The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-11-22
A Lock ahead.

In speaking of the movements OF
the Administration the other day.
we said that it is the fixed intention
of the President never to quit the
White House if he can helpit, except
upon stretcher, and several OF our
Republican contemporaries began
straightway to pooh-pooh the obser-
walton as bit of exaggerated parti-
san nonsense. The illustration, rath-
er than the sense, of our remark,
may have been over-strong for cur
rent apprehension. In the North
public opinion has not been sharpen
ed by the revolutionary appliances
which have prepared the South for
anything and everything, and. when
the tug comes General Grant will
derive an immense advantage from
the obtuseness of the Republican
party. Thus far he has handled that
party with comparative ease. Moth
ing can prevent his denomination
next year, and nothing short OF a
great popular reaction, wisely shaped
and skillfully- handled, can prevent
his reelection. Securely seated for
four years more, he can proceed with
his scheme so that he may be able in
1876 to dictate to the whole people
the same abiect submission which he
now requires of his own party. Amer
lean liberty was proclaim ed in 1776.
1t is unlikely that the hundredth an
niversary of the famous Declaration
of the Fourth of July may not be the
occasion of its practical abrogation.
There is nothing in the Constitution
forbidding a third term. There is
nothing in human nature-we mean
the peculiar sort of human nature
which is believed to abound in Gen
eral Grant-which is likely to induce
a voluntary surrender IF power
Give him third term i'll which to
perfect his plans, and he will ask no
further odds of parties. A plebiscite
will suffice. Universal suffrage, art
fully managed by martial law, will
suffice. General Grant will be sub
stantially Presidential Autocrat, a
Military Dictator, Proconsul, or an
Emperor, as happens to suit the
within or temper of the times. At
this moment he doubtless does not
himself take in the whole idea. His
mind is ensrossed with present gain.
, He is greedy, parsimonious man, a
very matter-of- fact and unimagina-
tive man, who wisely provides for to-
day, taking little heed of tomorrow
until the exigencies of tomorrow ar
} rive, when they will find him at least
full-handed. We dare say that the
details Of his scheme, beyond the
work to be done next year, have new
; er unfolded themselves to him. But
D the record of his life, and the policy
, of his Administration, give us nc
reason to believe that he is possessed
!. of one spark of self-sacriicing patri
otism, whilst everything that We
= know of him points to strong, anc
by no means secret, thirst for power
and plumber. Nor is this all. The
man is able and courageous. His il
= the very material out of which the
:. most dangerous revolutionists arr
s made. Congress has clothed hin
It with martial powers, and he is usins
e them. His object is to keep the
South in disturbed condition unit
e he can raise disturbance in tn,
!" North, when the machinery now pro
y, vided for the one section can be ap
piled to the other. Then, when h,
has broken down the spirit of free
= dom at the South, it is as like as no
$ that he will make terms with us a.
d agents to help him conquer the Nortl
II precisely as we have been conquered
y Andy johnson tried this and failed
g and as far the South was, concerned
> succeeded in bringing to his supper
men who hated him worse than any
= body hates Grant. But Grant vii
have more power, and he will use j
= to better purpose than johnson. I
y he is reelected President, we conf
d dent,y expect to see him hand ant
il glove with such adventurous spirit
> as he can find in the disordered an,
st ruined South, who are ready to serv
If him in a crusade against the part
;, which now supports him, against tn
" Northern people who are blind t
" their danger, and especially agains
- :, New England, which will be wither
! ~