Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1871-09-27
General Grant a Military Dictator

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General Grants bold use of soldiers
at New Orleans, in order to effect an
endorsement from political Conven
ton, justifies a suspicion that he
means to hold power by the bayonet
if it is denied him by the ballot
England is pointing toward the ballot
The United States, under the Radical
party, is tending towards military
despotism. There, the people are ac
quiring more power TO defend their
rights under the law. Here, power ID
drifting away from them. Ever since
General Grant entered the White
House, the military outrages have
been fearfully apparent. All his sur.
roundings smack of the camp, the
barracks, and the field. Shoulder.
straps are seen in all parts of the
Presidents quarters: ss.' GchSsGiE<le1St,
General Dent, and other military men,
keep watch and ward in the White
House, and q soldier carries the or.
ders of n Generalin. Chief to the Sen.
ate and House of Representatives, not
the message Of civil officer to CO.
ordinate branch Of the government,
The Courts of Prussia and Austria are
not more military in their construc-
ton than is the official household of
General Grant. lie Is soldier In the
Presidential Chair; filed with militia
ry ideas, and looking to military pow
er ana force TO carry tbSgn sa.. Whcc
political objects are to be gained,
General Grant leans at once upon the
army. All bis notions of carrying out
the so.called reconstruction acts were
military in their character. Troops
were to be used, force applied, the
bayonet brought into roquisition.
The civil branch OF the government
was never thought of in such an emer-
gency. Wise laws, prudently admin
stered by upright Judges, were not
an agency which General Grant could
comprehend. He was for force on all
occasions-for swords, guns and car
mage. If q negro fight occurred at n
remote poll, in one of the Southern
States, the soldiers were called out.
If corrupt politician, in this city,
telegraphed that a riot was anlicipa.
ted, on election day, the marines made
their appearance on the ground, in
Obedience 10 general instructions from
General Grant. This was his pro-
gramme, and he is preparing to force
a denomination and recollection by the
same means. Without the vote of the
Southern States, he cannot be nomi.
mated. The support of that section is
essential TO his re election. How are
these to be obtained 7 The Southern
people of all shades political opinion,
are opposed TO General Grant. He
has cheated, deceived and inscltcd
them. He promised tho olive branch,
and sent the sword Ifa free poll is
allowed the voters of that section,
General Grant cannot get n single
State South Of Mason's and Dixon's
line, with the exception Of South
Carolina. But a free poll they will
not DO allowed. Acting upon the
military idea General Grant procured
tho passage Of the Ku Klux, which is
as much piece of military dcspotism
as ukase Of tho Gar of Russia.
Under that bill, armed Deputy Mar
sbas, creatures Of the President, are
authorized to be stationed in any con
ceivable numbers at the polls Of every
election preo;:;not. Under the provi.
sions OF Inc ~ Klux bill. Genera
Grant has been clothed with tho pow
ers of u Dictator. Iloi may set aside
the authority of the State officials; he
may suspend the privilege of the writ
of hdbeds corpus, and he may order
Federal troops into any State, or any
part of State, at his sovereign will
and pleasure. This he may do North
and South, wherever his Imperial will
dictates. Governors cannot protect n
State, nor Judges a people. General
Grant can rule tho elections by force,
as surely as Napoleon did those Of
France, under the second Empire.
He has the sword, and that is made
supreme by the Ku Klux bill, and
placed above the civil power by the
suspension of the writ Of hdjeas corpus.
This is tho military arrangement by
which General Grant is TO place him
self In tho actual position Of military
Dictator of the United States. In
order To make nomination sure, he