,
dali, Postmaster General, Mr.. Welles,
Secretary of the Navy, and by Mr.. Me-
Culloch, Secretary of the Treasury, every
one of whom was present and heard
Grants confession to the President.
Never was case Of knavish perfdy
and wilful falsehood more fully made Out
or more overwhelmingly established. si
General Grants name has never excl
ted that popular enthusiasm which usu
ally accompanies military glory He has
never reached the hearts and affections of
the people. Among all the incidents and
personal "reminiscences which are told Of
Headers of the war there is as yet not one
illustrating the kindness, the attention tc
privates and subordinates, the sympathy
or the humanity of General Grant. He
lis still the cold, selfish, unsocial being
[who refused to exchange soldiers for An.
Jacksonville skeletons.
i The Radicals hope to succeed by using
sIevery artifce to arouse enthusiasm fol
Ibis prowess; to drown the complaints o
1.-THE oppressed and the cries Of suffering
Iby Justify hurrahing for military herOism
Ibut the people will shout very feebly fO
the hero of detestabie treachery, or tn,
hero of a disgraceful falsehood. Th'
glare of military glory will searce.!
blind the people to the dark stain upoI
EGrant's honor.
I IF he had been content to occupy th'
Icxalted position he now holds, few peopl'
would have cared to inquire whether
was military skill or mere force of mum
bers that won his victories. Few woul'
have cared whether his silence on politi
cal subjects was the result Of prudenc
OF stupidity. But he wants to be- Pres
lident;; he must ingratiate himself with
political party-and his FIRST. step tar
nishes all the fame he has ever achieves
{ -it disgracus him-disgraces the natioD
whose General he is, and scandslizes til
5 people who have been applauding him.
This perfdy. It is true. makes him haj