The union Democrat., 1869-02-06
The PopaIar asa Uspop.,.r Nan OF CO."

Gen. Grant is now the most popular man
in the United States. at least with the party
that elected him. With that party, be is an
mbodiment Of comprehensive political aei!-
ity. OF this. with them. there is no shadow
OF doubt, although the proofs are yet 10 come
lie has distinguished himself as general !;
il is assumed he must also as a Statesman
Our past experience as 10 military Presidents.
will not readily prove that sueeess in the
field. is n guarantee of success as civil ruler.
II is yearly becoming more difficult to recon-
cile national interests, Gs they become wider
spread and more apt to conflict than ever
This ability however, is supposed to he wrap
ped up in Grant. 1t has not yet been devel-
oped. but our Republican friends assure US
il will bud and blossom, when events and
times call for it's presence.
The American does no half way work in
making men famous. Every characteristic
of his hero. he nvests with a sort of sacred
ness. Grant is reicent, he admits his ina
bili,y to make speech, hence reticence has
become almost cardinal virtue. 1t is e1-
actly what we want, we have had, we say,
too many speech makers. We deprecate by
implication the gift Of oratory,
The American also invests all that his he
70 has TO say with value. About four weeks
since, Grant made one of his invaluable short
addresses in an Eastern city. Brief as it
was, it devoted more words TO a neuralgia
with which the General was at the time af-
fected, than any thing else. AT the conclu-
sion the immense crowd cheered, probably for
the neuralgia. There seemed nothing else
to cheer for. But Grants neuralgia's are
none of your common complaints.
Our loyal clergymen bring his name at
times, in their sermons seemingly as sup
port to that of Deity. They pronounce it
with an JUNCTION and fervor, which sometimes
inclines the hearer to suspect that they may
soon commence thanking Grant for God, in
stead of God for Grant. The clergy in this
respect are not behind the laity. Well do
they second the efforts of the latter, to render
this earthly Deity of their adulation, in all
respects First Class God.
On the Fourth of March next, Gen. Grant
will bow out of the White House, the most
unpopular man in the United States. Five
years ago candy" in the Radical heart, was
second only to "Abe." But the frmness
which brought him so conspicuously into no.
tice, while acting in Tennessee, became chsti-
macy when directed against Congress, and an
Indifference to the assumption of power and
responsibility, when it favored "the cause, !"
proved would be tyrrany when opposed to
''our interests" If Grant be reflective, a
shade of sadness must fit over him, as tn e
shouts of the people, the sound of music and
the thunder of cannon in his ears, he Stats
himself in the chair, so uneasily occupied by
his predecessor. The nature of republics
has not yet changed. They are tickle as vel
as ungrateful. They forget easily. They
praise, we fear, more because it pleases them
to praise, more because their antagonisn,
prejudice and passion are gratifed than from
the sense of justice.
One prediction and we are done. Should
Grant four years hence. go from the White
House as gloomily as Andy, his heart will
not break He is shrewd and practical. But
we will not excite Republican Indignation
by arguing the result Of these qualities to
him. We think in case of any reverse of
popular sentiment, that the General will find
consolation.