, 1868-07-03
PhnIlna on cnnf.

uenoeu fhilllps u q great villain, but
he = no snake. The attempts Of the radicals
70 Vhitewash Grant have provoked him, and
be replies through the Standard TO their
apologies for Grants personal habits thus
p Of Grants intemperance. We think
the evidence was sufficient before. But II
anything in the way Of proof is lacking, il
Is anply supplied BY the speech Of Mr..
Dotge, Of New York, the President Of the
Hahenel Temperance Society, and by the
letter Of Mr.. Senator Henry Wilson, pub
iiseed in the Boston 4dcerhser, April J..
Ar. Dodge has been in Washingtou, and
assures temperance men they need have no
fears. Ne knows Of the reports of the
GeneraPA recent public intoxication. At
such mtment, and speaking as an officer
of Temperance society, Mr. Dodge, would
have denied the truth of those reports if he
had been tble TO do so. His omission 10
do that, aud the evasive, general terms in
which he iDdulges, will convince any thought,
full teetotahr that Mr.. Dodge we'll knows
aud feels that he cannot deny the Generals
intemperante.
He has lchooled himself into thinking
that it does not amount to enough to imperil
the State, and hence, letting his party feel
lngs overruls his temperance principles, be
is willing to run the risk. What we claim
is that, before he asks rs TO run any risk,
he let us know the exact facts. Then We
will decide whether to run it or not.
Mr. Wilson's letter is even more charac-
teristic, and therefore evasive. He, too
knows of the reports of Grants public drunk
enn'ss on q particular day in last January
If w mistake not, these reports we're brought
mor' than once to his notice. In his letter
be ays
e have seen General Grant in camp, iu
his 'fhce, at his own house, and at dinner
parties where liquors were freely used by
Others, but have never seen him drink
evena glass of wine, nor have 1 ever seen
him when had the slightest reason to think
he vas in any degree under the influence of
drinl."
Ofcourse, no doubt. We can bring lO,>
OOO people in that very city of Washington,
who lever saw Grant drunk. There are
100000 in the North who never saw
Grant trunk. We never saw Grant drunk
or sObel But Mr. Wilson knows well that
the country never asked him, as a prominent
teetotaller, whether he had seen Grant drunk
The question was, Sir, living in Washing
ton, knoWln6- sE.v a.vSS, v-siiy
know then, what are the facts as to these
alleged public exposures of your Presidential
candidutei'
Mr.. Seator Wilson undertakes to answer
that question. His answer is, he never saw
Grant dunk. lfany shrewd lawyer had,
under tie circumstances, received from a
witness such an answer, be would have asked
no furher question, but taken it for granted,
and fgued to the jury that the witness
substantially admitted the drunkenness. To
Us nofurther evidence is necessary. Know
ing Henry Wilson, we see in this equivoca,
ton onvincing evidence that he cannot and
and ares not deny that he has heard from
trustworthy sources of this public drunken
expoure of his candidate. Mr.. Wilson's
coure on this occasion is precisely the same
be pursued year ago, when, having origi>
nateI a report as to the drunkenness of
Massachusetts, Congressman and afraid to
NEE the consequences, he equivocated
himelf out of the responsibility. Now,
whe all that Congressman's constituents
admit his intoxicatlon, it is not probable that
Mr.Wilson would think it worth while to
shute.
Il Grant, as President, should show him>
selfin Mr.. Dodge's felicitous language fully
capble of filling Andrew Jobnson's place,
Drunkenness and all or when Gen. Grant is
thrown aside, because he has been President,
or j not needed for that Office, we shall hear
theabsolute truth about this vice even from
Heiry Wilson. Now, when the temperance
bo9 needs his knowledge, be obeys that
sane law of timid self-preservatiou which
shocked his admirers when he carried him
Ie6shly into the know nothing party to save
lis place. We call this letter equivocation.
\ is mild phrase considering the vast peril,
and ths value the writer processes to set on
t.mperance- We shnnld be amply justified
K describing it by far stronger term. "A
he constant repetition of this offeuse by this
pnbIic servant seems almost to call for such
traDk description. In view of this element
10 his career, the success of Mr.. Wilson is
bse of the most alarming results of demo-
cntie institutions; sad evidence of how often
tley throw worthless men to the top.
WENDELL PHILLIPS.