New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-02
Especial Correspondence of tho Republican,
NORTHERN POLITICS.
The Ono Honest Man.

NEW YORK, Apru 20, 1917.
The New York Tribune has come forth in
leading editorial eulogy upon the Presi-
dent. The fact that this eulogy is extorted
makes it all the more significant. The fact
that it is the eulogy of the lone supreme
aualific a.ion for public usefulness II quote
from former article from the same paper),
makes this eulogy the more Important. In
order that may not be charged with
either misquoting the language or miscon-
oeiving the meaning of the article in ques-
ton, l here reproduce the article itself. I
ask the attention of your readers to it;
1t 10 matter of satisfaction to us, as it
is to all that large body of liberal and inde-
pendent thinkers for whom We speak, that
the investig gaeions Of this winter, pushed in
every possible direction, have left Grants
honesty above suspicion. The closer the
various scandals are examined the clearer
does it appear that the Babcocks. Belknaps.
Shepherds, Orvil Grants, and other people
Of that sort, have grossly lll-used the Presl-
dent, upon whose confidence and kindness
they have traded. And the people, who
are great deal more sensitive respecting
the character of their chiet magistrate than
he seems to be himself, will not thank any
body who invites them to believe that
Grant is q swindler and his Cabinet
den of thieves. We beg our Democratic
friends, therefore, to moderate their unruly
rage, and to spring no more scandals upon
disgusted nation till they are sure about
the facts.
only have full confession, but We have
definition Of the rarest Of all honesty, the
honesty which stands proof in the midst of
daily temptation, Of temptation on all hands
and of the most insidious character. The
young man who, sheltered by the moral
restraint of mother and sister, remains pure
and temperate in one thing; the youth who,
exposed to the worlds temptation and the
corrupting influences Of evil companions,
retains his purity and self-respect, is quite
another. The man who can stand behind
the counter of q drinking saloon from year
to year without tasting liquor, can be relied
on as q temperance man. The virtuous girl
who Is often driven by necessity to accept
work in house of ill-repute but who soon
there makes her character shine as light
in the midst of darkness, is a woman to
whom man can entrust his honor with
perfect eafety. So of men who have been
tempted by the possession of positions of
trust. The temptation is not only test Of
character. bat the temptation being over
come adds to the strength Of the character
of the person who has thus overcome the
seducrions of evil. And if ever any two men
on earth have been subjected to the trial by
temptation incident to the possession of
place and power and patronage, those two
| men were Abraham Lincoln and General
Grant. Grant, like Lincoln, is q man of
heart-conhding and unsuspecting. Like
Lincoln he has been forced by circumstances
to select confidential political and official as
! sociates and to employ thousands of agents.
| Like Lincoln, he has been surroun led under
| these circumstances with venal, corrupt
and trcacherous so-called friends, who have
| abused his confidence and traded on his in
| fluence. And now when the whole truth is
| ..L... .Lv uass VI soCIai, UInclai
| and political corruption is laid bare, the one
honest man, whose integrity is placed
| beyond question, is the man whom every
Democratic paper in the land almost has
I L
dent of the United States. The Tribune
saws truly that this fact will carry thrill
of pride and satisfaction to the heart o.
every American. Aud we'll may it do SO.
The policy Of the Tribune now is 70 TAKE
q new man whom it supposes to be homes
and place the new man at Washington, tt
be Immediately surrounded by new swarm
of flies. This new man is to be subjected
to the ordeal which has tested the pure
gold of Lincoln and Grant. What assur
ance have We that the new metal will b'
able to stand this severe refining" process
Henry Clay once said, when his fdelit.
to principle defeated him for. the presl
dency, that he would rather be fright" thar
President. Il can now be truly said of Gen
eraI Grant that he was too honest for tn
presidency of the United States. Is.