Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-10-23
GENERAL GRANT.

a DEMOCRATIC OPINION OF MS s0Lm
PUBLIC SERVICES TIE "sTEADlNEsS
AND STAJNCHSEsS OF his Patriotism. ''
AND THE 'UPBIGHTNEss OF HIS CHAR
ACTER
General Grant temporary acceptance Of
the War Department causes stir in the
Republican party, which confuses the cal
culatious Of those Republicans who, five
weeks ago, counted securely on his nomina-
ton As their candidate for the Presidency.
Those Republican newspapers, therefore.
which, Ike the Times, are trying to iaeaaty
General Grant 5cith he Republican part,
are opposing a strong presumption By the
thinnest and feeblest of shaIowy inierences.
Gen. Grant, to be sure. f5rors the execution
If tie Reconstruction acts. but so also does
President johnson As they do not differ
en- this point, they probably differ on none
which Is pertinent to the present posture Of
affairs President johnson would indeed
have had no such laws passed as he feels
constrained 70 execute; nor Is there qay Ell
deaee that Gen. Grait erer fqr9rsd, or tried
to promote their passage. President John.
son comedies that Congress has practical
control Of reconstruction by c9aseatdaq 10
execute the l1irs a has passed on that sub
ject and Gen. Grant finding these laws in
force, recognizes their authority, irahouf
going Jehiqd them to inquire whether they
ought to have been enacted. There Is no
evidence that tie President and Acting
Secretary Of War differ on any important
practical question. The fact that the Trib
ane and other Republican journals object to
Gen. Grant that he has never signifed his
assent TO their principles, deserves notice
and consideration Of the steadiaess and
staimehaess Of Gen. Grants patriotism, or
tic aprigbfaess and tic soliditg Of hjs char
aefcr 10 man n The country doubts, nor az.
fecfs to o0aJt. The most perfect LOYALTY,
then, may stand with the most absolute in
difference to those objects which the Repub
Ecan party regards as supreme. Or, to ex-
press the same idea differently, devotion 20
Republican shibboieth is no test Of devotion
to the country Oh. lie scare Of E2gqlhg and
solid public serrices, no man IL tie ooaatgU
can come into competition i1ith this Mg,sfrfious
s0dier But measure him By the usual.
Loyal League standards, aud it REQUIRES
magnifying glass ofvery extraordinary pow
er to discover that he basaay merit Of pa-
tyioftsal al all
The Tribune Is clamorous TO have Gener-
al Grant show his colors and take sides in
the party squabbles of the day. Te reioice
that there Is one man IA TIE county rho Is
aJoCe the necessity Of such Letittlag partisan
ship We trust that Gen. Grant loves bis
whole country; that he desires the good of
all its citizens, without regard to any dfvi
ding ines-whethsr they be lines Of party,
or section, or race, or color. 1t is the no
blest reward Of great services like his, that
it exalts the character of this high level;
that it enables a man to act nobly without
appearing to be pretentious. Gen. Grant
is under a moral necessity Of respecting the
great renown Of his past services. It is be-
meath him TO play any common part in vul-
gar politics. The Presidency can be moth
ing to him; he has more valuable Office
But # n the hands Of Provideace, he ooold
Be an iiestTumeat for franquiliziag he com
tr3J. that Is an honor far i0htch he could af-
ford to sacrifice ease, ooHgalial pursuits, and
he responsibilities Of greater fame as sol
dir,