The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-08

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great meeting of citizens at the Cooper In
stitute on Monday evening" to express the
public sentiment of this community on the
recent extraordinary proceedings in Louisi-
ana, should arrest the thoughtful attention
of President Grant This call is signed by
our most eminent and respected citizens, in
Guiding such well known names as William
Cullen Bryant. August Belmont. William NJ
Evarts and many others of similar standing.
The President has reason to distrust his judg-
ment and review his conclusions when the first
citizens Of this great and enlightened metrop-
oils find grounds not only for Disappearing
of his conduct but for uniting in an appeal to
their fellow citizens to assemble in great
public meeting to give united expression to
their condemnation and raise voice of alarm
and send it far and wide through the
country. The President cannot affect to ig-
more or undervalue such demonstration, sup
ported by such eminent names They express
the almost unanimous public sentimen. of
this great city on subject which the en-
lightened part Of our citizens are as compe-
tent to judge of as President Grant or any of
his advisers. They feel that public liberty is in
peril that the unexampled use Of the army in
breaking into and dispensing the Legislative
body Of sister State in peaceful session is a
blow struck at the very foundation of our in
situations. The President is bound to pay
some regard to the public opinion of the
country. He ought not to be confident that
he is right when the best sentiment of the
best classes condemns him. 1t is at least his
duty to pause and reflect. and to re-examine
the grounds Of his unprecedented action.
Can he believe that citizen of the
venerable age calm wisdom, republican
sympathies and elevation of character
of Mr.. Bryant whose name heads this
call, would cooperate in movement which
his Judgment does not approve? Would
Mr.. Bryant lend his reputation to vulgar
partisan movement? Nobody can believe it
of him or many others Of the distinguished
and sober minded citizens who feel it their
duty to arouse the country to sense Of i'm
minent public danger. The President will
soon see that he is not supported by the senti-
ment of the country, ard that his unparal-
leled course arouses the apprehensions Of the
people es no other public event has done
since the firing on Fort Sumter. Can he think
it possible that he is right when the wisest men
OF the country declare him SO dangerously in
the wrong? We trust that this demonstration,
which expresses the soundest opinion of the
country, may be duly weighed by the Presi-
dent 1t is not safe for his reputation to dis
regard the sober judgment of his country
men and persist in course which all our
wisest minds look upon as fraught with the
gravest peril The moral earnestness by
which this strong reprobation of his policy in
Louisiana is supported challenges his notice
and has claims to his most careful con.
sideration-
This respectable and influential call ought
to convince the President that there is limit
beyond which no public officer in this repub-
lican government can go with impunity. The
people do not forget the services of General
Grant they do not grudge him the fame he
30 fairly won as the commander of their armies
in the most momentous crisis of our history.
It is due to him more than to any other man
that we possess an undivided country. twas his
military genius that reunited sundered fed
Grafton, and the great body Of the American
people are disposed to pass a lenient judy
ment upon his occasional mistakes in civil
administration. But they would have him
remember that their rooted attachment to
constitutional liberty is deeper sentiment
than personal admiration and gratitude, and
that no past services, however distinguished
and brilliant, can atone for a want of
fidelity to the spirit of our free institu-
tons or release him from his solemn
oath to ''preserve, protect and defend the
constitution of the United States In his
first inaugural address he declared that he
would have no policy to enforce against the
will of the people, and if this call shall re-
vive and invigorate that purpose his country
men will throw broad mantle of indulgence
and oblivion over his recent great mistake.
The eminent republicans who have signed