The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-03-17
"Let Us Have Peace. +"

The oracle has supplied its own in
depreciation. Peace means Sheridan
in Louisiana, and Reynolds in Texas,
with repetition of petty tyrannies and
renewed attempts to crafty vindic-
tive malevolence. If the recent militia
ry order of the new President had dis
closed nothing more, it would contain
sufficient evidence of littleness to be
inconsistent with the idea of great
character, but the remission Of Gillem
to his regiment and the Punishment of
Hancock to Dacotah supplies more
than was needed to convince the world
and the American people who are more
Immediately concerned in the matter,
that General Grants reticence has con-
cealed something less important than
deep designs of governmental policy.
The absurd concealment of his selec-
tions of Cabinet officers from his most
intimate friends was rendered more
ridiculous when the names were at
length announced. A grotesque sur
prise showed itself on every counten-
ance. The parturition had been Ia
borious. and a mouse was it's fruit. Not
one of them was entitled to the place
assigned him by previous services to
the country, and one was prevented
from taking his place by law, which
had been on the Statute Book from the
organization of the Department over
which he was called to preside, and Of
which the President confessed his ig-
norance by the act appointment.
Two blunders made by President
on the first day of his term do not give
augury of future success. 1t was said
by evil minded critics at the North
that General Grant had Numbered into
military success. It will require new
access of good luck to surround his
Presidential term with the same halo
of glory that attended his military
career.
The Southern press and people avail
ted General Grants advent to power
with solicitude which was natural.
and had already reasoned themselves
into the belief that justice and moder-
alton might more reasonably be expec-
ted from a military cheiftain, whose
ambition had been stated by successive
elevations of unprecedented rapidity,
and whose prejudices or hates had
been soothed by the sight of PROSTATE
foes, than from a professional polite
ian who would retain the rancor of
the hastings and vent a harbored spleen
upon his life long adversaries, He
who had conquered a peace with the
sword had so many inducements to be
magnanimous, so many reasons to be
just. Thus far the action of the Presi-
dent can occasion only an acute disap-
pointment. If it be foretaste of his |
policy as whole, than hepeace which
he ostentatiously invoked is further off
than any well wisher of this country
can desire. No man in his senses an
ticipates renewal of civil war in the !
United States, but the wounds mace
by that which has closed are not to be
healed by the rule oftyrannous satraps
such as the favorites of General Grant,
whom he has again invested with COM
mand.
Those who have borne the miseries
Of four years war can endure those of
a peace of equal duration, even though
it be such peace as General Grant
foreshadows, and possessing their souls
in patience can witness silently the
frantic efforts which the worshippers
Of the reigning idol will surely make