The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-06
From the Capital.
SWINGING.

1t is said of the late Tom Corwin
that he once remarked, when referring
to rather weak man who had gained
popular favor through continued putfs,
that next to building up cursed ass
the most troublesome thing was to pull
him down again"
The Republican party is enjoying
about this time realizing sense OF the
great humorists remark.
General Grant never did enjoy the
confidence of the leading men in the
organization that lifted him into power.
H. had been, more through chance than
ability, a successful soldier, and as such
was thoughtto be available. The State
elections preceding the Presidential
canvass had indicated such growing
power ia the Democracy that the Re
publcans in panic seized their carpet
sacks and hurried to the camp OF the
military chieftain.
There was something extremely conf
cal in this move. The first question
that sought for solution-and rather
an important one-was as 10 whether
the great captain would PERMIT the
Republicans to run him as their candi'
date. He never had voted with the
party. He never had expressed any
political opinions. That he had his
views few could doubt, for, never having
given out any, the conclusion was rea-
sonable that they were yet on hand 1t
would be extremely awkward, after
giving in their allegiance, were he togo
over to the enemy. And so the noble
leaders OF grand party that organized
upon a platform sufficiently broad to
hold all humanity, aud then saved our
nationality by the bravest acts OF
patriotism, hung about the tent Of this
man, like so many lackeys, studying
his every move TO catch some share OF
confidence. 1t came to be at last so
pitiful that it ceased to be amusing.
Grant was nominated; that is he
condescendingly permitted himself to be
put in nomination, by men one-half OF
whom despised him because OF his igno-
rance, while the other halt hated the
candidate they could not control.
The State elections that followed
demonstrated that the available candi-
date had no availability. Pennsylva-
MIA and Ohio were carried by small ma
jorities, while Indiana was actually lost,
and the fact dawned on us that We
owed more to the unpopularity Of Sey-
mour than 20 the strength OF our candi-
date. Since then the availability has
been, if anything, on the decline. Men
OF brain and will. who gave TIE best
years of their lite to the organization OF
a great party, were ashamed and dis
gusted to find themselves shut out from
its control, and not even consulted a. 10
its future, by man whose ignorance is
only surpassed 10y his supercillousness.
The people have discovered at last that,
in personal government, where only
the family and few favorites are pro-
vided for, they cannot hope for relief
from hard times and heavy taxation.
The hour approaches when a selec-
ton has again to be made; and, under
the inspiration of O. P. Morton, the
President is swinging round the circle.
Under the pretense of visiting one Of
the many bits Of real estate presented
him by ofiice-seekers, he has induI ged
in an ovation at indianapolis.
This Is, perhaps, the most difficult
task General Grants supporters have
on hand. The President is the unhap
piest public man alive in his manner
Without intending it, probably, his
presence is an insult. Some men strike
us as reserved, from modesty, others
through conscious superiority, but Gen
eral Grants reserve is sngularly ag-
sressve, from the fact that it is without
either quality. 1t is the sulIen indItfer-
ence Of bull dog, if we may use the
only apt comparison, and one is I'M
pressed with the belief that attention
can be secured only at the risk OF a
bite
Senator Q. p. has taken upon him
self the task, and in this indianapolis
affair his manner was as confident and
cool as the owner of dancing bear at
times he rose to the dignity OF an auc'
tioneer, and one could almost hear the
going! going. gomez OF that popular
dlsposer Of other peoples goods.
We are sorry to throw cold water on
this effort, but General Grant is bad
subject For the first time in the bis.
tory of our national capital the Presi-
dent passes to and fro almost unnotiCed
and it is singular to meet him walking
along our streets in that awkward way
Of his, without securing look even,
and certainly not a comment From
behind the everlasting cigar one sees
the dull, glazed look Of a common, un-
expressive face, that reminds many Of
Louis Napoleon when that noted hum
bug was playing his little game OF
Emperor.
Not long since an enthusiastic sup
porter OF the President, seeing the In
Justice Of this neglect, rose between the
acts of a play at Walls Opera House,
and proposed in a loud voice, to crowd
ed audiedce, that three cheers should
be given General Grant, who was seated
in one OF the boxes. A dead silence
followed the loud proposition. Nothing
daunted, the cherry fellow renewed in a
more earnest manner his proposition TO
cheer the President. No one responded,
and to the third appeal, after a pause OF
a few seconds, laugh rippled over the
house, as il the suggestion were some
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