The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1872-03-30
GENERAL GRANT.
From the Christian Union, (Henry Ward
Beecher, Editor.l

General Grant Was called to the
,fficc which be now holds, not
through any solicitations of his
,wn, or management of political
friends, but by the wish of the
voters throughout the North. Is
there any evidence that the great
body of intelligent citizens regret
their choice, aud are disposed to
put some other man in his place !?
That there has been much fault |
found; that many thoughtful men
have severely criticised the real
or supposed deficiencies OF his
administration; that many able
newspapers have contested the
wisdom Of re-electing General
Grant is true. But is there any
evidence that he has lost confidence
Of the Republican voters through
out the North 2 or that, taken as
o whole, they are dissatisfied with
the result of the past three years ?
1t is our belief that when the peo-
pie come to the very business of
selecting the candidate for the
next Presidential term, the more
they reflect upon it the more they
will be inclined to renominate and
elect General Grant.
When he was originally elected,
it was without any guises or false
pre,enses on his part. His edu
cation had been for the army, and
his great achievements were mili-
tary. Every one knew that he
had been without experience in
political affairs. Indeed, that very
fact weighed with many. They
had the impression that better
President could be made out of q
candidate who was unhackneycd
in politics, and who should bring
to the Office good sense and impair
tiality, not warped or biased by
the intrigues of party politicians.
If when Grant assumed the reins
OF government, he was under ,he
delusion that politics, had nothing
to do with governing, that a man
without experience in civil admins
istratior was more likely to be
skillful and honest than one whs
had been educated to the conducI
of public affairs, he only erred q.
tens of thousands erred. And if
in the early period of his admins
tration, he attempted to carry o,
the government by Cabinet staff
as he would conduct an army il
the field, be only did what he was
expected 70 do. The result of til,
experiment was what might hav,
been foretold. He was not Crom
we'll But the faults OF Grant
early selection of advisers aros
from an attempt to fulfill publi
expectation, and bring into hi
council men not much yersed il
politics. Yet, in spite Of the vic
Of this principle of selections, hi
Cabinet has been in the main ex
ce!lent. The Department of Stat
does not suffer in contrast with tn
more snowy, but not more wise
administration Of Seward. Th
Treasury has nothing to fear il
comparison with the Treasurer un
der Mr.. Lincoln. There will nc
be two such War Secretaries q
Mr.. Stanton in the same age /; but
happily, peace has required othe
service than that which has ren
dered Stanton's name forever il
lustrious, and the department ha
ben wisely re-adjusied to th
gauge of peace.
The field for brilliant service o
pen to the other members of tn
Cabinet has not been great. B,
it is certain that hereafter. whe
men look back dispassionately, the
will regard General Grants Cahi
net as one eminen'lv prac.ica
wise, and safe. Indeed, comper:
lively little criticism has been uI
on the Cabinet. To be sure, Il
Secretaries have been blamed ft
: want Of energy In discipline |
. particular instances, their delibel
} alton has been thought to vere
upon toleration of corrupt men
: But, considering the State ,
. the public mind, this Cabinet h
been pre-eminently reformin
/ one. All wars more or less d
moralize the business habits of
: people. The great civil war d.
veloped vast jobbing interest, al
: stimulated lawlcss and immen
> speculative greed which could n
3 be cured in day. But if Of
) compares the progress of affai
e in ths States, with the administr
+ ton Of federal affairs by the ge
1 erai government, he will find a VI
= and complex system of affairs. i
}. volving al most incompatible ire;
t ures, and offering boundless oppe
o tunity and temptation to frat
e administered on he whole will
3 fidelity an, integrity which ha
won the confidence of busin'
n men throughout the world. 1t
d not just to judge of con,int
by the condition of an acre ht
q and there.
|, General Grant has learned mu
It and has suffered much in learnil
We appreciate the just crasicis
n which nave been made upOn hi
q We are not his indiscriminate Gu
gist. We have marked his faul
q and we clearly appreciate his de
II ciencies. But in what other N
: will be found all excellencies a
o no faults? Where can we find
J. combination Of qualities VIII
d unon Ar;al nrodnoad IN