Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-09-22
GEN. GRANTS RECEPTION.

The GLOBE entertains very high regard
for Gen. Grant. 1t appreciates the service
he has rendered the country in the past,
more especially during the civil war. II
appreciates the skill he displayed in 30 order
ing his forces as to win victory almost from
the jaws OF defeat. He may not have been
great general. Circumstances may have
conspired to favor him; yet the fact remains
that he was successful. Nothing succeeds
ike success, is an old proverb, and the career
of Gen. Grant furnishes a notable illustra-
ton OF the fact. He succeeded where others
failed, but his success was due more to
altered circumstances than to superior mill
tary skill. He received a well-disciplined
army with which to fight the battles of the
east-an army trained by Mcclellan, the
greatest military organizer of this or any
other age. Each man knew his duty to the
full, and was ready to do it at the sacrifice
of all that he held dear. With an army
such as the army of the Potomac, all things
were possible, and under Grants leadership
that army accomplished all but the impossi-
ble
For what Grant has accomplished he is
entitled to our gratitude, and it is fit that
We should testify it in every proper manner
The reception accorded him at San Fran
cisco, however, was more like an ovation to
q god than an honor to brave soldier and
patriotic citizen. 1t was born of an I'M
worthy lmpulse-a desire to Guido the peo-
pie of foreign lands in their obsequiousness.
1t was manifestation of that most un- Amer
lean trait, hero worship-a product
of old world despotism where all the people
are compelled to bow the knee to those dis
tinguished in civil or military life. 1t has
been transplanted here in one of it's most
odious forms and for a political purpose
It cannot be denied, no matter what Gen.
Grants individual preferences may be, that
he has fallen into tho hands of the polite
ians, and that the chief motive that governed
his reception was a desire to bring him
prominently before the country as Presi-
dental candidate in 1880. This has long
been the purpose CT his partisans, who have
scarcely taken the pains to disguise it. But
their programme is not yet completed. The
reception at San Francisco is but one of
series to be given him as be progresses east
ward. The enthusiasm is being "worked
up in every town and hamlet through which
he proposes to pass, the Associated Press
being the medium through which
the politicians can effect their purpose.
That agency is essentially a partisan one;
grossly unfair in its dealings with the DEM
ocratic party, and manifestly partial to the
Republicans. 1t is more than probable that
the scheme will carry, and that Grant will
lead the forlorn hope of Republicanism next
year.
We would not object in the slightest de-
gree to the honors shown to Gen. Grant if
they sprang from an honest purpose. But
the transplanting of European and mon
archial customs to our soil is reprehensible
in the highest degree. Furthermore, the po-
itical purpose sought to be served is not a
commendable one. 1t is an attempt to force
an unwilling candidate upon party that is
unwilling to adopt him, aud at the same time
bringing in his political opponents as
agents to further the scheme. If Grant had
received no distinguished honors abroad he
would have had no enthusiastic reception on
his return home. Saturdays frenzy was
simply al imitation.