New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-12-29
THE WAR UPON THE PRESIDENT.

: This war has long since ceased to be con
fined to the heavy cannonading of Senate
Schurz, and Mr.. Dana, of the New Yor]
San. Many of the ablest men of tn
country are o pouring their hot-sho
into the exposed tanks of Presiden
: Grant; and these men are of the Repub
: lican party, and We're among his foremos
supporters in 1868. That there is mucl
cause for this opposition to the Presiden
, must be conceded. Being a military ma,
by education and long training in tn,
army, his habits and feelings are Target,
f in sympathy with that arm of the govern.
ment; and his administration has beer
marked with a decided feeling for making
tue civil power subordinate to the mill
tary.
In the first place President Grant has
in a number Of instances, contrary to
what is thought at this period to be sound
republcanism, placeu strictly military
men in civil position, making them com
bine the qualities and functions of mill
tary and civil officers. The ''White
House, which is known in Washington
as the Presidents house, has partaken
largely of this military appearance and
bearing during the present administra-
ton. The military air has been carried
to an extent in civil affairs, since General
Grant was made President, never before
known in this free country. 1t is true,
General Washington, when he became
President, introduced men into his cabinet
who had served with him in the revolu-
tionary armies. But these gentlemen,
like himself, had at the close of the wal
retired from the army and engaged in the
walks of civil life. They, in time ofpeace,
gloried in being civilians, and believed
the military should be subordinate to the
civil power. So disguised Lad become the
people Of the colonies with the outrages
and overbearing insolence of the British
soldiery, sent here by a despotic govern
ment to Cypress and hold them in political
slavery, that when they had gained their
independence they determined to have a
constitutional government that would
make the military subordinate to the civil
power. And everything under the two
administrations Of President Washington
strictly conformed TO this republican idea
of what government should be. This
feeling was maintained throughout all the
Administrations of the government up to
the time that General Grant was inausu-
rated President. The opposition of the
people to elevating military men to the
Presidential chair caused the defeat of
jackson in 1924. This was long
after his glorious connection with the bat
tie of New Orleans, in which he and his
brave soldiers drove the English from our
soil. His friends sought to make his
military career a st~epping-stone to the
Presidency, and this caused his defeat.
afterwards became President, but not
because he had been a successful general;
because he was deemed a suitable per-
son to be intrusted with the sovereign
executive power of this country. The
people could trust him, but they would
lot trust the party that wanted to elevate
lin to power on the strength of his mil
tary record.
Some may say the people took
departure from this feeling when
Taylor was made President. But
here is no reason for believing that such
Vas the case. He was a plain cid man, I
had seen much service on the tented !
eld. He was as simple as a child, vet !
as a lion. As the hero of Buera |
'ista, he challenged the admiration Of
is c~ountrymen. and without his making
ny ~pretensions to political promotion, or {
xhibiting the least ambition to become G
resident, circumstances conspired to !
lace him in the Presidential chair: but L
lis good old man, in whom the people d
ad full faith, did not live to serve out his c
,rm. t
All through President Lincoln's SER n
.ce the White House maintained it's re- il
simplicity; and, notwithstand- O
g the country was in the midst of a ter a
BILE civil war, and Washington was b
Ironged with soldiers, at no time during \
r. Lincoln's administration did the civil n
over have the appearance even Of sur
nding to the military. When Mr.. John
u became President the same rule was
aintained. The civil power remained te
1t was after General Grant be- h
me President that people began to no. 81
'e a changsdas0he style Of doing things IL
the White House. He seemed to u
Re up the idea that the people, in elect "
g him President, meant it as an ac- pl
owledgement of the Importance of the 81
lltary branch of the government; that
ay meant in the future that the civil N
ould be subordinate to the military til
wer. re
The administration of President Grant u
5 partaken largely of the military ele- re
mt. He has called military men from Sd
regular service to civil positions, and be
has surrounded the White House with to-
air that is not at all in accord CT
'e with republican simplicity and rep al
rule. The military has also an
II made to interfere with the civil au- on
rity Of States. State authority has CO.
n outraged and insulted in more in vo
noes than one. In this State federal sci