Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-05-05
GRANT AND CUSTER.

The strongest evidence of nat
urally weak intellect, or mind en-
feebled by abuse, is an undigfed ex-
bition of spleen under any circum-
stances. This rule applies to mankind
in every sphere of existence, whether
when occupyinga a temporary station
of prominence or existing in the So
called lower walks of life. 1t has been
remarked that the best ruler was he
who best governed himself. Ages
have proved this axiom, and at the
same time and by as numerous expe-
riences it has demonstrated the truth
of the other saying that if you put
beggar on horseback he will go to the
devil. In General President GRANT
we have an illustration of both of
these maXims. Cumulative evidence
shows that he cannot govern himself,
at least so far as preserving the digni-
ty of the office he casually fills, and
the testimony as to the corruption and
malfeascence in high places comes so
near to what he would fain have the
throne, that he exhibits his baser in
stincts and meaner characteristics by
his unjust treatment of an officer
whose record as military man shines
out in the brilliant light of glowing
oil IN chad do 70
brightness, and no tarnish upon its
pure escutcheon. The careers of
Generals GRANT and CUSTER will bear
comparison, and we have no doubt
that he fears no investigation, wheth-
er of political or military character.
The fact that any Investigations into
the career of the former are distaste-
full, to say the least, lies in the fact of
his unwarranted Indignation at the
respectful response of General CUSTER
| to the summons of Legislative Com
mittee of investigation. In our form
| of government the three departments
have their several offices. The militia.
ry is the right arm of the Executive,
who but obeys the legislative,
under the corrective of the judiciary.
Custar was on duty under MS brevet
rank at the time the Legislative au-
thority demanded his presence from
camp. With proper and highly hon.
orable appreciation of his duty both
as a citizen and an officer, waving
any possible right that under the red
tape system might have been claimed,
as citizen he responded, and as an
honest officer and truthful man told
what he knew; add here comes the
rub. Here Is the cause of the Presi-
Dental chagrin and the executive vim
dictiveness. In court circles the truth,
it seems in our Democ attic days, must
not be told. God forbid-for if it were
as conducted under our present sys-
tenn and regime, the very words De-
mocracy and Republicanism would
appear as foul nuisance under the
nostrils of all honest men. From the
day of the famous Black Friday to the
present hour there has been hanging
a black cloud of suspicion around the
White House that has never been ex-
hibited under any other administra-
tion. AS to the military career of the
two regular army officers now stand
ing under judgment by the people, the
one made brilliant record as a COM
mander and the other by accident
stepped into an undue political PROM
inence, which has developed his natu-
raj instincts and left a tarnish upon
his military fame, won by chance, that
will carry the title of President down
to posterity with cloud about it that
cannot fail to prompt sincere regret to
the honest men of future generations.
GUSTAV takes his rebuke from his
Commander-in-C Chief with the grace
that is always exhibited by a
true man and honest Off
Ger. Bowing before the DEGREES of
a would-be dictator the gallant officer
returns to camp to engage In con-
test with savages more human in
many instincts than those who sent
him in nominal disgrace from the
capital of the nation to the wild from
tier. The manhood of Custar will be
honored by his fellow citizens every.
where, and his true exhibition of a
sense of duty, will bring him out
from what to military man of honor,
is grievous cloud, more highly re-
spected than ever, to be in the future,
more highly l.onored. The people
have already passed upon their case
and their verdict is in howise compli-
mentary to the accident who now i'm
periously rules the White House.