The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-08-13
Grant and Cesar.

Nineteenth Century 10 ahead of all past
history, that people nowadays are cutter
than people used to be, and that Grant 10
greater man than Julius Cesar. Caesar
was ambitious; 60 10 Grant. Caesar changed
the great republic Of antiquity into an
empire Grant has virtually done the
same by the great republic of modern days.
Cesar crossed the Rubicon without hesi-
tation; Grant did the same when his
soldiers marched into the antechamber of
popular Convention and planted their
gatlin gums in the streets Of peaceful
city. But where our hero comes ont in
gigantic superiority over his competitors
is in the fact that Cesar never dreamt Of
denying his Rubicon, while Grant stoutly
disclaims all knowledge of any such river,
and swears that, if his troops crossed it,
it was without orders. Now which was
the shrewder mani Cesar got himself in
to immediate war by his ,candor, while
Grant marches on without opposition, by
boldly and loudly asserting that he is not
marching at all.
At least, we hear, at second hand, from
the New York Tribune, that he denies hav-
ing in any way authorized the action of the
United States troops here on the occasion
in question. Whether this will be cor
roborated in full remains to be seen. Ger
tain1y there are other shrewd people in
this age besides Grant, and mere asser-
lions are not much regarded where they
can be easily followed up by tangible
proof of their sincerity. IF Grant did not
order his troops to cross the river of fate,
let him show his regret by marching right,
squarely back. Let him cashier the aids
de.camp who carried false orders. Let him
dismiss Casey, Packard g. Co., in dis
grace, and that will be something tangible.
But that will be nothing, unless he relin-
guishes tho vantage ground gained by the
treachery. To do this fairly and Loyalty,
he must undo the working of the Casey
Conven ton and receive no profit from it.
He must publicly invite the whole I'M
broken Convention to reassemble without
the oppressive presence of federal marshals
or soldiers.
1t is said, that this humiliatipg act of
PREPARATION will be. avoided by making a
compromise with Warmoth. But War
can public. He may be easy to propitiate,
but though he and his faction should cease
their clamor, would that safety the honest
men of the Republican party who exist in
great numbers throughout the North Not
by any means. Such men as Horace Greeley
are not to be hood winked so easily. The
crime committed must be repudiated fully
and efectually, and every vestage of its
existence must be obliterated, or a mighty
storm will be raised about the Executive
ears.
Now this the President will not consent
to. If he does, Louisiana is lost to him in
the nominating convention. It will 20 for
Greeley. Other Southern States will prob
ably do the same, and an opposition be
created in that body rather too dangerous
to be permitted. Let Greeley make good
show for several States, and who can say
that the whole Democratic party may not
endorse his nomination. Certainly the
main thing for the country to look for now
is honesty in it's officials, and it appears to
be universally conceded that Greeley is
honest, though somewhat fanatical. Not
only is he honest in money matters, but he
is thought to be honest in his indignation
at carpet-baggers and his policy of South
ern Cancellation. He is growing to be q
most formidable rival, and one against
whom Grant must use all the Ku-Klux
machinery under his control to defeat,
even in tho State Conventions.
We take it, then, that Grants contrition
for the Customhouse invasion will be only
skin deep, that his denial of completely in
that event will be more bold and plausible
than truthful, and that the naked truth
will stand in all it's deformity before those
who are willing to see truth. 1t is plain
and simple. Grant desired that the Re-
publican Convention in Louisiana should
make appointments favorable to his re-
nomination. He saw that the Casey fac
ton, which was in his interest, was largely
outnumbered by the party upon which he
could not rely. This was evident from the