The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1876-12-13
What Is President Grant Driving
At?

! now become riddle. What motive
can he have for violating the constitu-
ton, as he has so palpably done in
South Ca,olina7 Apparently he has
| nothing to gain if he is acting in good
faith. It makes little difference to
him whether Mr.. Hayes or Mr.. Tilden
is the next President of the United
States, if he contemplates quiet re-
tirement to private life. If he is to
descend to the position of one citizen
among forty millions, and is to pass
the remainder of his life with no more
political power than belongs TO his
simple vote, what explanation can be
given of his recent conduct? His un-
warranted interference with the South
Carolina Legislature is a perfect enig-
ma, unless he has some Interior design
which is not yet avowed.
Tie opinion of the Presidents char
aCter and estimate of his ambition
which impelled US to warn the country
against the danger of Casarism was
not formed on slight grounds, and it
remains unchanged. Our apprehen-
sions were a|layed after the impeaclt-
ment of Belknap and the indictment of
Babcock. We were then too glad to
drop the discussion of Casarism, be-
lieving that the great danger was past.
Past it would have been beyond all
doubt had the candidate of either of
the great political parties received a
decisive and unquestioned majority in
the Presidential election. But, unfor-
tunately the Presidential contest was
Lot so clearly decided at the polls as
to compel both parties to accept the
result. We must await the action of
the electoral colleges before we reach
any definite result at all, and there is
4 strong likelihood that the result may
be disputed. 1t seems probable that
the Senate will claim that Mr.. Hayes
is elected and the Hcnse that Mr.. Til
den is elected, and that with two
claimants for the Office, an excuse may
be found for cutting the knot with the
sword. II the dispute comes to that
pass the man who yields the sword
will be master of the situation. We
have too much confidence in the good
sense and self command of the Ameri-
can people to believe that there will
be any rasort to force unless there
should be q deliberate shaping of
events to that end by the Commander
n-Chief of the army. The main source
of anxiety in this conjuncture is the
fact that the country has no confidence
that President Grant will refrain from
employing the army in violation of the
constitution in South Carolina, what
guarantee can we have that he would
not trample it under foot everywhere ?
If events should reach such a pass 10
Washington in the latter part of Feb
ruary that Mr.. Hayes is dependent on
President Grant for his Inauguration
how can we have any assurance that
he will not attempt to put aside both
Hayes and his competitor and make
that final stride to C1sarism which
would then lie in his power9 When the
constitution ceases to bind him, what
limit can be set to his military bold
ness7 If lie has no hesitation in using
the army Illegally to support a man
like Chamberlain, why should he hest
tate to use it tor himself9 From the
moment that the Rubicon is passed
from the moment that the constitution
ceases to be res raint, it depends on
the mere will of the President to de.
eide how far will be 60.
Some tempting lures have been held
out to ambition in the excitement o.
the last few weeks. Mr.. Cushing, who
has SO much of the Presidents confi.
dence that he nominated him, for Chic
Justice of the Supreme Court, has ex
pressed the opinion that a crisis may
arise which will make it the duty O.
Gen. Grant to hold over until there
can be another Presidential election
Mr.. Cushing is an adroit and accom-
plished courtier. He has had the am
pliest opportunities for studying ant
understanding President Grant. NJ
man is better qualified to judge villa
would please him. Mr.. Cushing Gun
ningly put into Gen. Grants head al
idea which probably had never occur
red to him before. He suggested ;
possibility calculated to revive thu
E long cherished ambitious hopes which
seemed to have been extinguishet
when affairs took such turn last win
ter as preclude denomination o
President Grant by the Republican
National Convention. The Presiden
has an obvious motive for getting
things into such middle as to requir,
his Intervention. If Hayes should b'
declared elected, in spite of a genera
belief that Tilden is entitled to tn
place. Grant would have every ad
vantage for perpetuatlng his own pow
er. His employment of the army tt
defeat Tilden conciliates the Repnbli