The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-07-22
COLUMBIA, S. G.
Tuesday Morning, July %. 1873.


President Grants Proposed Third Term.
The circumstance that General Grant
received the surrender Of the Confede-
rate forces, has rendered Southern men
liable, in judging him, to the influence
OF error and prejudice. This it becomes
US to discard. We should aim ut the
same impartiality Of tre .tmept und
Judgment in his case as if wo were de-
Gliding upon the merit Of u character in
history. For ourselves, we have always
thought that the chief glory OF General
Grant was due to his conduct on tho
field Of Appomattox. It is pity that it
appears to have been wholly exceptional.
It was a moment Of inspiration, but it
exhausted the resources of his generosity.
Military men condemn or approve his
military career; one party contending
that he exhibited genius in combination,
fertility in e1pedients and resolution in
the field; another maintaining that with
the preponderating forces at his COM
mand, his success was only question of
time, and might easily have been e1-
.o-ted ct 81 earlier date, and with less
frightful loss OF life. Civilians may we'll
differ upon the question Of his policy as
President. The questions Of civil service
reform, the San Domingo annexation,
the administration policy towards the
Southern reconstructed States, particu-
larly that line of conduct more recently
taken towards Louisiana, the New York
Custom House investigation, the ten
denoy to encroachment upon the powers
OF the other departments Of government
and the rights OF the States, the inclina-
tion to Gao sarism; the nepotism charged
upon him, the endorsement of Colfax,
the back salary matter, the Objectionable
personal habits attributed to him, his
general un6tness for business, and tho
low sphere in which his thoughts dwell
all these, and hundred other such mat
ters. have provoked angry discussion,
and demonstrated wide difference OF
opinion. In our study of his character,
we have always turned for relief to his
memorable interview with General Lee.
There his conduct approached magma
nimity and true greatness. There only
has he taken the attitude in which he
oan bear to be regarded with enduring
favor by mankind.
General Grant loves power as we'll as
money. He delights in the pa 8 aantry Of
Office no less than in the pleasures Of q
man of the world. Aswas to have been
expected, if they will insist upon buck
ling the honor on his back, he will mako
no objections to serving the dear people
for third term as President It is i'm
possible for him to take broad view of
any subject, or to care for it in any other
than the present light. He is indiiler-
ent to the verdict of posteriiy. Like
Sir jonah Darlington. he cannot under
stand why he should do anything for
posterty. seeing posterity has done SO
little for him. H. would. therefore, not
hesitate to accept the Office Of President
for third term, aud would consider it
only his due. Indifferent to what opinion
may be entertained OF his wisdom or
modesty, either now or in after times.
Se!f-denial is not among his virtues.
The question OF his candidacy is before
the country for its opinion. There is
no tenable ground upon which it can be
supported in any State or constituency
which can exercise free and unbiased
judgment. For us in the South. we may
be shut mp to d narrow view. Will it be
better for US to support General Grant
for third term, and thus endcayor 10
propitiate his opposition and the ready
aud unscrupulous une against us of the
power which he wields. and which we
have 80 often felt, or to risk the conse-
quences of open, manly, straight.for-
ward opposition to him? Concession
and submission have brought us little
good heretofore. but it is q question
worth considering whether another
course would not bring us better result.
We will consider this more fully another