National Republican., 1876-09-12
THE AMERICAN LILIPUTs.

" 1t is not what men say that give" them
Immortality, but what they do, was the
rejoinder of Henry Wilson to Charles Sum-
ner after the latter gentleman had deliv-
cred one of his uncalled-f for philippics against
the Administration. "You and will be
"unhonored and forgotten when Grants
"name will be green in the memories of
grateful Americans" continued the Vice
President. Such was his opinion of the
merits of the great military genius of the
age, whose glorious deeds will form the
themes of historians and poets in all ages to
come. And yet, Notwithstanding the splen-
did record thus won from devotion to his
country's cause, there are charlatans and
unpripcipled nobodies who never seem
better pleased than when assailing and at
tempting to smirch the fair fame of Presi-
ident Grant, seemingly forgetful that in
their direful wrath they are aping the
fabled dog which bayed at the moon. And
yet such is the native greatness of the man
that he looks down with lordly indifference
upon his LIiputian traducers, and has
never even been known to speak harshly
of even the most malignant of them.
Under a monarChical system Of govern
ment man of the Presidents illustrious
antecedents would have sent his ass4ilants
TO bastile, OF had them dancing between
heaven and earth upon nothing; bu: not SO
with the American cheftsin who mar
shaled nearly million of men at his coun-
try's Capital when their services were no
longer required. ard relinquisbed his
authority. No man in America, or
in the world, ever had greater
authority, and no man of whom history
makes mention ever exercised that author
ity with greater modesty. The fact that he
declined to accept the sword Of LIE, which
may have been piece of mistaken elem
ency, and his prompt action in preventing
the execution of Jefferson Davis and other
srch-traitors, seems to have only given ad-
ditional impulse to the low creatures who
asssil him, thereby uumistakably proving
that the msgnanimity which he extended
the vanquished was undeserved. At a
period sufficiently remote to allow slight
intermiXturc of fiction with truth the epic
poet may describe in beautiful verse the bril-
liant achievements and touching generosity
of Grant, but as faithful chronicler
he cannot fail to record how an entire sec
ton, with their Northern sympathizers,
heaped contumely and abuse upon the MAJ
whose yalor defeated them, and who after
wards plead for their forfeited lives. The
glories Of Donaldson, Vicksburg, the Pen
insula and Appomattox stand in utter insig-
fcance when contrasted with the greater
victories of the peerless soldier when he
interceded in behalf of his conquered sd-
versaries. But as the great Lincoln had
it, these venomous Democrats are only
making history for themselves which they
cannot mistake. By the untruthfulness
Of their charges they are heaping
obloquy and odium upon themselves, the
result being the increased brilliancy of the
Presidents antecedents, as metals are puri-
fed by being subjected to the effects of fire.
No man in America to-day occupies more
exalted position in the estimation of his
fellow -countrymen than President Grant,
and no class are more heartily condemned
by the people than his trsducers. He saved
his country from diabolical conspiracy,
and the people will never cease to honor
his memory.
I" And kings hereafter may be glad to live
Upon the aims of his superfuous praise"