The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-02
THOROUGH SOLDIER, GDEAT MAN, BUT
ONLY AN AMATEUR IN PotIrIcs.


From the Litchneld (Conu.) Enquirer, August IL
All the while he was In the army and during the
eight years OF his presidency Grant silent
In the winter OF 1871 he began TO talk, and since
he has put the Atlantic Ocean between himself and his
fellow citizens he has proved conversationsst OF no
mean power Ono OF the most interesting newspaper
pages published has been that Grants CONVEX
sa,ions, reported by John Russell Young, in tho
NEW YORK HERALD. The ex-Prcsident may have n
tendency TO liquor and to low company, but he 10 no
mean man. He Is great and even brilliant General
Dnen moderate talent and good luck gain nigh mill
larry reputation In single campaigns In single bat
tles Thore Is nothing Of the mushroom, however,
about GRANTS military reputation. He Is every where
the same energetic, indomitabls, successful com
mapdor. with tha, wondsrsi capacity Tor turning de-
feat into victory which nrst disclosed itself at Shiloh
aud aiterward at Vicksburg, at Chattanooga and
1855
sidsrably below tho popular estimate OF their ability
The tactics oil Jackson, SO successful against raw
disaster, be thinks, had lie met such commander
ana such al army ms fought In the Shenandoah Val
ley In the memorable TALL campaign oil 1861 General
Grant should member, however, that the genus
Jackson displayed In The campaigns OF o2 might have
adapted Itself to the different conditions Of later years.
He might never have attempted with sheridan what
he could safely risk with Banks
one 2rety sure indication OF high talent If not or
genius, 10 Grant. 10 the confidence men like Sner-
man, sheridan and Mcpherson always had In him.
his generous treatment ana his praise OF them
The extraordinary efficiency or tho armies Of the
West which lie commanded was duo In no small de-
gree TO this excellent dsrstanding between Grant
and his subOrdinates. He could never have saw ed
shiloh, taken Vioksburg ana relieved Chattanooga
had his army been parayzed by such Jealouscs, such
want OF confidence and sueh lack Of generous support
m ruined so many successive commanders OF The
Army OF the Potomac. Tho evil effects OF mutual
ieaouses and half-hcarted support soon disappeared
alter GRANTS arrival East The relations between nm
self aud Meade were excellent and II he found loss
brilliant commanders than he left in the West they
nevertheless supported him heartily and always felt
certain oi just treatment In return.
GRANTS views are by TO means so valuable upon civil
upon military affairs. he is thorough sodier aud
great general, but mere amateur among pollticsns
He often shows tho sound nc undoubtedly pos
even In his civil Judgments but they are tor.
rbly warped by prejudice. There rs ne doubt that
Grant, though an honest man. lacks sound moral per-
ccptions HIS moral breakdown before tho war-so
splendidly retrieved during that con,est--leit It's
mark on the character OF the man. He had no pa
thence with the high moral aims OF Charles sumner;
wne, with that honest innocence which hall excuses
his error he still proclams his conndence In Benjamin
n. Bu,lsr
We place little confidence in General GRANTS renun-
citation OF poIiticA lie DOUBT dist xes war, but he
N 700 powerful man NOT 70 Ike high command whan