The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-07-19

THE approaching Presidential campaign
will decide graver questions than the per-
sonal fitness OF popularity of the opposing
candidates, or whether President Grant or
Editor Greeley have deserved best of their
country. The question is broader and
more momentous- whether the issues
forced by the hot-heads Of the South to ar
bitrament by the sword, shall finally and
for all coming time remain settled upon the
enduring basis of equality before the
lawn or be rcopened and, like Pandora's
box, scatter iire-brands of dscord aud re-
kindle the fires of revolution, now so nearly
quenched.
Aladnit that internal peace must pre-
cede and accompany national prosperity,
and no thinking citizen can deceive himself
sogrossly, as to look for the continuance OF
=, peace in any southern state, if the founda-
tons Of state government, so laboriously
laid, midst opposition and denunciation, are
TO be overturned, and relaid under the SUI
~ pervision of those who would rebuild on
= narrow foundation of scctionalisIn, poltl-
- cal edifice, reproducing as nearly as oppor-
tunity admits the errors and deformities
of that laid upon the " cornerstone " Of
slavery.
Upon President Grants great achieve
ments as military leader we do not base
his claims for support as candidate Tor
reelection next November. In 1868 the
people turned with natural patriotic repul-
sion from trcacherous unstable leaders
like johnson, and recognized enemies Of
freedom, and congeners with dsunionists
like Seymour; and approaching General
-. Grants military success, aad the executive
a., ability with which he conserved the fruits
asof victory, laying the vanquished I'M
der substantial obligations both as soldiers
and citizens, they called upon him to lead
inpeace as be had led in strife, and glorious
ly under his leadership, has this truth been
deyeloped-tha ''peace hath her victories
not less renowned that those of war;"
He found at The capital and in every de-
partment of the public service demora-
8 lized agglomeration Of incompetents and
dsorganizers, who had been swung by Mr..
Johnson into places to which they had no
i claim either of loyal service or prominent
ability, while be was swinging around
the circle" looking for denomination, but
really digging his own political grave, and
writing his own political epitaph. The
loyalty both to country and duty which
has been infused by President Grant into
the civil service, is demonstrated fully and
conclusiyely by three remarkable coexist-
ent facts--reduction Of public debt, reduc-
80 ton of taxation, and reduction Of the cost
Of collecting the revenue. Sumner may
rail, Schurz may declaim, Irumbull may
sneer, but they cannot deny Or disproye
these substantive facts in the financial his
tory of President Grants administration.
President Grant as great military lead
er, might have been betrayed into the usual
military idea that the sword shall guard
what the sword has won. Peace was con-
quered by opposing bayonet force to bayo-
net force but whether we look at the Ian
guage of his ultimatum to the leader of the
Southern armies, General Lee or that
used by him when the brave volunteers
who had conquered peace under his COM