The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-08
co OIEaT ] 6 { J:M|:B|'IlAss {: : 4 s.: G.
srtaay Morning November 8, 1873
e Tho PrssId on thai El.ution.

0E the UplkeQ State8 lH now known aud
heralded all over the world. The re-
turns published yesterday morning. with
comments Of the leading Journals Of
New York and. London, show an i'm
mense majority for Grant. and immense
satisfaction with the result. One of the
English journals thinks it disproves the
old charge that republics are ungrateful.
The New York Herald considers it the
most remarkable Presidential election in
the history of the country, and the Iri-
bsne comedies that there is scarcely q
parallel in the completeness OF the rout
and triumph: While charging it to the
improper use of money, true to its pro-
fession,, the Tribune pledges it's did to
the President in any reform he may seek
10 effect. But it's services will hardly be
needed.
It is now bootless to inquire minutcly
into siio causes which produced t;iis U.s.
founding triumph. The lavish use Of
money. patronage and official position
may be credited with large part of it.
But there must have been other causes,
equally potent. We 6nd. some of them
sn the peculiar temper of the people of
tho North. They are eminently prone
30 hero worship. They dearly love o
bird, and go into ecstacies over popu-
lar chieftain. General Grant serves
them well in this capacity in the absence
Of better. And shallow, empty
headed mf n, it he only has pluck and
yilr and plenty Of self-oonceit, is better
4tT .he.:.. than great, good or able one.
Having been instrumental in the over
shrpw Of the Confederate forces. and in
accomplishing the collapse of the South
srn Confederacy, and having then iden-
titled himself with the great domineer-
ing Radical party. he has since 70 de
easily and triumphantly upon the waves
ct popular favor. His quarrel with
Andy johnson, in which he plainly came
out second best; his tortuous and SIMS
Ter course in the San Domingo scheme
Of annexation; his abortive promises to
secure civil service reform; the compli-
city OF come of his military encourage in
the New York Custom House abuses and
frauds; his open and widely-extended
nepotism; his disregard and neglect of
the plain duties OF his Office in constant
absences and junketings at watering
places, and at horse races; his palpable
deficiencies as statesman. shown in his
sorry exhibitions OF himself as speaker
mud writer; and IL his miserable choice
OF men to discharge public trusts, and
his evident dielike to men of virtue and
salent-none of these, nor any other
just causes of dissatisfaction with him
which might be mentioned, weighed a
feather against him with the great masses
sf the people. North, East and West.
We have no doubt now that they were
OF service to him, being viewed by the
great bulk Of his admirers, who look
only on the surface, as mere abuse, and
considered by many others as not worthy
OF any weight. even though true. It
was enough for them that Gen. Grant
had 'put down the rebellion" las they
phrase itD that under the forms and with
the professions of peace, he had kept up
the war against the beaten people of the
South. keeping them PROSTATE through
Congressional legislation and carpet -bag
governments, and that he was soundly
abused for his vices aud weaknesses.
Summers onslaught on him, rs convinc-
ing as it was scathing. evidently did him
service. The greater the truth, the
greater the libel, we suppose. This cleo
tion shows, indeed, great and lamenta-
BILE departure from the state of things
which existed under General Washing
ton and the earlier Presidents, anil
radical change in the spirit and temper
of the American people.
Bot we must admit that his reduction
81 the public debt. his habit of discreet
silence, never offending any ono by sharp
criticism or stinging sarcasm, his free
and easy manners, his love of pomp and
show, and the settlement of our difficult
ties with Great Britain by the Geneva
tribunal, occurring under his administra.