Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-11-22
THE GRANT Room IN THE SOUTH.

given to gush. The hero of yesterday
is a favorite to-day and forgotten to-
morrow. Gen. Grant has been around
the world and has been received as a
distinguished though untitled ,guestby
the crowned heads everywhere. The
abrasions of time have worn out what
ever prejudices the people of the
South may have had against him, and
on his return they only remember the
good points in his character and the
magnanimous acts Of his life. All Bit
terness has long since been allayed and
feeling of admiration for the soldier
citizen and ex-President takes
It's place. We are too much given
to the chivalric courtesies of
life to cherish prejudices or
under estimate the worth of former
opponent. The more enthusiastic
Southern people have forgotten all
the horrors of war and remember only
its amenities and flags Of truce when
we snapped tobacco and sugar for
Yankee pocket-books and other jim
cracks, across the picket lines. We
have long since shaken hands across the
bloody chasm and now commence to
spell nation with a capital n. Hence it
is that Grants great American citizen,
with big ideas of our Importance
among the nations Of the world, is
hailed on his triumphal return from
abroad with real acclamation by a
considerable element in the
South. They remember how
he treated Lee and his soldiers at
Appomatox, how he travelled in the
South afterwards and made a very
favorable report, how he stood by his
personal friends, which is nearer q
negative virtue than crime, how he
withdrew Federal support from the
carpet-bag governments in Louisiana
and South Carolina before Hayes
came into power, how prudent and
dignifed he has been on his triI
abroad, and how pleasant, liberal anC
cordial since his return, and in theil
exuberance of applause, many are
really ready for the move
. ment and to support him for {
third term. The Grant boom i,
stronger in Georgia among Democrats
than in any other Southern State
The stalwarts Of the North are quit,
taken back and cannot understand it
They are almost ready to turn OF
Grant aud denounce him as a rene
gade. Not one word has been uttered
by the returned ex-President to in
dicate that he IL in sympathy with thl
revolutionary elements of hi
party. Two classes Of Southern
men applaud him: first, the ex
Confederates, who simply ad
lnire as soldier, and second, class 0
politicians who are impatient unde
repeated defeats and would jump a
any movement that promises ofiic
and return to power. We do no
regard the cordial feelings expresse,
towards Grant in the South as an
evidence that the masses desire to tax
him up as a presidential candidate
but the movement is construe,
to mean new political departur
and the South will get the credit 70
it-as a matter Of fact it would be yer
unfortunate for the Democrats to tax
I'D Grant. 1t would be regarded as
mere matter of expedieucy, as in th
nomination of Greeley in 1S7!
and another terrible Inconsistency
1t is more important to adhere t
principle than to gain temporary tri
nmph by means Of doubtful propriety
We have never recovered the effects {
our folly in nominating Greedy. Tha
defeat killed him and came very nea
killing the Democratic party. ]
talk about supporting any Republica
now is to admit that we have bee
wrong ever since the war, and that tn
Ohio election has crushed out whG
little hope we ever hSd. We are nc
over sanguine that Democrat ca
be elected President next tim,
BE that as it may, we can live an
prosper under the government. If
Repub blican is to be chosen, of cour'
we have some preferences; as betwee
Grant and such men as Blaine an
Sherman, we. believe the masses
the South, and especially the ex-OoT
federates who know how to appreciat
asoldier, would infinitely prefer Gran
He has never maligned the South, bl
has treated her leading men wit
respect, and has been oourteoI
and candid in his dealings. W
have opposed the third term id,
and do still, but the FIRST term of
northern stalwart is more to be drea,
ed than a third or fourth term
Grant. The boom in the South "
regard as something purely sensation
and phenomenal. which will soon e,