Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-13
PRESIDENT GRANT IN AUGUSTA.

PRESIDENT GRANT IN AUGUSTA.
The arrival of President Grant in our
city to tarry few days is an event in
which our citizens without respect to par
ty feel high degree of pleasure. The
office of President Of the United States,
than which there is no more honorable po-
sition among the nations of the earth,
claims for its possessor the respect of the
American people. And when to the dig
nifty of the office the possessor adds the
weight of distinguished public service, of
patriotism proved and honors achieved in
posts Of danger and great responsibility,
then the President claims gratitude and
love for himself as well AS the respect due
TO his Office
president Grant comes amongst us quiet |
ly. No parade or ostentation attend him.
There is nothing to distinguish his appear
ance from that of any private citizen. No
decorations declare that he stands recog-
nized as the first soldier of the period, or
that he wields the supreme power over
forty millions of people. The close OBJ
server would look in vain in his appear
ance for the evidences Of that Casarism
with which one of the leading dailies of
New York is charging him in its columns.
He is a true representative of our republic
can ideas in regard to his intercourse with
his fellow men, preferring to meet them in
social equality, and to enjoy the innocent
pleasures of life and the companionship of
friends with as little of the restraints of
Office as possible. Rumor has been busy
circulating reports Of great events de-
pending upon this visit, but we imagine
there is little more in it than the hearty
goodwill that the President bears to Maine,
which nobly led off in his favor in the
political contests for the Presidency, and
Tor Maine men who have given him an
able and cordial support and fairly won
his friendship.
One year ago this very week Horace
Greeley came to Augusta and commenced
that remarkable tour and series of speeches
which characterized his course in the cam
paign of 1872. His party cry was ANY
thing to beat Grant He had gone bacl
on fair record of forty years. and becom
the candidate of party for whose princi
pies he had no respect, simply uniting wit
them because lie and they desired to defea
Grant. In the prosecution of their projet
Mr.. Greeley took the stump, making hi
first speech for the campaign in this cit
August 18th, declaring to his friends tina
he had particular desire to defeat, an
would defeat, at least two of the republi
can candidates for Congress in Maine an,
reduce the republican majority for Cover
nor SO that he could claim substantial
ly democratic victory Experience had
vigorous fight in Maine at the State cleo
ton. With the sagacity of veteran
politician he. knew that her vote in Sep
TENDER would have a vast influence in
other States. perhaps sufficient to turn the
scale. How Mr.. Greeley was disappoint-
ed and how lamentably his death followed
is well known TO our readers. The cleo.
ton IN Maine in September was Il stun
ming blow to him. He realized then the
woful mistake which he had made in con
senting to become candidate upon the
platform Anything to beat Grant" The
great popular uprising which he expected
TO make its appearance in the East failed
to appear. The hearts of the people were
with the hero of Vicksburg. The masses
of the republican party stood true to THEN
standard bearer and principles notwth,
standing the detection Of some of their
leaders, and Mr.. Greeley virtually gave up
thel hope Of victory after hearing from
Maine.
SO when President Grant looks upon our
peasant city this morning, he may be re-
minded that he is almost at the anniyersa-
~ OF his unfortunate rivals visit here
year ago, at which he started the cam
pa'gn which Terminated so disastrously for
the house Of Greeley. What the canture
OF Vicksburg was in the salvation Of the
Union, the republican victory in Maine in
1872 was in the success of Grant 60, -. coo
ond term. Few doubted when y,cLsh,.,
fell that the right man had been founa !.
command the Union armies and that IN
rebellion was doomed, and so few doubte
when they heard from Maine in septeu