Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1868-10-31
nNY POLICY"

The statement is published that General
Grant has recently written letter. 1t il
described by the political supporters of the
writer as characteristic letter" Let us
accept the description and see what the let
ter is:
"This much | wish and declare to be nv
policy: That such degree of peace and
tranquility shall exist in this country
that man may speak his mind in any part
of our great land, and that without moles-
tatiou or hindrance."
"This much is all that is given to the
public. This much may be important or
unimportant. 1t may mean something or
nothing. 1t may be intended for an cleo
pioneering catCh-phrase; in which case it
means nothing. Or it may be intended to
foresnadow what shall come after the cleo
ton of the writer to the Presidency in
which case it means a great deal.
Compare this characteristic outgiving of
"my policy" to a similarly brief, senten-
tious, and characteristic" epistle that was
quietly placed on the table around which
were assembled the members Of the proVi-
sional government in France, soon after
Louis Philippe had fed from Paris. This
was its purport:
"MEssIEURs-The people of Paris hav
ing destroyed, by their heroism, the last
vestiges of foreign invasion, hasten from
exile to range myself under the flag Of
the republic, which has just been pro-
claimed Without any other ambition
than that of serving my country, | come
to announce my arrival to the members Of
the provisional government, and to assure
them of my devotion to the cause which
they represent, as we'll az Of my sympathy
for their persons.
accept, Messieur5, the assurance Of my
sentiments.
LOUIS NAPOLEON BONAPARTE"
What did ii mean? 1t meant some
thing, or it meant nothing. The Assembly
was instantly divided in two parties on
this very question. One party said: This
man ia a patriot he is loyal to liberty (;
he means nothing; admit him." The other
said This mans god is ambition his ST.
lence conceals desperate purposes; his
presence is danger reject him."
Eight months aiterward, the writer of
| that Characteristic letter was President OF
the French republic. Four years after
ward, ne was the Emperor Of France.
"Eempire Gest pair" says the man who
fastened to give assurance Of his devotion
to a republic THAT is my policy"
"My policy" says General Grant, SIS
peace. By this l mean more than the
peace that is the opposite Of war. | wish
and declare, in order that there may be no
misunderstanding hereafter, that / extend
the meaning Of my words, and The intent
of my policy, beyond the scope of national
affairs, even to the actions and words of in
| dividual citizens. The peace which my
policy comprehends takes note OF what
men shall and shall not say in any part oil
our great land. This much | wish and dc.
clare to be my policy"
Under the republic, in France as well
as in America, men were only accountable
for speaking their minds, to the laws il
force in the locality where their minds
might be spoken. a man in Illinois NIGH
not speak his mind if his mind was to still
up strife, incite violence, or foment insur
rection; because the statutes of Illinois
provided punisbments for go doing. The
Federal authority had no authority, anC
might exercise no power, in the premises
The man in thesWhite House could no
say "My policy il, that these statutes shall
! PREVAIL Ut sHdll hot prevail
The man in the White House could no
say, " Rempire c'est pdiI," because the re
public placed the rights aud the wrongs o
the citizen in the Stats beyond the reach 0
his authority.
But "my policy" says General Grant
81 wish and declare shall go further. tn
citizen shall be accountable for speaking
his mind in any part of our great land
only TO me. The empire shall be peace
This second declaration by Gen. Gran
of my policy" foreshadows Il wish and
purpose to bring about permanent chang
in our governmental structure, or else It
without any meaning-mere verbal fusIiaI
1t means nothing, or it means great dea
more than any friendorthe republic ca
approve Of. 1t means the mere vaporin
of vacant mind, or it means peril to II
| publican liberty Chicago Times.