The Lincoln County herald., 1872-10-23
Jehn B. Head derson.
what Ne Thosgbt Of Grant Two Year
Ago.

what He Thosgbt Of Grant Two Year,
Ago.
yn this sorld Of ours many strange
things are to be expected. Such seem,
10 be . condition OF our existence. W.
marvel for mement at our new occur
renee, and then something stranger still
flashes speo Us, pushing BY its preds
cessors, and drswiug'over them the veil
nf the forgotten past. Thus We ste led
to exclaim, perhaps q thousand times
during life, that "wouders will never
cease"
Our late civil war, itself, 10 which two
happy sections and a great and prosper
Gus nation we're involved, simply t.
crafty the pride sad ambition of soulless
leaders, was wonderful indeed. but it was
for les, wonderful than those wilful and
wicked perversions Of constitutional rig b,
to which it gave birth. And far less
strange were even these than that marked
aud dcplorabls degeneracy that seems to
have overthrow American manhood and
driven cut that spirit Of pride and inde
pendence which once ami mated and emo
bled the people.
General Grant himself is a subject OF
special wonder. Ten years ago be was
quietly seated 10 q country village, re-
pairing harness aud driving . small trade
in leather, trade supposed to be sufficient
for his mental capacities. He is now
President Of what We fondly call q
great nation. trading and trafickiug in
the dearest interests of mankind. Ten
years ago he fitted leather collars to the
necks Of sore and jaded beasts of
burden. Now with the same cool iudif.
eucc, be essays to ct iron collars to the
nscks Of weary, worn and humiliated
psvple.
He is new, mentally considered. what
he was then, end as incapable Of under
standing the true character and meaning
OF our institutions. lie carries with him
into the administration Of public affairs
an assumed contempt for statesmanlike Q
requirements, and bestows his Official
favors upon that species Of medocrity
which might we'll result from kindred
mental status and congenial mental
habits. Ela,ed by his sudden elevation,
he has hastened to ascribe his undeserved d
political success to merit instead Of acci
dent, and encouraged too much BY the
past, his untamed ambition now presses
on to second election through misrep.
resentation,. through abuse of Official
power and deprivation of the rights of
freemen.
1t was once the pride and bo st of our
Government, that honesty and capacity
we're sufficient qualifications for office.
The incumbent now must be the lackey
and slave of the President.
In the earlier and purer days of the
republic a man to be worthy of Office had
not only to know and guard his own
rights, but with equal zeal maintain the
rights and liberties Of his fellow men.
1t is necessary now that be himself have
no rights that conflict with the interests
or ambition Of the appointing power, and
that a command to enslave his brother
must be obeyed in the name of party.
This is too bad for even this deg
age.
We will not discuss the propriety or
improperly Of disfranchisem ment during
the period of civil war. Let tho dead
past bury its dead Enough that it was
adopted and enforced with military rigor
until the war closed-too much that it
was continued for more than Eve years
since, and been enforced With shameless
and continued persistency for the tasest
purposes, in the face Of repeated party
pledges and to the shame and conf usisu
of party leaders who pretend to decency
and honesty. The very last pretext by
the basest charlatnn or political knave
for the continuance of this disgraceful
tyranny Is now removed. The negro is
not only free-he is enfranchised, and
nobody asks to disturb the text of tho
federal constitution on that subject. 1t
is fait accompli, and the Democracy,
overpowered and overruled 10 their views
Of political economy 10 this behalf, have
accepted the situation and will abide it
10 good faith.
The representatives of the Radical
party assembled in the Legislature last
winter, themselves disgusted at the ener.
mites practicel by petty tyrants oil over
the state under this monstrosity Of con.
stitution. begotten in the couvulsions of
civil war, proposed amendments, which
being adopted, will remove this odious
oppression, aud give peace, harmony,
order aud freedo m to all the people Of
The state.
Now that the Democracy of the state
have resolved to accept the platfern Of
their political foes. and silently submit
to the election of ticket placed on this
platform Of their own making, General
Grant sees fit to stoop from . position too
diRnihsd for such language. too lofty for
such conduct, and characterize the move
meat - one "istsndsd to carry . portion
Vt the Republican party over to the De.
mecracy and thus give them control"
Then followed his command to tbe sfics
holdsrs: II hope you will see yeur way
clear to support the regular ticket"