The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-11-30
t called on. but irm in his resolve not to seek

i h0nOrs for llOnOrs' sake,
| II any man ever had cause of complaint
and dependency on the account of the in
gratitude of those for whom he had toiled aud
made sacrifices, that mani is Ulysses S. Grant.
The very welsin was rung with the hawl OF
OF corruption and plunder' against him
and his administration through partisan com
bination and to attain partisan ends
This effort has been persistently made
BY his political opponents. iii combination
with fraction Of his own party, ito their
shame be it said,) to make him the scapegoat
for the few corrupt men who, despite of the
most cautious vigilance, creep into places of
official trust under all administrations OF all
parties in all countries. And yet never was
known so,great an cutlery with so little ex-
posure. With Hbuse of Representatives
SO overwhelming ahtagonstic, after nearly
nine months of Jealous investigation, with
opportunity OF research freely rendered, the
promised exposures have ended in surmise
and insinuatio9. The only discovery of maj
feasance worth mention was the self convic-
ton, tno thanks to the Star Chamber Com
mttees) Of one distinguished official. The
covert purpose has been seen through all the
time. The object was to strike the Chief
through his subordnates. But his name
and character have passed untarnished
through that crucible IN which the party al
chemist Of the times have tried to debase it,
and now like refined gold, they shine bright
Ell from rubbing. History must record the
fact that, considering the enormous amount
disbursed, the great number of those employ.
cd in the operation, and the vast area OF ter
ritory constituting the field of its perform
ance, there never was so little OF defalcation
and peculation since the dawn of our history.
now come to atportion Of Gen. Grants
public life we'll calculated to superinduce re-
Elections Of an unwelcome and painful char
acter. 1t is that period when the shafts OF
partizan maiignity flew thickest, and the
treachery of pretended friends YVES most try
ing. As the end OF his second term was ap
preaching, the popular mind, in looking
around for Il successor, was startled on dicoy-
ering how few among the magnates OF the
land there were who gave earnest OF possess
ing the peculiar qualifications required by the
times. The inquiry. was. who is competent
to the completion OF the great work OF recon-
structing and crystalizing the elements of a
permanent Union9 Who possesses suffi-
GENTLY the confidence Of the people in his
firmness, justice, clemency and patriotism to
enable him to compose the passions, resent
ments and jealousies of sections and of fac
tions? Who can rally with the greatest en-
thusiasm the friends of the Union against the
discontents and smonldcring resentments
growing out of the results of the war. that
still menace the peace and quiet OF the ma
ton? Whose election is best calculated to
bring confidence in the stability of the Gov
eminent, to maintain the financial credit OF
the nation, and to keep awake among the
sentiment of devotion to the Union ? With
out intending injustice to others, public opin-
ion soon concentrated on General Grant as
the chosen leader of that host on whose ban
ner was inscribed s'the Union, the Constitu-
ton and the enforcement OF the laws
When speak Of public opinion do not
mean that the fictitious public opinion man
ufactured by rings and combinations and
huckstering politicians. l mean that unbi
ased, spontaneous opinion Of the voting null
ttude-of the scattered millions, who love
the Government because it protects them in
life, liberty and property, an'l who look for
lirmness Of purpose and unselfish patriotism
in those who are to administer it. I am
aware that the leading politicians were OPP
posed to again nominating General Grant.
1t was natural they should be. Every fourth
year they become restless and impatient as
birds OF passage do when the period of mi
grafton comes. Expert political gamblers,
they are constantly calling for new shuffl.
and cut of the political cards. Each one OF
this guld-for guild it is, and its name is
legion-has his special candidate for the
Presidency, who is to take care OF him when
his favorite reaches the White House. These
men are to their favorites for the Presidency
what the attorneys are to. the barristers in
England. They hanover for calling con-
ventions, ma nipulate committees organize
cliques, Intrigue with newspapers, and are
great at letter-writing andin moulding bogus
public opinion. All this pack opened in full
cry on General Grant. They became en-
Unused in their reverence for the example
set by Washington. They saw Cesar put
ting by the crown with one hand and grab
bling at it with the other. They sounded the
tocsin of alarm, and proclaimed the public
freedom in danger.
THE GREAT MASS OF THE PEOPLE,
in turning their hopes to Gen. Grant. took a
purely business, common-sense view OF the
question. They had no purpose to merely
honor Gen. Grant. They felt that their in
terests and the interests of the country
would be safe in his keeping. The rever-
ence for the example of only two terms, set
by Washington, they regarded as a senti-
ment only-a sentiment not without force,
and which, in ordinary times, it would, per-
haps, have been best not to infringe, yet,
not to DC allowed to stand in the way Of the
itItiDit > SAFETY stliu buc PuoliC SOOu. 1hc
Democrats regarded it as u god-send when
they heard this cianor about Il third term
proceeding from factions in the Republican
party; for these factions regarded the mani
festation of the people in favor of a third
term as fatal to the prospects OF their sever
al fayorites. The Democrats caught up the
loud refrain, and for months the cry was
echoed and re-echoed that Grant was clutch
ing at imperial power. There was nothing
the Democrats SO .nnch dreaded az General
Grant's being candidate. They knew The
might and power OF his name; that 'one
blast upon his bugle horn was worth a thou
sand men,"
The plan was 10 drive Gen. Grant, to force
him, TO say that under no circumstances
would he allow his name to be used. The
factions in the Republican party gave aid and
comfort to the Democracy in decrying his
ambitious designs upon the liberties Of the
country. He was the lion in the way, to
.Lair f,vnrtas also and the connected