American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-10-04
The Wrong Man Held Responsible.

.,'iut vi iuc leUlOcTaIlc papers nave
censured with much severity the conduct
OF Lieutenant-Colonel Fred Grant, L. S
A, in abandoning his duty in the Yellow
stone expedition at time when fight
with the savages was imminent. On the
eve OF the engagement he left his post, and
following the example of the President
his father, sat himself down for iunketing
and enjoyment at Long Branch. And this
when his brothers in arms were exposed
to the murderous attacks of the Indians
1t would seem that brave man, intent
upon serving his country, would have
shared with his comrades the hardships
and perils of the campaign; but there is
much to be said in palliation of the con-
duct of young Grant. The force of the
paternal example is nearly irresistible.
From the time when as a ''plebe'' at the
Point, the young man saw that the system
of nepotism and Partially adopted by the
President would not only furnish him i'm
munity from punishment and official cen
secure to him honors and advancement
when competent and deserving men were
sighted and overlooked.
What was to have been expected from a
lad so placed and invested with such adj
vantagess Selfindulgence, Indifference
10 duty, disregard of discipline, evasion
of all distasteful service; and nothing
else. He is not TO be blamed for the
Partially and favoritism extended to him
at West Point by order of the President,
or through his influence. Other cadets
who enjoyed his friendship and were
engaged with him in the violation
of the rules prescribed for the gov
eminent of the Academy, were exempt
from punishment or censure under EXecu-
tive inspiration; and when it was sug-
gested that such practices would subvert
| the discipline and diminish the usefulness
of the institution, the President took ref
| uge in silence. We do not see how young
Grant is liable to special reproach in this
business. 1T is too much to expect of any
youth of ito great natural elevation OF
| character that he should decline the bene-
| fits and convenience afforded by paternal
| fondness, and voluntarily place himself
| in the same category with the herd OF
| boys who were surrounded by no such in
| tiuences, and had to take their chances
| for distinction and promotion on their
personal merits and academical prof
| cheney.
We do not understand that young Grant
was in any way responsible for the fla
| grant outrage by which his status in his
class was changed by direction from head.
quarters. 1t seems hardly credible tina,
such thing could have been done, but
the allegation is supported by the concur
| ring testimony of cadets and certain off
GERS of the Academy; and as there is moth
| ing in the history or character of the Pres
ident to render it improbable, we give the
particulars as they were stated to us, and
| more especially as the affair has such a
| close resemblance to the circumstances
under which young Grant was appointed
on Sheridan's staff and made Lieutenant
Colonel, overslaughing Il large number
| of meritorious and experienced officers
| simply because he was the son of his
| father.
In the early summer of the year wher
Fred Grant graduated, a list of the grad
uating class was sent to the War Depart
ment conformably to the usual practice
of the Academy, in which the rank of every
cadet was designated according to his pro
fciency in his studies and his personal
conduct. In this classification young
| Grant was placed low down as to
necessitate his assignment to the mos
undesirable branch of the army. Orders
| were sent from headquarters that the
young man must have "A better PLACE on
the list. Accordingly transposition was
made, and a cadet who had been formally
! and officially pronounced the seperior OF
young Grant in his standing at the Acad
envy, was reduced to position below
him, while the son of the President was
| so elevated in his class that he was eligi
bic, under the rules of the institution, tc
an appointment in a more desirable arm
of the service, where he now holds q
commission
Under these circumstances, and when
| it is considered that ever since he entered
the army the rules and regulations of the
service have been constantly disregarded
with a view to his convenience and pleas
ure, and that he, a mere raw boy who has
seen no service and is not distinguished
for ability of any description, has been
jumped over the heads of soldiers of re
pute and experience, submit that it is
| unreasonable and unfair to reproach the
young man for course of action un
doubleday inspired by his father, who
alone ought to be held responsible.
The favoritism, Partially, and nepotisn
of the Executive constitute one of tho
most disagreeable of the many unworthy
features of the present Administration
To be sure we have Scriptural authority
for the declaration that he who does moi
provide for his own household is worse
than an infidel; but we are nowhere TOLD
in the Divine Book that we are to make
this provision to the detriment of eithel
of other individuals or of the public a