The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-19
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS OF TIE LEADING JoURNALs
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-CoMPILKD EVERY
DAY FOB THE EVENING TELEoRAPH.
General Grant and Our Diplomatic Service.

General Grant and Our Diplomatic Service.
From the ". Y. Rerald.
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-
nity 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 ia the matter of diplomatic coats
and breeches. But we have another hint
from a different quarter-a hint that the
claims of the army to these nice places abroad
cannot be and will not be overlooked by Gene
raj 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 il while he lives; that he is sub
stantially an Oliver Cromwell or Bonaparte
in disguise that there is no end to his ambi-
tion; that he will make himself dictator;
that thus our blessed Constitution will be
trampled under the iron-shod feet of mill
tary despotism, and that Grants election, in
fact, will be the last glimmer of the great
republic.
Now, General Blair, il we are not mistaken
went into Vicksburg with General Grant aud
down to the sea with General Sherman; and,
therefore, he ought to know something of the
President elect. But assuming, at any rate,
JnaJ Ueneral UTanJb programme Is 10 esbho-
lish another empire aud another line of the
Caesars, is it not his policy to have some one
of his army officers in every court or govern
ment in both hemispheres, as we'll as in every
important office at home, from the Cabinet to
the Custom Houses, and so on down to the
whisky gaugersl Just so. According to
General Blair's theory, then, OF Grants ad-
ministration, the "Boys in Blue" must rule
the roast, and the poor civilians who did the
oh nf tha lat will ilra
Andy Johnson's Rebels, to take back seats till
they can "swing around the circle"
But again. Assuming that General Blair
was only talking for buncombs in this theory
of his before the 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 tue war must still bs 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
fellow soldiers. Therefore, we may look for a
beral 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. hint from
General Thomas, with Grant to back him, as
our Minister at London, would to Lord Stan
ley be worth more than all the dinner
speeches Of Reverdy Johnson put together in
the settlement of the Alabama claims. And
SO with regard to every other European Gov
eminent, from the Seine to the Golden Horn.
1t would be good thing, too, for the anti
Butler Republicans to send off General Butler
to China; and We shall want such man out
there before long. Lastly, in diffusiug our
army officers all over the world under Grant
we shall get rid Of good many men who may
otherwise turn up as candidates for the sue.
cessiOn or for Congress.
AS for the navy, Admiral Farragut, 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 Gene
raj Grants administration. Thus our modest
but stroDg-willed soldier President, not only
in the work of reconstruction at home but
throughout the world, may be the great
peace maker, and thus victorious as that OF
the immortal Constantine may be the motto
of Grant, "Let us have peace.'