Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-09-25
General Grants GreetinR.

felt welcome than that which was ac-
corded ex-President Grant by the peo-
pie of the far West, ut San Francisco,
on last Saturday. 1t is a matter for
general coDgratulation that the schem-
ing placemen the superserviceable
camp followers and the tag-rag and
bob-tail of the political slums did not
direct or control the almost regal ccrc-
monies which marked the return TO
his native country of one of our most
illustrious citizens. There was not
even the semblance of partisanship
exhibited by the two hundred thou
sand people who lined the streets,
blackened the housetops and shouted
themselves hoarse as Grant drove
through the streets of the Metropolis
of the Golden State. Flags hoated on
the breeze, banners innumerable mark
ed the course of the magnificent pa
geant, and yet there was not an inscrip-
ton on banners or flags which told of
the one-time political prominence of
the distinguished guest. Democrats
and Republicans, Workingmen and
Chinese, all We'd with each other in
doing homage, not to Grant, the states.
man, but to Grant, the soldier.
The lapse of time and his absence
from the scene of partisan strife has
mellowed the criticism which his civic
career justly challenged. 1t would be
a most grievous error to suppose that
the terrible blunders-blunders often
times bordering closely on crimes
which General Grant committed in
the eight years in which he ruled this
country with a rod of iron were en-
tirely forgotten or excused. The
shameless debauchery which marked
his administration, aud made the very
name Of free government by-word
and reproach, is written in indefacible
letters upon the tablets of the peoples
memories. They remember that, in
connection with Grants administra-
tion, which for their country's sake
they would fain have the impartial
historian ignore But notwithstand-
ing all these things, which like Ban.
quo's ghost will not down, the Ameri.
can people with rare generosity are
willing to overlook those blemishcs
which under the fierce light that beats
on public station "blackens every
blot" Far be it from us to attempt
to detract from the name and fame of
this great soldier. We cheerfully ac-
cord him the unstinted praises that
his military achievements and his re-
markable career deserve. But we
would be oblivious of our duty and
the truth of contemporaneous history
if we would endeavor to hide from
the scrutiny of the world the unsightly
scars which mar the picture Of Grant
as President. His fame as a soldier,
and his place as a bright particular
star in the armament of mighty war
riors is well assured. For his sake,
then, let us hope that the dark cur
tain which hides the grinning spectre
of his civil administration from the
sight of men may never be lifted. 1t
is doubtless the purpose of the old
ring, which was omnipotent in direct
ing the affairs of the nation under the
Grant regime, to drag their quondam
chief to the front as the Republican
candidate for the Presidency, in the
vain hope of once more snufiing the
tempting hesh-pots of power. In the
face of the traditions that come down
to us, hallowed by the memories of the
good and great men whose patriotism,
and unselfsh devotion to the spirit of
our institutions. rounded into symmet-
rical proportions our governmental
structure, these latter-day apostles of
centralized power propose to do vio-
lence TO the teachings of Washington
and Jefferson by breaking down the
time-honored barriers TO any man oc.
cupying the Presidential chair for
three terms. If Grant il wise he will
content himself with reposing upon
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