The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-13
Withdrawing Grant.

There have always been people in chronic
state of wanting to withdraw Grant. 1t has
been one of the most constant elements in
his career that somebody has desired to with
draw, retire, make way with, extinguish ana
obliterate him. 1t was so after the affair az
Belmont-the first and last battle ne ever
lost. After Fort Donelson there was whoie
chorus of hoarse patriots who inslsteo oh HIS
removal. After Pittsburg Landing, other
wise and more euphoniously known as Shi-
lob, the tumult redoubled. This time the
busybodies would take no denial. The only
way to save the country was to get Grant
instantly out of the. way, because, forsooth,
he was sometimes drunk. This sort of clam
or never for an instant ceased, though Gen.
Grant was at that time strictly temperate, till
the keen-sighted, quick-witted man who was
then President pricked the bubble that was
growing so prosperously by declaring that if he
knew what kind of whiskey Gen. Grant used
he would supply it to every general in the ar
my-a determination which will meet with
universal approval even in these piping times
of temperance. Afterwards there was lul in
the tempest till Grant began to operate
against Vicksburg. Then it was perceived
by great number Of .wiseacres, both here
and in Europe, that he was about to fail.
His plan was declared to be obviously idiotic,
and its originator was held up to the gaze of
the world as charlatan who had been bless
ed with singular good luck. But the final
triumph at Vicksburg was 50 signal that the
enthusiasm excited by the achievement was
sufficient to tide him safely over that other
great victory at Chattanooga and to give him
the plaudits of the whole loyal people, till the
hard and doubtful struggle in the wilderness
once more brought his critics out in full force.
From that time till the capture of Lee and
his army, there was no cessation of the fault
finding-no abatement of the frenzy for the
retirement of Grant Happily the authorities
OF this country were intelligent and courageous
men, who knew the value of the leader of
our armies and whs gave him mfailing sup
port and their fullest confidence. Had it
been otherwise, the empire whose corner
stone was slavery might have been in exis-
tence to-day with the North as humble,
powerless dependency. aa bro
In political life, it has been the same There
were those who, insisted that Gen. Grant was
the weakest possible candidate for us in 1865.
twas declared that he was Democrat, if any
thing, and that he was absolutely incapable
OF making speech. Time has proved that
he is not Democrat, and that he is one Of
the truest, bravest, most determined friends
'of equal rights that has ever lived. He is
now SO well known by the people of this
country and SO thoroughly appreciated that
there is no longer any thought of his with
drawal except among those who are his polt-
ical enemies. As for the Republican party
there is now no thought or wish among its
members except for his denomination and re-
election. They are unwilling to lose the SER
vices OF a man who has proved equal to every
emergency and who at all times and under
all circumstances has been true to his pledges
and his principles The surrender of Grant
would indeed be unconditional surrender"