Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-03-30

similar way, ana now approaches the
end Of his second term 1t is true
that Islander and utilization have pur-
sued all our prominent statesmen from
the birth of the Republic until now
son, and Lincoln were. no exceptions to
this; but excluding the latter, proba-
bly, none of these were assailed with
the virulence and relentless persecution
which have marked the administration of
General Grant. We do not stop here
to speak of the difficulties which the:
President has surmounted, the victories
he has gained, the triumphs for the
Republic which have been wrought.
under his administration. We have
discussed them heretofore, and they
will become the subject of universal
panegyrlc hereafter, as certainl y as tbs,
nation shaI! endure hut or wonder
is that they should, seemingly, be so.
utterly forgotten in the, noisy clamor,
which reigns throughout the country
For four years the President has been
directly or Indirectly assaulted as cor
rupt,. designing, and unscrupulous.
We have seen and heard Of nothing
but denunciationr investigation. and in
qniry. The ends of the earth have.
been ransacked to lind evidence against
him, but to this day nothing has been,
discovered to cast shadow upon his.
honor or integrity He has been in
vestigated by his party friends and
found faithful even among the faith
less. He has been. pursued by his po-
litical enemies, and has met them with,
clear hands and an uninapeachable~
record. lie was,accuScd Of completely
in the warehouse irregularities Of New
York City, but his vindleation came.
with the testimony. He was charged
with being Interested in the gold spec,
uIations of Wall Street, but his &C
cusers, were driven into silence by the
evidence They charged him with
being personally interested in the
scheme for annexing. San Domingo,
bnt the revelations completely and en-
tirely exhonerated him. So it has
gone OF: assault after assault. accusa-
ton, after accusation. He has
been saddled with the,
crimes Of dishonest snbordinates.
though such thoraugh prosecution of
offenders was never known before in
the history Of the country. Himself
the chief mover IN the raid upon de-
fraulers Of the revenue, he has been
CHARGED With being intere sted in these
frauds himself :; ana though in obedi-
ence torhis order to Les 10 guilty man
escape men Of prominence and great.
influence have been, convicted,
and lined, and imprisoned, the
idiotic cry still goes up that he IS pur-
suing and purishiug hrs ,own associates
in guilt as if nature would not rebel
as such a course. and the convicted
lnen would not pull him down With
them if such were the tr1rth. And
now comes the fall Of the Secretary of"
War, aud the frauds in post-trader--
ships. There Is not The first syllable.
Of evidence to connect the President
with any Of these transactions ; yet,
we see column after column Of hints,
charges, ana innGenloes designed to-
associate him with and hold him res
poNsib2e fey these crimes His broth
err is summoned before Democratic
committee. and by rude attack and
shameful insult questioned, cross ques-
toned, and. abused The examination
is completed, aud is found marvellous
discovery THAT the President told ,
him at one time that an Indian trader
ship, was vacant, and that finally he
obtained that or some other post And
upon this one Of the gigantic fellows
composing that committee remarks that
the evidence against the President is
su.iicientto warrant lis in2e4chme nt!
Out of all the places of honor and
profit at his disposal none are given to
this kinsman but the brother is told
that an insignificant leadership is va
cant and for this he is once more as
aulted and denounced. We beg every
intelligent man and woman to take this
case home for one m)m9nt. let them
ask themselves what they would do in
snch a case, and then if they can let
them cast stone at the Executive.
But this is far from all Once more
the subject of gift~takmg is raked up,
and General Grant is charged with
accepting brides because he received
testimonials from grateful people be-
fore he had entered upon the Presi-
Dental Office Who thinks, Of assail-
inc General Sherman in similar way.
though he and his family have been
the recipients of far more? Who ever 7
thought of denouncing General Scott
or the Duke Of Wellington because
they accepted testimonials? Is not
the motive for all this utilization clear?
And shall cowarlIy public opinion.
yield to it and join in the uni assault 2.
We have differed from the President;
we still differ from him In some matters
Of public policy; but We denounce
these attacks as, gross, cOwardIy, UNI
becoming, disgraceful TO Us. as & peo- II
pie The time is approaching. when