New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-01-01
The President-W Beecher Says of Him

We reproduce an extract from the speech
of Henry Ward Beecher before the New
England Society in New York:
Since General Grant has been the Presi
dent of the United States he has not had an
easy time. | think that, if he had bis
choice, he would prefer to go back and
fight the battle of the Wilderness over
again than to have to fight the battles which
have beleaguered him since he has been
President of the United States. l do not
propose to discuss now the merits or de-
merits of General Grant as he stands in the
light of the present day. | think we shall
not know what he is until after he is dead,
or until he is out of office ten or fifteen
years; aud in twenty years hence | think
there will be scarcely any doubt that for
general good, for sturdy honesty, for wis
DOM gathering with experience, he has
proved not simply a good President, but as
good a President as stands III the long list
of Presidents that have sat in that chair.
GCheere We oil were glad to take his ser
vices at the head of the amy, aad we did
not stint our praises over the services which
he rendered in those trying times, and it
was not his ambition that took him to the
presidential chair. He was q soldier essen
tally, and not an educated politician.
When he went to the presidential chair at
-
the impression which the whole people had
a most mi5chievou5 impressiOn-Was that
this government could be run by the CON-
mon people and the politicians be kicked
out. Now, when you can run mandatory
with all the trained operatives turned out
and Young wOrkmen put in; when you can
run commerce with all the wise old mer-
chants on one side and the inexperienced
clerks on the other side managing the bust
~ M, /
government of the United States by ex-
Guiding politicians. You ought to exclude
poor ones, as you would exclude poor ma
terials in every day life; but the govern
ment must be conducted by men who study
government; men who are not amateurs
but who make it the business Of life
There should he a public sentiment
that would make young men consecra tie
themselves to political economy, to legis-
lation, to all the great questions which
belong to and are connected with the
institutions Of such great people as
we are, and which they should make
their lie business; they would be politicians
in the better sense of the term-they would
be patriots; and, instead OF being excluded
should be the men on whom 10 lean and
trust. Now, General Grant went to the
presidential chair bearing with him this
foolish idea Of wping out the great mass of
the politicians They were described as
bargainers. and corrupt, and desiring their
own selfish ends. Doubtless; but if you
don't have a government until you have
angels to administer it, YOU will have
long interresnum in this country.
Laughter And the first mistake that
was made was made not by General Grant,
bat by the people who put him there,
who told him 10 90 TO Washington
and administer the government after
certain manner--and he did, and what was
the result The result was that as soon as
anybody else he saw his mistake, and he
began 70 leap tOwardsthe politicians. He
did not like them; he hated them. Ia
making his early selections of confidential
advisers | don't know that he was the
v isest man. lie was transplanted from a
C0ngendl to an uncOngenial soil, but my
impression is now that the four years he
has been there he has been learning, and
now he is better prepared to sit in the presi-
dental chair than any other we could have
selected. GApplause.l You talk to me
about a brilliant Observation-Disclosures is
all very we'll; but l think that man
may he an orator and not be handsome,
aud NAV be handsome without being an
orator
A MN may be a President witho4t par
ticle OF bliliiaDrv. and be wise, Steadfast,
Sagacious, sincere, standing by his friends,
Cut the hehtsts OF the party that
elected him: having his eye on the great in
tarcst uf the country, and not on his own
petty interest. Grant has one fault which
will never pardon; he does not know how
to cut a dash; Laughter. he does not
know nosg % make Il show tor the sake Of
enjoying j: he Is modest: he Is simple.
When he was called 10 leave the chair when
our lamented friend and neighhDr, Nj.
Greeley, Law il state be bluShed like q
school boy, walked down the broad aisle and
had the eyes Of the congregation fixed on
him. He was 10 me refreshing sight: bed
OF tuiius was not more refreshing than to
see q blush on the warlike face of the Presi-
dent OF the United States. He does not
make q great deal of show. He does not
like professions. II appear in uniform OF to
ma he speeches.; he IS taciturD: end the
American people could not nave put in the
presidential chair d man so unlike the va
rietv Of popular men as General Grant.
Our people do like show: nevertheless he
has grown and is growing IN the confidence
Of the great common people OF the country:
and my OWE impression Is that IN these t0Hr
wears he will show an administration that
will answer all the great ends OF wise al
| believed in General Grant
from the beginning: have never wayered
for moment; l believe in him more 70 day
than four Years ago, and when he shall
have passed another term and leave 1t
finally, all men viii consent thar he has
made a thoroughly good President; ard
you, gentlemen OF New Eng.
LAM. that the lons Of the man who main
rains the church in the White House Is Il
England laughter, and l have only to say
that If General Grant So a man