The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-09-12


The expression is common that Grant is a
stool and an idiot" Without attempting to
reconcile these apparently contradictory terms
employed to designate Grants mental condi-
ton, we will remark, that if "a ''fool and an
IDIOT he is the first of a very remarkable
race OF "fools and idiots" He is certainly
far above the critics who disturb their own
mental quletude, by daily inventing terms to
make him appear little i'll popular estimation,
and pursues the even tenor of his way, with
out varying to the right or left, or giving ev-
ldence that he is in the least concerned about
what his enemies may say of him. He cooly
accepts as testimonial of friendship a bull
pup or cottage by the sea, measures with
the eye OF connoisseur, the proportions of a
2:4O trotter, drives his four inland and puffs
his aromatic Havana dispenses fortunes
to his relations and friends, and adopts po-
Icy IN everything peculiar to himself, with
the same unconccrn as to popular opinion he
manifested when driving his two horse team
into ST. Louis, disposed of his load of wood,
and drank his toddy from the proceeds, or
scraped the hair off bull hide at Galena, or
when he determined to fight it out on a GER
tain line to Richmond if it took him all the
summer. lie certainly is rather extraor-
binary "fool," and displaysa degree of fixed.
ness of purpose notably singular in an "idi-
ot."
But to be serious. We regard President
Grant as remarkable man,--one who has
been brought to the surface by remarkable
events, and the only general on the Federal
side who has really risen above mediocrity.--
To say that man is "blockhead," who
from penniless adventurer in the tanning
business in an obscure Illinois town, step by
step advanced through every grade. Of stern
and trying profession to be the hero of Vicks-
burg, and the conqueror at Appamattox -
then to the Presidency of Great Republic,
AID to hold the confidence of his party in
such an extraordinary degree, as to be unan-
imousy chosen as its representative for Sc
cond term, is simply trifing with the COM
mon sense of the nation.
lie has had sense enough to keep his
mouth shut and to steadily persevere in his
own chosen line of conduct, under the most
provoking aud aggravated assaults upon his
motives and character The bitterness of the
attacks of his enemies has only been equalled
by the contempt of his silence. His purpos
es once determined on, nothing shakes him
from their execution. While he may not be
great statesman, he certainly gives evidence
of proper comprehension of the nature of
laws, when he said, to show the obnoxious
features Of bad law, was to faithfully en-
force it. He may not be superior 6nancier,
but he certainly has taken care of his own
axchequer and has selected agents to man
age the national finances in such manner as
to inspire the confidence Of European capt.
talists, and place the credit of the government
on basisaof substantiability never before
equalled. To-day, foreign capitalists are in
vesting their 7.20s, interest payable semi-an-
nually in gold, but redeemable at the pleas
ure Of the government, into 5 per cent.
bonds, running SO and 50 years. The histo-
~ of the world does not exhibit more re-
markable confidence, in financial manage
ment, which really is the essence of success
full government.
1t would be we'll for men who glibly and
self-con6dently designate Grant as fool and
an idiot" to reflect moment before they re-
peat the Expression, else the thinking portion
Of the American people will give a different
application to the epithets.
We are no apologsts for any Of Grants
shortcomings, but we regard it as in bad
taste and as evincing little common sense for
respectable people to seek to belittle the Pre-
sident Of the United States, by assertions
which do the most harm in their reaction.
PRESENT TO HoTCHKIss.-As will be
seen by the following note, Major N. H.
HoTcHKIss is still being 'cheered' on account
of the successful manner in which he con-
Quoted the late editorial excursion to the
north
Major Hotchkiss-Your course of