The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-03-26
GRANT AND SHERMAN.

"Ayhat preparations have you made
iorFetreating?" asked Buell. of Grant
aftfr the first days fight at Shiloh. ~
ha INT despaired of whipping them
ye was Grants reply. This sounds
Ill "a version of well-known anecdote
O. Napoleon during the Italian cam
pfign, but Grant may have said it, for
i'll is Characteristic of his bull dog tenac-
liz.
n His firmness in regard to the repeal
fof the tenure-of-offlce bill is an addi-
ftional proof of his tenacity. He does
mot swear "by the Eternal J" as Old
Hicory was wont, but he is going to
win, nevertheless. What then? We
may well ask that question, and he is
wiser than Grant who will answer it.
Sherman's letters to Grant. written
during..the war, show degree of admi-
ration which those who believe Sher-
man to be conscious OF intellectual SUI
periority to Grant, would hardly think
possible. On his accession to the Lieu
tenant Generalship, Sherman wrote,
'.You are now Washington's legitimate
successor, and occupy position OF al
most dangerous elevation but if you
can continue, as heretofore, to be your
self, simple, honest and unpretending. you
will enjoy through life the respect and
love of friends, and the homage of mil
lions of human beings, that will award
you large share in securing to them
and their descendants government of lao
and sta5iity." And Grant is no less
cordial and friendly in acknowledging
his indebtedness to Sherman and Nc
Phcrson for those military successes
which secured his great promotion.
At present, the friendship between
the President and Generalissimo seems
and in all probability really is, sincere
We have no reason to think otherwise.
Nothing that we know OF has occurred
to mar that friendship. But 'poor hui
man nature is-poor human nature
The holding of high office, to men who
have within them spark OF natural
goodness, is much like joining the
church. They mean well: they prom
ise themselves great things "a complete
reformation of life and character. But
by and by the Old Adam returns, the
zealot becomes lRkewarm, the world
rushes in, and the new convert becomes
no better than the old, at whose cold
h< ho1 Aft r1aaruallad Eyan
SO with office holders. They enter up
on the discharge of their duties with the
best intentions, they grow weary,
abuses accumulate, they despair, they
give up, and then comes the weak end
ing of bold beginning.
If the conservation ofone's self to the
servi,e of God invites the attacks OF
devils, the possession of worldly power
seems to present peculiar opportunities
for satanic agencies. Nothing is SO cor
rupting to mind and heart as great po-
litical honors. Two shop-keepers can
not live side by side in peace. Damon
and Pythias we may be sure were not
rival tradesmen still less aspirants for
civic honors. Again proximity is in it
self source of trouble, not to the low
ly AND humble but to the high and
mighty ones OF earth. Two blades of
grass may grow side by side without
danger, for when the mind passes over
them they bow themselves to the earth
and their tender blades know no chat
ing. But when the kings of the forest,
strong-armed and tall, are driven the
one against the other by mighty blasts,
what scattering OF limbs and of leaves,
what excavations and deep wounds of
ten oftlle giant bodies Had they been
further apart or had one been taller
than the other, harm had not ensued. -
Even so with the great. Put too close
together and invested with nearly equal
powers, their friendship seldom with
stands the strain of the tempest.
"True love meier was democratic
One must reign and one alone"
HON, ALEX. H. STEPHENS.