The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-05-20
SOLDIERS AND PREsIDEN rs.

From HarpeH's Weekly (Basted by G. ". Ctrtis.)
1t is amusing to observe that every con-
spicuous man who is supposed to be popular,
and who sSys or does something opposed to
the Republican policy, is instantly exalted as
a Democratic candidate for the Presidency
A man who yesterday was not thought of in
that view, to-day criticises some action or
word of the dominant party, and for that
reason, without the slightest regard to his
character or antecedents, is vociferously
saluted as the coming man. The
first impression is one of profound contempt
for those who shout, and the second one of
shame that it should be considered possible
to select a chief magistrate for such q reason.
The present President of the United States
is soldier whose incompatible services in
the field were enhanced by his simplicity, in
tegrity, and modesty. Elected to the Presi-
dency totally inexperienced in the conduct of
political affairs, and at time of the most
bitter agitation, the consequence of civil war,
he has shown no disposition whatever to for
get his duty as a loyal citizen and civil magis-
trate; and the American people to-day trust
the honorable, patriotic fidelity of General
Grant as much as they trusted that Of Gene
raj Washington or Mr.. Lincoln. No more
than they has he shown any yimpatience of the
peaceful processes Of law, nor in his Cabinet
has he thought fit to surround himself with
military associates. Indeed, General Grant is
another illustration of the fact that in re-
public like this signal military success and
consequent political elevation do not destroy
the loyalty of an honest citizen to the sacred
conditions of free popular government.
Yet he has been denounced as possible
usurper, as chief designing to Tetain power by
force. The Democratic candidate for the Vice
Presidency in 1868 bade the country beware
of seating an emperor in the White House,
and insinuated that General Grant might use
the army to subvert the Government. Unfor-
tunately for the force of his warning, this
Democratic candidate was she very gentleman
who had obtained his nomination upon the
ground of letter in which he declared that
certain constitutional amendments and laws
ought to be annulled by the army. His de-
nunciations and warnings were, therefore, ex-
quisitely ludicrous. And recently Demo
cratic paper rejoices in the probable ratifca-
ton of the English treaty, because if the
| breach is not healed now there may be war;
! and if there is war this ferocious butcher,
! Grant, will command the army. and, ii he
| commands the army, long good-by to Ame-
rican liberty the fact being that because he
commanded the army, the world bade last
| good night to American slavery.
And now very different person, soldier
| whose brilliant service and imperious wilful-
ness are equally known-General Sherman
has apparently made a speeeh-certainly
| might have made speech-it which he says
that it was generally conceded by the soldiers
of both armies, at the close of the war, that if
all questions had been referred to the armies
they would have been peaceably settled That
is his sincere faith. General Sherman is an
ardent soldier. He is impatient of all civil
methods. He thinks that his agreement with
General Joe Johnston ought to have been the
basis of reconstruction. Congress is very
distasteful body to him. Law is delay. His
genius, his temperament, his methods, his
traditions are exclusively military. And this
is the gentleman who, having expressed dis
satisfaction with the Ku klux bill, is now
strenuously urged as al admirable President
by those who have rsncorously denounced
General Grant as q dangerous President be
cause of his military habits and feelings.
The fact is interesting, as illustrative OF
the condition of those who in their genera
jealousy of Republican ascendency strike a
it wildly aud blindly 1t is very plain tina
if General Grant is to be set aside by
Democrat, it must be upon some othe
policy than any which the Democrats hav,
yet announced and if by q Republican
only by some one who can more closely
unite the party. But of all the charge
I made against the President none is NOR,
; absurd than that he inclines unduly t,
military methods The lackeys of SLAYER!
during the war, and since the war, find
} great deal of comfort in calling him
: dogged military butcher, as they do in de
scribing the late taders in human flesh ant
, blood as Christian soldiers and gentlemen
But they beat the DIR. Whatever the peopl
of the United Stats may think of Genera
) Grant, they do moi fear him as possibl
dictator.