New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-12
President Grant and His Enemies.

| In the Arkansas troubles the aGministra
| ton yielded to the viii of Congress. In the
| Louisiana difficulty it supported the com
promise which had tine ind dorsement Of Con.
| gress. In no case has the personal wish of
| the President or his personal opinion been
| opposed to the direct or implied verdict OF
the legislative branch of the government.
| When, as in the Louisiana imbroglio, there
was doubt as to the course, he should pur-
| sue, he appealed to Congress for direction,
and failing to obtain definite response,
finally adopted pulley which afterward
received the cordial approval of the Repub-
lican party in that body. While manv of
his recommendations have been more pro-
gressive and far in advance of the courage,
| 80 to speak, Of some Of the Republican
leaders. he has never asserted the slightest
indication OF unwarranted independence of
action. Carefully complying with existing
laws in every regard, he has withheld mill
tary aid when improperly sought. has de-
clined to interfere, as ia the case Of Governor
Davis, of Texas, tor the purpose of depriv-
ing his political enemies OF the benefits of
an equivccal success, and has only used the
military arm Of the government TO maintain
peace and aid in the preservation Of law
and order. For this, AZ we have said, he
has received the thanks of Congress and
lnnumetable expressions OF confidence and
good will from other sources. Nevertheless.
he is denounced as military tyrant and an
arrogant usurper.
The opposition in the days Of John Quincy
Adams said of him as President: HE is a
schOlar-not q practical statesman" The
opposition now say OF u. S. Grant as Presi-
dent: He is soldeI-not statesman"
In truth. there is much that is similar be-
tween these two periods uf our political
history. The opposition to Mr Adams was
melted by band Of desperate politicians,
who proclaimed his administration to be the
most corrupt that could exist, distorted his
every act, and described his simple manner
OF life as "A lnonstrous imitation of princely
extravaganza. The executive mansion was,
characterized as palace fit for the resi-
dence of an emperor, and when the exag-
geration of these trifes was exhausted,
falsehOOds were manufactured without
limit, with which to excite publ animosity
There were no incidents of his career upon
which to hang the charge of military des-
potism; but in all other respects he was
subjected to the same kind Of insult and
assault that We hear so much Of now. But
history has rendered verdict acquitting
him OF these false charges and connecting
his memory with much that is glorious in
the records of our national progress. Presi.
dent Washington was also derided and de-
nOnnced in his day. In short, our entire po-
litical history is but repetition of scandal
0us and bitter aDtagOhism on the part
of disappointed politicians with existing
administrations And this kind of history
10 merely repeating itself in the case Of
President Grant. Bat he may rest assured
Of the favorable verdict of the future. If
he should retire now from prominence as a
political leader or as an executive of the
nation, the provocation for the assaults
upon himself and his friends would instantly
disappear. His enemies would have nothing
to gain by malignlng his character, and the
love which the people bear for bin would
prove to be a sufficient recompense for the
features Of his, presidential
career. So long as he remains in office,
b however. the animosity of Jealous rivals,
the disapproval of political opponents, and
the Hnprinciple criticisms Of rejected office
seekers will be continued. We apprehend,
however, that they do not disturb him so
much as they are designed to DO. With
firm convictions regarding his duty, and
satisfied with the Endorsements his admins
ration has already received from the ma.
ority of the party which elected him, he
will be- satisfied TO pursue until the end of |
lis public service the policy which has so
brilliantly and accrpsaoly illustrated his
,ast SAreer.- Washington National Reput-