Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-03-29
General Grant.

NENEhAlE OkANI was Cdlltu 10 lnc
office which he now holds, not through
any solicitations of his own, or manage
ment 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,
and 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 sup
posed deficiencies of his administration;
that many able newspapers have contest
ed the wisdom of re-electing General
Grant, is true. But Is there any evidence
that he has lost the confidence of the
great body of Republican voters through
out the North? or that, taken as a whole
they are dissatisfied with the result of the
past three years? 1t is our belief that
when the people come to the very busi-
ness of selecting the candidate for the
next Presidential term, the more they re-
fleet upon it the more they will be inclined
to renominate and elect General Grant.
When he was originally selected it was
without any guises or false pretenses on
his part His education had been for the
army, and his great achievements were
military. Every one knew that he had
been without experience in political af-
fairs. Indeed, that very fact weighed
with many. They had the impression
that better President could be made out
of candidate who was unhackneyed in
politics. and who should bring to the
Office good sense and impartiality, not
warped az biased by the intrigues of party
politicians.
If when Grant assumed the reins of gov
eernment, he was under the delusion that
politics had nothing to do with govern
ing, that a man without experience in
civil administration was more likely to be
skillful and honest than one who had been
educated to the conduct of public affairs,
he only erred as tens of thousands erred.
And if, in the early period of his admins
tration, he attempted to carry on the gov
ernment by Cabinet staff as he would
conduct an army in the field, he only did
what he was expected to do. The result
of the experiment was what might have
been foretold. He was not a Cromwell.
But the faults of Grants early selection
of advisers arose from an attempt to full
| fill public expectation, and bring into his
counsel men not much versed in politics.
Yet, in spite of the vice of this principle
of selection, his Cabinet has been in the
main excellent. The Department of State
| does not suffer in contrast with the more
snowy, but not more wise, administration
of Seward. The Treasury has nothing to
fear in comparison with the great Treas
urer under Mr.. Lincoln. There will not
| be two such War Secretaries as Mr. Stan
ton in the same age but, happily, peace
has required other service than that
which has rendered Stanton's name for.
ever ilustrious, and the Department has
been wisely readjusted to the gauge OF
peace.
The field for brilliant service open to
the other members of the Cabinet has not
been great. But it is certain that here.
after, when men look back dispassion,
ately, they will regard General Grants
Cabinet as one eminently practical, wise
and safe. Indeed, comparatively littlC
criticism has been madeupon the Cabinet
70 be sure, the Secretaries have beer
blamed for want of energy in discipline
In particular instances, their deliberatioI
has been thought to verge upon federation
of corrupt men.
But, considering the state of the public
mind, this Cabinet has been -eminently
reforming one. Ali wars more or les
demoralize the business habits of a peo
pie. The great civil war developed a vas
iobbing interest, and stimulated lawles
and immense speculative greed whicl
could not be cured in day. But if on,
compares the progress of affairs in tn
States, with the administration of Fedora
affairs by the General Government, h
viii find vast and complex system o
affairs, involving almost incomputabl
treasures, and offering boundless oppoI
tunity and temptation to fraud, admins
tered on the whole with fidelity&nd in
tegrity which have won the confidence o
business men throughout the world. ]
is not just to judge of continent by tn
condition of an acre here and there,
J General Grant has learned much, an
} has suffered much in learning We al
preciate the just criticisms which hay
, been made upon him. We are not his il
= discriminate eulogsts. We have marke
his faults, and we clearly perceive his dO
ficiencics But in what other man wi
J be found all eXcellencies and no. faults
J Where can we find a combination
qualities which have, upon trial, pr,
i duced, ON the whole, better resultsY II
4 is far better fitted to-day to exercise III
} executive functions than he was when i
I was enthusiastically selected. If he is
e slow scholar, he is scholar who retaiI
+ all that he learns 1t may be pity hi
the Administration men, par excellence,