National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-06
CONFESSION WITHOUT REPENTANCE.

The New York Herald a few days since,
when the first news of the Mexican raids
came to hand, charged that the President
had procured or instigated them for the
sake of fomenting war with Mexico for
ambitious purposes. 1t seized the occasion
TO air its sagacious prophecies, which it
claimed TO have made in some of its Cesar
ian articles, and to warn the good, simple
people Of this country against the shrewd
but ambitious policies of the great dictator
in disguise Alas Alas The Democratic
Governor of Texas had either forgotten
the Eerald'S predictions or failed to place
the fullest confidence in them, and abso-
lutely called upon President Grant to pro-
tect the Mexican frontier from invasion by
the raiders. Now, this compels the Herald
to change its tune, which it does with great
reluctance The appeal of Governor Coke
settles the question as to the senuineness
of the raids for, Certainly says the Her
aid, Governor Coke, who was elected by
ga Democratic majority of nearly fifty
q thousand does not intend to play into the
Glands Of General Grant and assist him in
manufacturing a foreign war for political
purposes" Why, Of course not, you stupid.
A Democrat could not possibly be guilty of
anything half so vile.
After this our readers are looking for the
Herald to apologize for its false accusations
against the President, as any gentleman
would do. But it is all in vain. On the
contrary, sec what it does say but the
fact that the raids are real and extensive
% is favorable to the ambitious projects of
''the President" Have we any better au-
thority for believing that the President is
alphabetically inspired with ambitious pro-
iects than we had for the intimation that
he had procured the Mexican raids? Is it
not precisely the same authority? Is it
anything more than the mere say so of the
New York Herald, which has set its heart up
on having some Of its predictions come true?
So great is its anxiety in this respect that it
generally manages to record a prediction on
each side of every important question, in
the course of a few days, in order that it
may be able to prefer its claim for superior
sagacity in public affairs.
Another remarkable Characteristic of the
Herald is Its facility for ignoring its many
false prophecies. These are legion, but
they always escape allusion in its columns.
1t simply notes its true guesses, which are
perhaps equal to about one per cent of the
whole, and goes right straight ahead, like
any other old professional fortune-teller,
making more prophecies or telling more
stories, just as though it had never made a
mistake or told an untruth. Here is aspeci-
men of it: eff he (Grant) were to get up
difficulties with Mexico on false pretexts,
without any real grievance, his motives
would be too transparent and he could not
"stand before public opinion. Unfortunate
ely events, without any apparent agency of
"his, are creating a situation which may
''be easily nursed into hostilities, while he
"is seemingly acting for the protection of
"our citizens and the defence Of our from
"tier. 1t is quite possible that out of these
"border difficulties there may arise causes
"for just quarrel with Mexico, and it is
"only in a war waged with strong color
"of justice that President Grant could ex-
"pect the support of the country"
Is not this sad as we'll as unfortunate 2"
Why could not these events have shaped
themselves to suit this prophet? The
only reason, we are now told, the
President did not get up these disturb.
ances on his own account without any
"real grievance" was because it would
have been too thin. Public opinion