Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-12-30
Imperialism and How Grant Is Going TO
Meet it.
The Washington correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Enquirer writes:

The Washington correspondent OF the
Cincinnati Enquirer writes:
General Grant, foreseeing what the end
must inevitably be when the State rights
plan is overthrown, is preparing for the
inevitable result He is managing to re-
tain the attachment, sympathy and con-
fdence Of the officers Of the regular
army, and Of these Of the volunteer
service engaged in the late war. That
took him to Chicago. Aud it 10 that
which induces him to treat with so much
consideration the distinguished officers
of the Confederate arny-Lee, Long
street and Others. he knows that the
high spirited, educated officers Of the
South would, thousand times, prefer an
empire than be governed BY negroes, or
to be placed on an equality with them.
And who would be SO agreeable to them
as General Grant for Emperor 7?
Then, there is an immense public debt,
ne-tenths of the holders of which would
prefer to have the Governmentwithdrawn
as far as possible from popular influence.
They would become the most ardent sup
porters Of strong Central Government
call il nation, empire or monarchy
that would be supreme over the States
and people. 1t is because of the support
of this class of citizens, who can be relied
upon by the Government under any in
fractions of popular liberty, that a public
debt is called public blessing. Care will
be taken by the Radical managers, as
they go marching on the empire consum-
nation, that the interests of this class OF
citizens shall receive no detriment. The
public debt will be nursed and increased,
because it is an indispensable element in
changing a republic into despotisr.
A public debt will also require thou
sands on thousands Of placemen, acting
as revenue officers, to collect the taxes ;
and they will be the fast friends of the
central government, and ready at all
times to uphold and defend it. Extrava-
CANT appropriations to make great pub
lie improvements, in character with the
nations grandeur and power, will attach
to the Government host of corrupt de-
bendents, who may be counted on rs its
most faithful adherents.
Advantage has been taken of the feel
ing of the people against the rebels, to
farailiarize them to encroachments upon
popular liberty and disregard of consti-
tutional obligations This is the most
dangerous and effective sapping and
mining of the foundations Of the republic
that has been adopted by the Radical
managers. There is no need of telling
how well it has worked. l. has met with
the direct approval of the people, when
submitted to them fer judgment The
condition of the Southern States, given
as the reason for this violation Of the
most sacred principles Of republican
government, can be perpetuated 80 long
as may be necessary to consolidate the
Central Government beyond the fear of
change, save by revolution, the people all
the while being made to believe the con-
tinuance of military rule is indispensable
to the suppression Of disloyalty. The
great idea has been to fsmiliarize the
people with encroachments upon popular
and constitutional liberty, so that they
can be led by degrees to consider a ma
ton or an empire as indispensable to the
public security against domestic violence
and foreign aggression, in country Of
such vast extent as that of the United
States. 1t will be the first great seduc-
ton of the people, in the name Of liberty,
by sdroit, ambitious and unscrupulous
readers.