The Portland daily press., 1875-01-21
A Strange Kind Of Caesar

Is tHere So IuuCu Sdlu aUOuL CbSdr dS loi-
merly? IF there has been any ''surcease OF
sorrow in the minds of gentlemen who have
insisted on seeing imperial tendencies in Gen.
Grants administration,-and we think there
certainly has been,-it is due to the Presi-
dents obstinacy in refusing to cross the Rubi-
con. If ever there was a ruler in the worlds
history who was careful to keep himself far
from that fatal stream, who refused to look
across it or even to come within sight of its
dismal banks, that ruler is Gen. Grant. We
should have no disposition to palate any
faults which the President might have. Our
readers will bear US witness that the PRESS
has not at any time been counted among the
court journals which hold themselves bound
of persons officially connected with it. But
it does seem to us that the irreconciable op-
position never engaged in a madder enter
prise than when it attempted to find in the
character or acts of the President menace
to the liberties of the Republic; and it is
time, especially in view of the extreme mod
Grafton OF the late message on the trouble
some Louisiana question, for the phantom OF
Cesar to disappear forever from the ranks
of political bugbears. "C@sarV Aristides,
rather The cant about a second or
a third Washington, in which the organs in
dulge, is preferable since it IS far more just
From the time when, at the beginning of his
political career, he promulgated that famous
loo fbof ha ho1 emo rolioU fO enforce
in opposition to the will of the people," to
the middle of his second term, he has never
by one word or act indicated purpose or
disposition to assume unlawful authority, or
to exalt the military over the civil power in
the administration Of the government. In
stead of increasing the army, as Caesar
must, he has acquiesced very flandly in the
policy of reducing il till it is little more than
an army of brigadier generals-all officers and
no rank and file. And SO with the navy.
When the President has been called upon for
troops to repress domestic violence in the
southern states, he has in every case insisted
upon an exact compliance with the require
ments OF the constitution and laws in making
the demand upon him, and has then granted
the request with extreme reluctance. When
it has been question between his political
friends and opponents, he has, when justice
required it, decided for the opposition, as in
Arkansas. Was that done like Cesar? And
instead of eagerly availing himself OF the dis
turbed condition Of the South as an excuse
for stretching the executive authority and
accustoming the people to the spectacle. OF
the unwarrantable interference of the gen
eral government in the affairs OF the
states, we have seen him for two years past
coming to Congress as suppant. begging
that body to make his duty plain by statute
so that there might be no necessity what.
ever to exercise his own discretion. In the
Louisiana business, whether his subordi-
mates have done well or i'll, we do not see
how any reasonable man can find fault with
the President. His message has slenced all
but the irreconcilables. al4 tH
AS matter of fact Gen. Grant, if not 9
man of genius, is at least model consiitu
tional magistrate and in this respect his char
acter is TYPICAL We have no doubt that, in
after times, his memory will be cherished es'
pecialIy on this ground instead OF bearing G
the curse and stain of selfish ambition. Be.
cause Gen. Grant is famous soldier bis
enemies have insisted on believing that his
instincts are favorable to arbitrary procedure
and personal government. Their Caesar Is
creature of their own imagination. The
powers of the Republic were never in safel
hands. Not one of lis predecessors has ex
hibited more disinclination to extend the
limits of his authority by engaging in a for
eign war, than Gen. Grant. And what one
has been more modest, more scrupulous, OF
more conscientious in his respect for the CO.
ordinate branches of the government we
have no need of Brutus here, and the
Cassius of the Tribune and the Casca OF the
Sun will encounter great difficulties in find
ing one to aid them in their attempts at
moral assassination. ae 'l uf, iia'