Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1879-11-19
GENERAL GRANTS BURLING
TON SPEECH.

The denial comes now Of the state
ment made some days ago that Gen.
eral Sherman had written to friend
in Chicago 20 the effect that when
General Grant arrived in that city he
had San important message" which he
would there deliver to the people OF
the United States. Naturally surmise
had arisen as to what "message" this
unofficial person could now have to
deliver to the people 1t had been sug-
gested, however that the message to
be delivered at Chicago would be
simply the declension of a third-term
nomination. If this conjecture had
been verlded, such an action on Gen
eral Grants part, in the face of the
fact that he has, according to the view Of
some, but TO say Eyes" to secure the
nomination and probably his election,
it would have raised him far higher in
the estimation of those whose esteem
is most valuable than any other deed
of bis whole life. Whatever may be
the personal opinions OF General Grant,
however, when or wherever expressed
it Is TO be hoped be will not indulge in
expressions similar to those expressed
by him in bis speech at Burlington,
Iowa, on Tuesday, and in his speech a
few years ago AT Des Moins, in the
same State. AT Burlington, speaking
to the pupils of the schools, he said
81 believe that il there ever is another
war in this country il will be one Of
ignorance vs.. intelligence | think
that war will be one Of ignorance and
superstition combined against cduca
ton and intelligence" The fact !,
there always has existed strife between
intelligence and ignorance--it is Law
OF the worlds progress. Therefore
unless the iteration of those words BY
General Grant is meant TO he the iirsl
note of new issue TO be raised on be
half of the "stalwarts," they seem {
mere meaningless collection of phrases
1t was certainly very loose talk for I
person Of General Grants well.knowI
discretion. When attempting to Civ,
political turn to such matter, tn,
. question comes up as to how anC
where to draw the line What is ig
norance and what is intelligence in th,
final analysisp There is an ignor
anco of history and civilization, sucl
as is manifested by the voodoo wor
Shipping negroes in Louisiana, and al
ignorance of moral obligations, lik'
that Of the Oneida socialists, and o
the distinction between meum ant
tulm, such as that manifested by som,
of the county officers in the State il
which General Grant spoke, wher'
several County Treasurers have o
late years been in default. "lntelli
gence" at Washington lately pretend
cd to direct ignorance" in Southsid'
Virginia to vote for the debt-payinl
candidates, but the shrewdness of loca
wire.pullers was able to control th'
voters created by Washington "inteli
gence, to the injury and shame of th'
State. Intelligence of the sort whicl
, can expect to be serviceable to th'
country and this day and generation
ought not TO lapse into such errors o
judgment as all this implies. To g
nofurther, theimpolicy ofsuch speeches
must be obvious to every one. Even !
they do nothing else, they let in {
food Of light upon the vital weaknesse
Of the "strong men" upon whom sun
dry politicians seemed disposed to pin
their faith General Grant in his las
annual message confessed ignorance o
politics as an excuse for blunders o
his administration, alleging that BIZ
time had mostly been spent in bar
racks. IT. therefore, the lines betweet
Ignorance and intelligence had beer
drawn very closely be might hav,
been shut out from ever being can
! didate for the high office to which b,
finally attained. But the fear is tina
the intimations in such speeches al
here referred 70 have sectarian ol
crusading bearing about thom. Bait
more Sun.
4 - 4.