The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-03
What Does Grant Mean

What does GRANT mean7 He is stolid,
and blockhead as regards civil admins
trntion. The ultimate source OF the mis-
government from which the country now
suffers can all be primarily traced back TO
GRANTS incapacity. or worse. He has
been the bulwark OF corruption from the
tart. lie set the example of overthrow
ing popular elections IN Louisiana by mill
tary force. He did the worst and wicked
est thing possible in that case. He has
now repeated himself in South Carolina.
The thing in each case is the last and
greatest outrage that can he perpetrated
against free government. II Is essentially
Cromwellian in style, and, carried out.
ends just where CROMWELL ended. II
overthrows the machinery and silences the
voice OF popular rule. GRANT did just that
In Louisiana, and he has done IL again in
South Carolina. CROMWELL did nothing
more. The difference between them, in
principle, is nothing at all. 1t is IA mere
difference of degree.
We do not give GRANT the credit Of hav-
Ing sense enough to form an intelligent
plan of composing the overthrow OF con-
ptitutonal liberty. But we do believe he
u Ntuh tupuEn 10 inlilh ut tdu pNtl lulOW
the Democratic party by military power.
He sees that he did it once IN LOUISIANA.
He thinks he can do II in South Carolina.
Add II he can do ii in few States why not
In the whole country?
AT present he Is not only at the head of
the army and navy, but is the head of the
Republican party. In usu ping power he
usurp II in their name. The usurpation
Ia thus cOnceives Will not he deeme per-
sonal, but partisan. In II he expects the
support of his party, not so much for HIM
self rs for themselves but which enures
10 his benefit all the same. Ii the present
complications result in ruling OUT M.
HAYES. aud circumstances become critical
he has been told, SO the report goes, by
the eminent ex-Attorney-Gener CALEB
CUsHISG his present Minister TO Madrid,
that il may become his duty TO hold
over"
Thus we think it ia altogether within the
line of probab ily that this heavy headed
man is meditatlns some conspicuous and
dangerous treachery to free government.
He is VIGOROUSLY blind aud inc ns stent in
his civil IDEAS. In the great Senatorial
contest over the famous Inhltion blil. n
few years ago, he told Senators FERRY aud
Morton, who were its champions, that he
would sign it. lie turned suddenly round
In night and vetoed IL.
When the third-term business was on
the carpet, he chung 10 the idea OF third
nomination with desperate tcnacity. He
never gave il up in word or deed, or by the
faintest hint, Till he was forced TO relin-
quish IL by the action of the Republican
National Convention. lie expected TO tho
hast that something would turn up in his
favor. When he issued his sudden order
from Philadelphia to have troops sent
South to superlntend the counting OF the
electoral votes necessary to continue the
Republican party in power. he uuqucs-
tonably had q vague vision that some
thing might come OF it to his advantage.
He was very warm IN his terms. and the
public were IA little thrown off their guard
by his apparent AIMS But it is now seen
that the object Of the troops was not TO
secure fair count, but 10 protect the Re-
turning Boards in making false returns,
that would insure the defeat OF TILDEN.
Though he has sad he means to inaugu-
rate HAYES by military force, # neces-
AIRY, after the Returning Boards have
fnudulently counted him in, he may
change his mind suddenly, as he did on
The Imitation bill, aud see some reason for
mterposing the army to prevent 30 ques-
honable proceeding. He has already, on
the two several occasions referred TO- in
rodaced the military force rs the con
rolling element in deciding popular cleo
lions, and why should he not do II again,
md f.r l.ta
We contend, in view Of GRAHr's "harae-