The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1876-05-20
Justice to President Grant.

We never favored the idea attributed to Prssi-
dent Grant of his supposed desire to occupy the
Presidential chair third term. Wsalways had
great doubt whether be himself aspired to such
an hsRor or would have accepted third nomi-
nation thereto. There was time when Demo-
cratic opponents, knowing his popularity and
subtle strength, fearisg he might be brought out
again in in 1875, strovs to unpopularize and put
him out of the way. Thus it was they continu-
ously harpsd upon ''third term" striving to
make the very idea of it sdisus and force Repub.
licans to nominate SEINE man whom they believed
must be weaker than Grant. Herein existed the
whsle secret. Now, after having it most posi-.
lively from his swn lips that he never csntsm-
plated transcending the example set BY Washing
ton, their batteries of villi6cation aimed toward
thar point are silent aud scandal il turned in
other directions with the same veHemous purpose
of injuring others, such as Blaine, RristOw, COnk
ling and Morton, prominently spoken of as aspi-
rants fer the Republican Presidential nomination.
Fortunately abuses ana libels heaped upon these
gentlemen have been signally rsfuted, passing
away harmless, except to the Hbsllsrs.
Grant assumed the Presidency of eur country
at q most critical period. We had emerged from
a civil war which naturally sngendsred sectional
strifes and bitter animesities. He headed the
victorious armies that conquered the rebellion
and brought rebels to subjectisn. Over these he
has been presiding as Chief Magistrate for nearly
-~;sbs szs~-v. Thnss -hn.a he avsrcama and
forced to lay dewn their arms unwillingly had
in their hearts no liking fer him and to a coz
siderable extent have not even new. They would
shed no tears at learning of his disgrace, or hu-
initiation, or misfortune. Herein lies the subtle
secret of their hatred Whole States in the South
and their citizens, almost without an exception,
hated and opposed the man who had been their
conquorer. They submitted only because they
could not help it, yielding to reconstruction
stubbornly, sullenly. This, Of course, was nat
ural and but the repetition of all past history
Nations and people recover slowly their kindly
feelings toward triumphant foe WAC has ever
prsad spirit long time to forget and forgive, to
let by-gsnes be by-gones and shake hands in
genuine kindness 'across the bloody chasm."
Uader all these circumstances we think Grant
has accomplished wonders in doing SO well as he
has. The nation in its entirety should be tank
fol to him beyond MEASURE. The day is csming
when, in our judgment, it will do him full JUS
tiee in conceding that at the head of our Unien
armies he saved and perpetuated what Washing
ten was instrumental in achieving as Commander
in Chief, nanely-the liberties of this great Re-
public an hundred years ago, SO that now, in
pride and with imposing grandeur, it is permit
ted to celebrate the centennial anniversary of
American independence Had Gen. Grant net
preserved this mighty legacy and precious boon
given by the ''Father of his country" we, to-day,
might be in blOod-shed and anarchy instead of
peace, prosperity and happiness, the pride and
wonder and admiration Of all civilized nations of
the earth, many of whose distinguished and hon.
ored representatives are among US, friendly Wis
tiers. Side by side, therefore, as the champion
of civil liberty, free institutions, protector of our
URien, our Republic and its sacred ensign, stands
President Grant with Washington in the same
achieved might have been lost had it not
been for the other. The heroic deeds
Of beth are baptized in blood and each
must be remembered with equal gratitude. Gen.
eratiens yet to come will not forget these things
nor these henored names.