The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-06-06
the NEXT PRESIDE MI.

The nomination of General Grant at
Philadelphia, has long been fixed GER
tainty. Had it not been SO before the Gin
cinnati movement and the vituperative
speech of Mr.. Sumner, it has been made
doubly so since. 1t would have been das-
tardly in the Republican party to desert
their great standard-bearer in such an
hour OF domestic treason and partisan
obloquy as this. His denomination has
been made an imperative necessity from the
exgeneies of the party, no less than from
those Of the hour. When the attempt is
made to destroy the Republican party, and
throw the administrative power of the
government into the hands of the Demo-
crazy, it is no time to change leaders. 1t
is like swapping horses while crossing a
swollen and turbulent stream.
Whatever may be said to the disparage-
ment Of General Grant, he has one person.
al characteristic which all men must COM
mend in these times. He appreciates the
value of silence. lie bears without reply
all the SANDERS and vituperations that are
heaped upon him. In this he is wiser than
most men. He can hold his hates, if he
has any, at arms length, and not sputter
out his spites. In this exhibition of him
self he eyinces stronger spirit and a finer
humanity than can come from the brawls
ofmodern Senates or the wranghngs of pot.
house politicians. The whelps that bark at
his heels go unnoticed. This commanding
self-posession is what indicates the strong
man. Repose is energy. All the Greek
heroes are calm /; in whatever engagement
they are placed, or in whatever violent
action, they retain serene aspect-nc
buster, no staggering, no Threatening
talk. The blows that they deal come witt
sudden crash, as the bolts that drop from
a noiseless cloud. There il no admonitary
splitting ofthe zigzag lightning, which simp'
ly plays for the purposes of terror. WhaI
great men do, they do noislessly and
possess their spirits in calmness while they
do it.
General Grant has this quality in all EN-
nent degree. He exhibited this golden
characteristic when commanding the armies
Of the Republic--he has not lost posses
sion of it in commanding his own spirit il
council. That which contributed so great
lily to his success in the field, has made hi
administration no less successful, in spite
of the vindictiye criticisms that have beer
passed upon it. He has been patient un
der abuse, as if willing to abide the logic o
events. Had he gone off in a splitter, Oh
swung around the CIRCLE" as his immedi
ate predecessor did, his conduct might have
been commented on as eyincing weakness
But nothing Of this sort could he do. Iii!
nature lifted him above such gambol lacul
ties. 1t is your Falstafiisn heroes that hav
such wit and humor-such brilliancy anc
aptitude to do indiscreet and eminently
foolish things.
There is something in the calmness will
which he receives the blows of his persona
adversaries that must command universe
respect, if it does not enlist admiration fo
his character and this something is what
the wise of all ages have called greatness
His mind has been schooled, disciplined
aud thoroughly purified in the terrible earn
estness of the times-when the lofty spiri
that was incarnated in America faced terri
BILE emergencies, and faced them withou
infatuation, but with an invincible resolu
ton to put them down-not to be put dow
by them. To have passed from the scath
ing fire of the Wilderness through al
the scenes of blood and carnage by which
Appomattox courthouse was reached, wa
calculated to make something better than
mere blusterer--a calm, thoughtful, saga
Cious man. A resolution not palsied b.
such blows as he received, is stripped {
everything that is paltry, and stands out i
true nobleness and grandeur. Carp a
much as you will, and set million pens t.
work to defeat the verdict of history, TIL
Judgment Of mankind will not be change,
General Grant will have his true place il
American history. Were he ten time