The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-09


veai, or nity i've t55l cents month. posag, paid.
Gen. Grant as the Anti-CatholIc Cam
didate for President.
The delivery of the latest message OF
Gen. GRANT TO Congress marks one of the
most important epochs in the partisan his
tory Of the United States. 1t places the
suthor of that message squarely before
the country, not only rs n candidate for a
third term of the office of President, but us
. candidate on the platGorm-for the use
of that word seems to havo become allow
zble-of antagonism to the growing power
of the Catholic Church. lie stands forth
now In bold relief, offering himself for the
Notwithstanding the nOmination-of
that portion of the people, as yet unorga-
nized into "a political party, but which he
believes strong enough to elect their nom
inee, who will he controlled by their Prot
estant principles, predictions, or proju-
dices, III casting their votes.
Gen. GRANT Is an ambitious man. He
loves power. and hates TO relinquish It..
Al the same time he is not blind or stupid (;
and the manifestations of hostility TO any
more than two terms have been too general
and too decided for him not TO perceive
and duly estimate them. He saw that
nothing but some extraordinary influence
could overcome the reverence of the people
for the traditions of the past on this sub
ject. The feeling seemed fixed III the
heart Of the nation, aud it could only he
displaced by rousing Il stronger passion,
What could do thisl Tho financial ques
ton was important; but II was cold, and
could not kindle enthusiasm. war with
Mexico on account of the veXatiOns on
our Texan fTonticr1 II would look too
much like going to battle because we were
annoyed 10y IA dock OF mosquitoes. A war
with Spaiui This was "A scheme more
promising and OF larger proportions. In
this, however, he was probably outwitted
by tho diplomacy of Nr. FISH and Mr..
CUSHING. Moreover II is IA bone to which,
with the tenacity OF Il bull dog. hestill hang,
on-for lie tells us he may, not improba-
bly,. soon send in another and different
message Oh that subject. SO that, we may
reasonably conclude, If the effort 10 fan
into flames the embcrs of religious hatred
and strife shalt fail, the possible poteucy
OF war with Spain, to secure u thiid
term, may yet be invoked.
But nftor weighing In his own mind
with that Intensity of interest which arise,
from an oveI woening love OF power, The
chances offered by the several movement,
which It lay open TO him 10 make. Gen
GRANT has come deliberately to the con
elusion that TO stir up the latent hostility
het lA llVlftaTunf I..l IL
churches Of the country was the par
which held out the most eucouragu.
promises for ms own reelection. Huyinl
once decided upon this policy, he has IN
tered into it, not with the soft steD nnC
halting gait of "A timid, practiscd politician
but with the undaunted courage ana th
martial tread OF II military command +
He has taken his position, in no he,itatinl
OF doubtful terms He stands forth befor
the world to-day, rs clearly, rs squarcly
- determinedly opposed TO the Cathoi
Church, US lac WAS ia the time of tho wa
~ the rebel army.
II may be said that Gen. GRANTS frs
utterance on the subject was lttl
sloaked. We think, however, il was yer
plain. And he took great pains to max
Of the Tennessee at Des Moiues. Iowa, o.
the thirieth day Of September last. In n
his life, Gen. GRANT had never before mad
Q speech Of any considerable length. q
this occasion he wrote out his remark
IN full, and the style is so peculiarly his a
10 preclude the possibility of their havin
been composed by any one else. On tina
occasion Ae sald
-UDe are to h1re another contest IN me near I,,t,n
q four national ,yptence Ipreaict that Me dlr dug ~
s0H Noibt MASON aud DiNoS's, bei be zee, puirots
and Intelligence on he oi.e siie, and saDeiatR0a, dHl
easn, and iOHorGtce an the ohfr."
These words, spoken by IA Jealous, not :
say bigoted, Protestant, under the circun
stances meant that if we are to have M
other contestant Gen. GRANT had bee
referring 10 the contest Of the rebellion
II will be, not between the North and III
South, but between Protestants and Catl
olics. Such contest, he intimates, ma
take place in the near future" In III
near future, we all understand, lies III
next Presidential election; and that
course is the tmo when he means 1t wi
take place.
In his present message 10 Congress Co
GRANT is sim more outspokon, ana loaV,
open no possibility Of misapprehendir
his nearing. He recommends a consttl
tional amendment TO insure the educate
of all the children, in every State, al
thus guard against the control of "pries
ornft that Is his word. Prestcraft,
thus used by him, means the cunnir
Influence OF a Church, and II certain
does not mean the Protestant Churc
N Is, in substance and effect - al