The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-06-01

philosopher devoted to liberal ideas he does not
disguise that IN antiquity 1.-THE most eminent soldiers
he plainly shows the reason when ne adds that
I'm the midst OF the hurry and turmoil OF camps
highest point that the knowledge OF that age
would Allow The secret was culture not confined
more uroR tsan Few soldiers
Great; but we learn from our author that
policy and showed themselves as short
sighted IN the arts Of peace as they sagacious
is pointed, while protraying him as .sThe greatest
conqueror OF the age the hero or hundred fights,
the victor OF Blenheim and Ramillics,n the same
philosophical writer describes him as "a man not
only OF the most idle and frivolous pursuits but so
miserably ignorant that his deficiencies made him
the rdicule OF his contemporaries while his politics
were compounded Of sellshness and treachery"
nor was wellington an exception. Though shining In
me Held without rival remarkable for integrity
OF purpose, an unfinching honesty and high moral
feeling, the conqueror Of waterloo is described as
nevertheless utterly unequal to the complicated
history; each with Its warning. It would be hard
TO find anything In the native endowments or
N In, the training, training Of our chieftain TO make
OF this kind Is recorded. Was nature
more generous with him than with Marlborough or
called the Great or was Ills experience or life
better preparation than theirs : And yet they
failed except In war. u is not known that our
chiettnn had any experience as civilian until he
became PRESIDENT nor does any partlZan attrl-
butte to him that double culture which in antiquity
mado .r
THE SAME MAN SOLDIER AND STATESMAN.
It has been often said that he took no note Of
nnnc aas never vEng put once IN his e ana
Point lie became captain in the army, but soon
abandoned the service to appear OF q later day q
successful general. There Is no reason to believe
that he employed the intermediate period n any
way calculated to improve him as o statesman.
One or his unhesitating supporters, my colleague
cOn nd
for re election, says:-"Iefore the war we knew
nothing OF Grant" lie was earning few hundred
dollars year by tanning hides IN Galena. BY the
war lie passed to be President. And such was
his preparation to govern the great republic,
learned to deal with all questions, domestic and
foreign, whether OF peace or war, to declare con-
sttut,onal law and international law and to ad-
minister the vast appointing power creating cabinet
officers judges, foreign ministers and an uncOunted
army OF Office holders TO these things must be
added That when this soldier first began rs civilian
he was
ALREADY roRrY-sIx YEARS OLD.
At this mature ase-close on half century
when habits arc irrcvocably fixed, and the mind
has hardened against what il new-when the char
acter has taken its permanent FORM and the whole
life Of civilian in its most exalted sphere. DO not
be surprised that like other soldiers he iailed the
wonder would BIO had he succeeded. Harvey was
accustomed to say that nobody over forty ever
accepted his discovery Of the circulation Of the
who has Recognized this period OF life as the diSd
Ing point, alter which it is difficult to learn new
things. Something like this Is embodied In the
French saying-that at forty man has given his
measure. At least his vocation is sotted-how
completely Is seen, Il we suppose the Statesman,
changed to the soldier. And yet at an age nearly
aeSS f g 9aE HE adSsn
phosis cannot be forgotten, when he seeks TO COM
prehend the strange pretensions which ensued. 1t
y easy to see how some very moderate experience
In civil life, involving of course the lesson of sub
prevented indefensibe acts.
s TESTIMONY or THE LATE I EDWIN M; STANTON.
character; and here express no opinion OF my
own. 1 shall allow another to speak, in solemn
ington, at the opening OF Congress, In December,
1869, was panied to hear tgat Mr. stanton, lately
Secretary OF War, was In falling health. Full Of
gratitude for his unsurpassed services and with
sentiment OF friendship quickened by common po-
iitical sympathies, l lost. no time In seeing
towards tho close Of the same month. My last
visit was marked by communication never to be
found him reclining on sofa, propped by pillows,
he reached out his hand, already cammy cold,
and In reply to my inquiry, "How are you ?" he
something to say to YOU" When was seated he
know General Grant better than any other person
in the country can know him. 1t was my duty to
him and when did not see him, and now tell You
what know:
w
The intensity of his manner ana the positiveness
OF his judgment surprised me, for though l was
aware that the late Secretary Of War did not place
the President very high in general capacity was
not prepared for Judgment so strongly couched.
At last, after some delay, occupied In medtating
sa s IS vey broa" Mt Is as rue as IS
he replied promptly. added, lyon are tardy.
Why did you wait till this late timer Why did
you not say 1t before his nomination ~ lie
answered that he was not consulted about the
nomination and had no opportunity of expressing
his opinion upon 1t, besides being much occupied at
the time with his duties as secretary OF War and
his contest with the President. followed by say
ing:--"But you took part in the Presidential cleo
tion and made succession Of speeches for him in
Ohio and Pennsylvania ~ spoke, said he, "but
never introduced the name OF General Grant.
spoke for the republican party and the republican
cause" Thisw the last time saw Mr.. Stanton.
A lew days later followed him to the grave
where he now rests. As the vagarles Of the Presi-
dent became more and more manifest, and the
Presidential office seemed more and more play
thing and perquisite, this dying Judgment OF the
night and day, and now communicate it to my
country, feeling that it Is legacy have no right
to withhold. Beyond the intrinsic interest from its
author, 1t Is not without value as testimony in
considering how the President could have
been led into that Quixotism OF personal preten:
repeat it that is my dirty to make the exposure,
spreading before you the proofs OF that personal
government which VIII only pass without censnre
upon reelection the President challenges inquiry
and puts himself upon the country. But even If his
tranquility of the country 1t is important that the
personal pretensi0ns he has set up should be ex-
posed, that no President hereafter may venture
upon such ways and no Senator presume TO defend
them. The case Is clear as noon.
TWO TYPICAL INSTANCES.
In opening this catalogue | select two typical in
stances--nepotsm and gft-taklng officially COM
pensated-each absolutely indefcnsibe In the head
OF q republic, most pernicious IN example, and
showing beyond question that SURPRISING egotism
which Changed The Presidential office into personal
instrumentalty not unlike the trunk OF an ele-
phant apt for all things, small as well as great,
from provision for relative to pressing treaty on
q reluctant Senate OF forcing u relation on re-
luctant people.
NEPoTlSM OF THE PRESIDENT
Between these two typical instances l hesitate
which TO place foremost but since the nepOtism OF
the President Is ruling passion revealing the
primary instincts Of his nature; since 1t Is main
tanned by him in utter Inconsistencies of Its oIen-
an unhappy mistake, he continues to uphold 1t;
since 1t has been openly defended by Sena-
tors on this floor, and since no true
patriot anxious for republican institutions,