Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-09-20
]. Allen Barber.
4rant and shington Historical
Repetition.

Repetition.
It il al ways both interesting and in
structivc Is note in the annals of nations
how history rtpeates itself and although
our country has not yet closed the first
century OF lis txstcncc,on of the moral
lessons here adverted to is now in process
of preparation for the future students
of our chronicles. In order to explain
cur meaning let US turn for moment to
records of the past.
President Washington, offended at the
attempted violation of the proclamation Of
neutrality by Citizen Genet, the diploma
tic agent of France in this country, and
ut the subsequent efforts Of that agent,
by printed appeals, to degrade the Nation
al Government in the eyes of the people,
caused his recall from the United States,
and, in order to prevent future conduct
of like character on the part of foreign
crs, procured the passage, by Congress,
of the measure known as the alien law.
Tho offense was payable one, and the
means adopted to punish it and prevent
recurrence seems to have been just and
proper. Yet no considerations Of this
nature were sulficicnt'to restain certain
parties prominent, among whom were "A
ron, Burr, and Thomas Jefferson, from
selling upon this course Of the Admins
stration as ground for the most virulent
and abusive attacks. Neither the sense
Of obligation due to Washington as the
Savior oE his country, nor the undeniable
good results Of the civil rule, were of any
avail to shield him from bitter malignant
denuneiAtion.. His private character was
traduced, and bis private acts tortured
into designs against the Liberties of his
country by the establishment of a personal
government, this is the historical instance.
Now for its repetition.
President Grant, like his first llustricus
predecessor, Washington, is endearcd
to every pateiotic American by services
rendered to his country in days of the
.scverest trial. Impartial history will in
4nscribe the names Of two soldiers upon
she same undying scroll, for Tenton and
PRINCETON, Monmouth and Yorktown,
will not plead the claims of the one more
cloqucntly than those of the other will be
urged by Fort Donelson and Shiloh,
Eicksburg and Appomattox Court House
II.
grateful country-men 10 the Presidential
chair, has, like, Washington, indicated
the wisdom of the peoples choice by his sue
cessful administration of the Government.
If the one lifted tho nation out of the ruts
of bankruptcy into which it had been
plunged by the Revolutionary war. and
placed it upove the high road to financial
prosperity, the other, by the econo-
mical collection and that prudent expendi-
tarc of the public revenues, has succeeded
in paying off more than $3O0,000,O00 OF
abe DELFT incurred in putting down an un
holy ebeilion. If the ono restored order
80 distracted section OF the country by
supprcssing ''ths whiskey instruction"
the other has re established peace and
security in States harassed by Ku-klux
outrages and atrocities.
In fine, the parallel between Grant and
Washington could be still further drawn
equally to the honor of those two heroes
distinguished alike by their abilities SO
warriors AID as statesmen. Would that
it could not lie still further drawn to the
shame and disgrace of others For even
as we have seen that " ashington was
nnjustly and eauselcssly made the subject
of detrao!ion and vituperation, So, too,
has Grant been treated, aodsupon grounds
equally unjust and c2useess. A. United
States squadron cruises in EIaytain waters,
thereby doubtless causing q sense OF Sc
eurtN to prcvade the breast of cvar1
weIl'dlspoaed and peace-loving Hay tair,
Tor 1t is only while foreign flag is flying
in the harbor EisaI he feels safe from the
iawless aggressons of bis own govern
'nent and imme diatelY the iaundice eve
Of Charles Sumter Sees. in. this simnle
fact, blow Eat the Independence Of, the
black, republic by open menace Of war y
and with misdirected eloqucnce, he de-
nounees PRESIDENT Grant a criminarns-e
deserving of. impeachment than Andrew
Johnson Nor does Senator Sumner stand
alone in his calunainating work. Carl
Schurz and some others of less note, mad.
dened disappointed hopes and bsffled ex-
pectations, straighway go into oratorical
spasms over dishonoiing sales of Govern.
ment arms, New. York custom-hoase
frauds, and other heinous charges, which,
upon candid investigating, prove to be
free from all crimnality save that which
existed in the diseased imaginations or
raneorous spleen of the accusers.
1t will be nothing more than simple
usteeif the | eol lie of the United States in