New-York tribune., 1871-05-04
THE LAST DEMOCRATIC GOD-SENU.


making a little speech in New-Orleans, in
which he said just what might have been cx-
pcoted of him; that is, that he knew more
about the state of the country than anybody
that he had more legislative capacity than the
whole of Congress; and that if they would
drop their attempts at government and give
the charge of affairs to him. he would restore
order and harmony in no time. This is RIO
new theory Of the gallant soldier lie has
always believed in the government OF The
sword He has never affected to conceal hiS
coptempt for men who wear black coats, ana
who paid for their own education. He did
noble and glorious work during the wal. whcn
the fighting grew hard enough TO tame hls
flightness and keep him down 10 his pace,
but he never had political idea which wes
not absurd and fantastic; and his convention
with Johnston, 10y which he surrendered III the
results OF the war, was most grotcsque
illustration of his incapacity to appreciate a
political principle Mr.. Stanton never rem
dered the country q greater service than 10y
bis prompt and decided Reputation of this
surrender, and the vast personal popularity OF
Gen. Sherman was not enough to protect him
from the general condemnation his action re-
ceved. He OutgTew this bltnder, serious IA IL
was, because every one recognized his gal
lantry and his good intentions, and merely
smiled at his innocent Ignorance OF public al
fairs. During the four years which preceded
fhe Inauguration of Gen. Grant AZ President,
his distinguished friend and cOmrade was
kept from any glaring indscretions, partly by
the strong influence which his chiefs good
tod nd
partly by the natural hope and anticipation OF
succeeding him ia command of the army, IN
case of bis promotion to the Presidency. This
brilliant prospect helped, at least, to make
Gen. Sherman partisan of Grant, and conso-
quently sound and safe in politics.
But now that the General has attained the
Legitimate summit of his aspirations, il is only
natural that his uneasy activity OF mind
should sting him into occasional outbreaks OF
eccentricity. As Richelieu ttn1ugno himself II
better poet than statesman, and so wasted bis
leisure in wooing an migrate Muse, our san
gune soldier is not satisfied with the COM
mand of the army, but itchcs to show the
world what statesman is disguised in his
Uniform. There is something fascinating
about the Generals political utteranccs. They
are so honestly and naively ignorant, so dcS-
titute of any connection with known facts, ~
confident and cOck-sure of his own powers
and his own sagacity, that they have the same
charm az the theoretical campaigns and con
spiracies of a loQuacious schoolgirl. "Iet IA
" soldiers have charge of the NATTER
says the outspoken chief, land we will
" soon settle everything in a salts
" factory manner" How wonderfully this
sounds like a young ladys
were President" which is always followed by
some delciously absurd misapprehension of
the Executive sphere and function. Gen.
Sherman does not seem to remember that the
army only numbered a million of men, and
that this was not majority of the nation.
He is equally unmindful of the fact that
more than thirds of that army disagreed
with him, and held the same just and wise
views of government that were sustained and
put in practice by Lincoln and Stanton and
Grant The glory of that army was that they
were citizens before and after they were
soldiers, and Gen. Sherman is II soldier, with
no clear perceptions of the dignity and worth
of the citizen character.
In view of these patent and notorious facts,
the Generals speech might have been passed
over with an indulgent smile hy the country
which knows and honors him for what he is,
foibles and all. But it has been given SIN
gular and unaccouutable prominence by the
organs of the opposition. One morning paper,
which changes its favorites oftener than Ha-
rOun or Brigham, seizes upon the General and
makes him candidate for the Presidency upon
the strength of this speech. As the same paper
will nominate a dozen or so more before cleo
ton, we cannot pause to discuss its merry
andrew performance of yesterday. But we
feel bound to give one word of candid caution
to another paper, which assumes airs of lead
ership in the Democratic party, and which, rs
it only changes position radically two or three
times year, may be considered as
having some regard for its reputation
for consistency. 1t also makes this
Iattling speech of Gen. Shernan's the occasion
for delighted editorials crediting the speaker
with more than human sagacity and integrity.
1t does not nominate him for President, but,
on the contrary, timidly suggests that he had
much better stay where he is, at the head Of
the army-a good, permanent place, etc. 1t
holds up to him his predecessor IN the com
mand of the army as an awful example of
what generals come to when they begin to
think of the White House. But these gentle
homlies will have little effect upon the am
bilious and arrogaYt mind of the brilliant
soldier to whom they are addressed. lie will
be likely to accept as genuine all the praise
which il lavished upon his political sagacity,
and will reject the rest rs impertinent "The
" White House gad-hy crazes when IT stin2s,"
and the dilettante schemers of the sianhattan
Club had better beware how they make n
of Tecumseh Sherman. We
think he would make bad President for
all Of us. lie does not know enough OF the