Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-15
LINCOLN AND GRANT.
Gen. Hawiey Contrasts the situation of
1864 with 1872.
From the Hartford Courant.

Abraham Lincoln mas pdSSeh lllbO
history as one Of the worlds great men.
In an elaborate and judicial examine
ton Of his character, an Impartial critic
would be required to sketch certain de
fects, but even his failings leaned to
virtues side, and rs the rugged figure
lifts its niche in the gallery OF good
men, the general PROJECTIONS of It's char
acter command admiration and eulogy.
The nation has discovered that it pos
sessed in him a greater man than it
knew. Yet consultation Of the news
paper files Of 1868 and the first six
months of 1864 will show that very
large part of the Republican party was
profoundly dissatisfied with him. To
large extent his critics were OF the
radical and advancing men, the most
sincere, earnest, devoted, self sacrltic-
ing men of theparty. Precisely the fault
I that was found then is found now; 1T
was said that the Otiice-holders were too
| forward in seeking a denomination Of
their official head But the chief obiec-
I tion was.that he was too slow in accept
ing for practical action the ideas of the
4 future
! Horatio Seymour got himself elect
/ ed Governor of New York III large
measures through the pretense, false as
/ the event proved, that he was in favor
/ of more vigorous prosecution OF the
/ war. Some insist, even now, that had
/ the Democrats omitted the idiotic de-
claration that the war was Il failure and
/ Mcclellan on war platform, they
would have elected him. In that case
/ the loss to the nation and the world
would have been lacalculable. But
/ the great mass of the people, includ-
/ ing the body of thinking, conscientious
/ and patriotic citizens, had a certain in
stinctive confidence III Lincoln. They
never doubted his integrity and sagaci-
/ ty. He was ready to keep at the head
of the royal people He could not
afford to move SO fast rs to open Il gap
between himself and any considerable
portion even of those whose support
was essential to success. Many OF us
| thought that he underestimated the
progress of he people, and that they
stepped upon his heels too often, Per
haps sc, but he had a wonderful
knowledge of the human heart. At
| least tins Is true; we won, and his final
action was in all cases up to the high
est ideal. We have well grounded
confidence that the same will prove
/ true of General Grant. His mistakes
are not greater, if ms great as those of
Lincoln, II we may judge by eNtempo-
rary criticism.
As in tue case of Mr.. Lincoln so with
I 4 - 10, 4 oil
of him than human nature could be
reasonably expected to yield ON the
instant. The patronage (hateful word
/ of New York city and State has been
/ the subject of great wrangle before
4 the eyes of the whole nation and the
primary duties Of the officials having
been left in the back ground, abuses
have grown up, though it is fair to say
/ that some of the grosser evils have eX-
listed for generations, under all parties,
4 Every intelligent student of politics
knows that IN suffering the civil service
IN the State and city of New York to
run as 1t has been running, General
/ Grant has only been following the prac-
I tlce of previous administrations in the
action at large in yielding to the re,
commentator of the senator's, repre-
sentatives and prominent politicians.
He ought TO have assumed higher
4 ground, 1t Is SAID, and to have disre-
gardod all these influences, all that
advice at least where it was bad #.
True enough, abstractly, but practi.
cally, let Us honestly confess that even
the Republican party was not ready for
reform SO radical, Vt will be; indeed
we hope it is, but see how the very in
itlal steps the promises only ofreorgan-
cation ana reform, are received in Com
gress, aud by many who have led the
President 10 believe that they were his
special friends aud defenders There
Is much sincere criticism and debate
over details, but We believe that Geuer,
nj Grant is to-day far ahead of the av-
erago Congress in his desire and deter
miuation to reform, and if Congress
truly represents the people, then he is,
rs Mr. Lincoln often was, Shead of the
people also
1t is nearly two years since the editor
of the Cduuut, in conversation with
General Grant discussing the civil
ser ,ce, reheursed IN succession some
OF the objections to the more promin
emit features OF the new system, such rs
nsld competitive examinations, the life
tenure, etc, and found the President
answering the objections, readily and
earnestly advocating at least some
change. For example, the editor said
he dld not like % think OF a-boiv at
10000 or $4,000 civil officers appointed
practically for lite Ihev might grow