New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-03-03
PRESIDENT GRANT.

When Cen Grant entered the White House
eight wears ago, he was the most popular man
in the United States. Never since Washington
had President enjoyed so fully the refpcct
and confidence of the country, or owed 50 muca
to personal enthusiasm and 50 little to partisan
sui;it. His elevation to the Chief MagiStracy
was Dictated long in advance by the most
positive expressions OF the popular will. The
TWO parties were rival suit0rs for The honor OF
making him their candidate. The most inter
csting political question for some month,
before his nomination WAS whether he had
any political opinions, and the principal problem
chat weighed upon tho Republican party was
how it shGulI induce him to become its nom
ince. 1t is matter of history now that his
acceptance was secured 10y the promise of ~
second term-and we presume that 10 such
bargain was ever before made with Il candi-
date for Office j. any part Of the world. Going
to the polls under thcS" extraordinary circum
stances he swept the country by large MAORI
ties, and won the electoral votes of all the
States except seven. lie made his second
campaign when the Republican party was torn
by domestic dsScnsiOnS and dlscrrditcd by
gross maladministraton, but his name was
still so potent a spell that the popular ma
ioriy of four years ago was more than
doubled. Flattered, Toasted, loaded with
gifts, honored by the North which
he had led to victory, respected by the
vanquished who had faced him on the bloody
field, rcvered by the freedmen who looked
upon him rs a savior, hc began his course as
a civil ruler under the most grateful and at the
same time the most dangerous of auspices. \
wiser man might have been led astray by so
much adulalion, an experienced politician
might have been betrayed into the Gravcst
blundcrS.
To-day, when the General who saved the
Union III battle AL gave hope and strength
to the nation in the darkest hour of its his
tory, approaches the end of his long and
cycnttu admini.tiaiO there is 10 disposition
20 remember his errors and shortcomings. The
sense or gratitude, planted in partisan conflict,
rcvivcS. He passes from the stage amid the
universal applause. Kindly and admirng
looks follow him into retirement The popu-
lar heart, always substantially true to him,
warns with appreciation Of Il character strongly
marked hv traTS of greatness and diStgurcd
only 10y faults which history is certain to OBJ
ltcratc. Even the errors Of his political
! course already ish0w in fainter cOorS. They
were, after all, oyil tendencies more frequently
than permanent and positive wrongs which
provoked the bitter criticism of the Rcpubl-
can opposition; and now, when we see reason
to hope that those tendencies have been counter
acted by change of party policy, we can
forget transient quarrcls; our memories rest
rather upon the sub. tantial achievements of
the past eight years, the careful management
of the finances, the reduction of debt and
taxes, the slow yet steady improvement in the
condition of the South, and chiefcst of all the
magnificent success Of a foreign policy which
will hereafter be the admiration of the world.
The time has not vet come II fact to judge
Gen. Grant with strict justice. We are too
near the glory of his military victories and
the disappointment of his political errors. He
has displayed some of the qualities of great
governor, and many Of the qualities OF bad