New-York tribune., 1872-08-01
YOUR BULL lND MY OK.

II. w
some time ago, of holding Mr.. Greeley per-
sonally responsible for everything that has ap-
peared in The TRIBUNE since its foundation.
1t has not been THE TRIBUNE's custom to go
behind the name of journal to strike at the
unannounced Editor, but Mr.. Curtis chose to
do so. At last we have thought it well to give
him dose of his own medicine, and he finds
it very Dauseous. He-Or perhaps we should
say Harpers Weekly-assures us that Mr.. Cur
tis was not the writer of certain articles which
we quoted from The Weekly of 1861, and was
not at that time the responsible editor. Well,
we are glad for Mr.. Curtis's sake that he was
not. and we give him the benefit OF the cor
rection. But let us understand each other
fully. Does Harper's Weekly mean to acknow-
ledge that in 1861 it was not paper OF which
Mr.. Curtis or any other reputable gentleman
might have been willing to be the edltorf Or
does Mr.. Curtis mean to say that he would
have been ashamed to write as some of his
colleagues wrote thenf Who makes the dis
claimer in this weeks paperf Is it Mr. Curtis
washing his hands of the Harpers, or Harper s
Weekly turning its back upon itselff
Mr.. Curtis for q number of years has been
closely identified with the paper which he di-
rects and in actual fact, if not in theory
has been more responsible for its editorial ut
terances than Mr.. Greeley has for those of The
TRIBUNE; the reason is that the editor OF
weekly paper can read every article before 1t
is printed, but the editor of daily paper can
not Now, we should like to have, from either
Mr.. Curtis or Hdrper's Weekly, it makes no diff
ference which, an answer to the following
questions: Was Mr.. Curtis the editor OF that
paper in 18G47 Did he write or approve of a
leading article on the Goth of March OF that
year, entitled "A Danger"f And does he
approve of the sentiments of that article
now7 Lest he may have forgotten it, we re-
produce the article in full
1.-THE manifesto OF the War Democracy, as the Tam
many party likes to be called has one proposition which
should be very thoughtuly pondered by the citizens OF
this country 1t declares that the next President should
be military Yet II the country is truly wise 1t
will elect chief magistrate merely upon the
ground of military The school OF the soldier Is
not the school in which President OF the United States
should be trained. Military success dazzes nation
accustomed to despoc rule but ought not to deceive
a free people who govern themselves. In a warlike
community the triumphant chief is naturally the most
captivating figure, but IN peaceful free society the
qualities OF the soldier are by means those which
| best fitted for the work of government.
"That those who best the country should he
most highly honored true but that century ago any
British General in the field Admiral upon the sea bet
ter served England than Lord Chatham, who directed
the Government, would be difficult to prove Military
success however essential lis not
necessarily the highest service Military heroes however
pure, howera singeheared, heverer noble, are 6y S
necessity Of e case, accustomed 10 regard Reir opn tO
as lgw und ,sH ineraby incline 10 gorern country
| UiWere army II Washington exception to
this rule, Jackson not and Washington was excep
| tOnal among men.
Emerging from any great war, and especially from
civil struggle. the derofion Of army and It's officers 70
their chief IS iHeenre TO personal ambition and
danger 10 eipl liberty raS aud o6rous that needs bal
10 be named for History Is the record Of governments
| overthrown and people subugated by victorious mill
tary leaders But not driven to ancient or even
modern history to find the evidence OF these ruths The
spirit phieh soiies military head Of the Government Is
simply that Of despotism The aseendency so long main.
tanned In this country by the Southern Policy under the
auspices OF what called the Democracy was due
to the absolute annhaton Of the fundamental right OF
der the name plea Is made for military Presi-
dental candidate ought 10 surprise man that the
most ardent supporter OF the proposition says plainly
one the Generals OF armies: lie must have IA
little respect for these wretches Cesar had for those
In Rome BY the word wretches he describes the
lawful. constitutional authorities OF the Government
aud he calls upon military leader to them aside as
Napoleon did the Convention and Cromwell the Parlia
ment.
"Ths Is the spirit from which a military candidacy
springs. II Is iapaience Of constitutional rule IA is
e instinct Of depoiis Let us hope that tho people of
this country, In momentous crisis the present
will be governed in the election OF President by some
principle profound than enthusiasm for sol
der Whsn ne s0sdter has sAo'sn Me qualities Jor eiva