The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-04-15
Grant md l,ouis NnpoIeon.

Grant and Louis Napoleon.
History keeps repeating itself-an old truth,
but forever new in its application. We are des-
tined probably to see another illustration of it
before long in the United States. The expo
nent, If any exponent there be, will be General
Grant and our present system of free repre-
sentative government, founded on universal
suffrage, will be the first sacrifice on the altar
of his greatness. We make no charge of am
bilious designs against General Grant-no
charge that he is consciously plotting for the
overthrow of the government founded by Wash
ington, Jefferson and their associates. But
events beyond his control, and apparently be-
yond all human control, are hurrying forward
this country in the direction of military die
tatorship; and If such is to become our next
form of government after President Johnsons
preordained removal, then it is clear that
General Grant has been selected by overruling
events as the founder of our new system of
national control. That our next President, If
Mr.. Johnson be removed, must be either
mere tool Of Congress, recording its will and
depending on its pleasure for his continuance
in power, or tyrant who will seize the helm
himself and dominate both Congress and the
country, is the clearest fact of the present hour.
He must be either tool or tyrant-there can be
no alternative for the constitutional authority
of the President will be stricken down with
mortal blow If the present Jacobin plot for Mr..
Johnson's removal shall prove successful. It
will be no ignominious place in history that
Andrew Johnson will occupy as the last con-
one who fought the good fight, but was de-
feated in il; one who had the misfortune to be
Chief Magistrate at q time when the American
people were resolved upon changing their form
of government.
The alternative being either tool or tyrant,
master or slave of Congress, which horn of the
inevitable dilemma may we expect General
Grant to adopt? What course did Prince Louis
Napoleon take when Cavaignac, Lamartine and
the other semi-moderate leaders of the last
French Revolution-that in which King Louis
Philippe was ''impeached' and removed by
the people-sought to make use of him for a
few years as the fgurehead of their bastard re-
public? Louis Napoleon was a silent man,
almost as silent on political topics as General
Grant. He would talk of artillery with any
body, just as General Grant will talk about
horses. But in regard to French politics
Louis Napoleon, when plotting for the purple,
had no more fixed opinions than General
Grant avows to-day in regard to the great
questions agitating the public mind. It is
curious, too, to remember that Louis Napoleon
was favored by the conservative and constitu-
tional party Of France, just as we find General
Grant is to-day favored by the leading men
and organs Of the so-called conservative
republicans They hope he will use the radi-
calls to secure his election, just as Louis
Napoleon used the popular vote of France;
and that he will, when once in power, still
further initiate Louis Napoleon by quietly
ignoring or actively suppressing, as may be
necessary, the men and principles by which
and on whose votes his elevation was accom-
plished Both Grant and Louis Napoleon are
men of unimpressive appearance and address
to the common observer. Both appear to be
of slow, phlegmatic natures, not bright by any
means, rather dull than otherwise and both,
in their early youth, have been involved In
bad fdscos, which nothing but their subse-
quent success could have redeemed from
general contempt Louis Napoleon, with q
tame eagle perched on his wrist, invaded
France and got locked up for his pains in the
calaboose Of Ham. General Grant, shortly after
the Mexican war, was courtmartialed on q
charge of being too enormously pous, and was
by a sentence Of cashierment RENTED to the
shades of private life What the meditations Of
his dungeon did for Louis Napoleon, strengthen
ing his character and giving IL fixed alma
stigma to be blotted out and a success TO be
reached-the years of his retirement as a Mis-
souri, farmer would seem to have done for
General Grant. Both men have issued stronger
from the ordeal. One is already on throne
and the other is on highroad leading very
distinctly in the same direction.
The men In political life who combine to
create an officer superior to the constitution
seldom fail TO find their new King Saturn q
monarch partial to devouring his own children.
The frogs would not have King Log and were
never easy until they got King Stork, after
which King Stork gave them no case except