The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-10-09
THE sLA>DERERs OF GENERAL
". GRANT

Inc stale and baSeleSS llDelS which the
opposition retail about the Administration
of General Grant are but rehash of what
has been said of every President since the
days of Washington, by his enemies. Old
politicians know this, and laugh ct the
effect Of their absurd stories upon raw
recruits.
The first President of the Republic,
denominated "the Father of his Country"
whose memory is revered throughout the
world on account of his purity of charac-
ter and disinterested patriotism, was, dur
ing his Presidential term, assailcd with
equal violence, the loathesome wretches
pursuing him after his retirement to his
Mount Vernon home with such SANDERS as
the following, quoted from an opposition
journal of that period:
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in
peace, for mine eyes have seen thy SALVATION
was the pious ejaculation of q man who beheld
flood of happiness rushing in upon mankind II
ever there q time which would license the
reiteration OF the exclamation, that time has now
arrived for the man who is the source of all the
mis- fortunes of our country is this day reduced TO
q ieNel with MS 1elOW-CltlIenS, and is longer
possessed of power to multiply evils upon The
United States. If ever there was period for
joicing his is the moment. Every heart in uni
son with the freedom and happiness of the pee
pie ought to beat with high exultaton that the
name of Washington from this day ceases to give
a currency to political iniquity and to leealiZe
corruption A new era is now opening upon us
II new era which promises much to the people |;
for public measures must now stand upon their
own merits, and nefarous projects can no longer
| be supported by a name,-1he Auroraf for March
g. 1897.
Nor was this an isolated example, as will
be demonstrated by perusal of Chief
Justice Marshalps biography of Washing
ington. from which volume 2, page 370,)
we make tn following quotation:
Washington's military and political character
was attacked with equal violence, and it was
| averred that he was totally destitute of merit
| either soldier or a statesman. The caium-
MES with which he was assa,led were not confined
| to his political conduct even his qualities a
| man were the subjects ofdetraction. That he had
! violated the Constitution in negotiating a treaty
without the preNiou advice of the Senate, and in
embracing in that treaty subjects belonging ex-
| elusive y 10 the Legislature, was openly main
| tanned, for which an impeachment was publicly
| suggested; and that he had drawn from the
Treasury for his private use more than the sali-
| ny annexed 10 his office asserted without a
blush. The last allegation was said to be sup
| ported by extracts from tine treasury accounts,
| was maintained with the most unblushing eff
| frontery Though the Secretary of the TIeasu-
| ry denied that the appropriation made by the
| Legislature had been exceeded, the atrocious
charge was still confidently repeated, and the
| fsw who could triumph In any spot which might
| tirnish the lustre of Washington's fame, feliei-
| tated them selves in the prospect of obtaining a
victory over the reputation Of patriot, to whose
| single influence they aseribed the failure Of
tier political plans.
Let every fair-mnded man who reads the
above compare it with what Democratic
papers and speakers say of General Grant.
1t is deemed perfectly fair by that party to
tell the most unblushing falsehoods about
an opponent. A party which is destitute
of principle must fight on personal grounds,
Or not at all. Hence everywhere, the OPP
position is reduced to SANDER, personal
detraction and yituperation. 1t was 81 in
Washington's time, but the calm judgment of
history now replaces tho prejudieed venom
ofexcted and interested contemporaries, and
holds up Washington, as get ariU General
Grant, to the admiration of men for his
ralor, honesty, and his moderation IN sue
| cess