Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-06-05

Hamilton Fish to have spoken in
other than terms of personal praise of
Ulysses Grant. 1t was less honorable
in him that, in praising Grant, he
should have dropped disparagement
upon the name of Charles Sumner.
| heard from Charles Summers own
lips the entire tale of his personal as
sociation with Grant, and of Hamilton
Fish's personal part in the affair.
After making due allowance for all
human infrmity in the three men,
one inevitable conclusion remained
that the mental arrogance of Sumner,
if such he felt it to be, was less insufler-
able to Grant than the immeasurable
moral and mental superiority Of
Charles Sumner himself.
Nothing so unerringly marks the
intrinsic fibre of mans nature as the
quality of the men whom he chooses
as his nearest companions. The strong,
crude, narrow forces of Grants mind,
fought instinctively the the broader,
higher ideas of great men. Their
simple admission put his own at dis
count.
Mighty in the brute force that holds
and propels armies through seas of
human blood, he was selfish boor in
the use of the finer weapons of mind
and spirit that max and unmake the
peace, the purity, the prosperity of
nation.
The people have but to know and
to remember the character of the men
lifted and held in place by this man
that their abuse and degradation of
political power made the administra-
ton of Grant memorable rs the most
corrupt in the whole history Of the
Government-to make it impossible
that like administration be ever re-
peated as national afIiction. The
report has been brought back from
India that General Grant will refuse
the nomination. Why? Not except
ing his friends and admirers, does no.
body believe it. Why? Simply be.
cause everybody who knows the man
knows that he not only will accept
third nomination, but that he expects
it. So blinded is he by adulation, by
lust for perpetual power, by the flat
terry and promises of the toadies and
office seekers whose future Importance
hangs upon his re-clcction-which by
day and by night they are manipulate
ing-hc can no longer see that his one
chance of honor with posterity lies in
his speedy retirement as soldier. Let
him in such retirement make the rcpe-
tition Of the failures, the mistakes, the
sins of his civil ADMINISTRATION, forever
impossible, and the tarnished repute
of the Executive may yet be covered
by the lustre of the soldiers name.
The New York Herald, which, the
world knows, is so devoted to his fame
that it has sent polished Boswell 10
proclaim it round the entire circle of
the earth, vet declares that, if General
Grant wishes to perpetuate it undi-
minished, unclouded, upon his return
he will retire, crowned with soldiers
fame. There is certainly one pen that
will never follow him into such retire
ment with one line of reproach or ac-
cusation.
But let no man assume to arraign
me for writing the truth of n man
who, standing at it, head, yet through
self-love, allowed the Government of
his country to be administered on the
lowest plane of selfish greed and cu'
pidity.
Neither Grant, or any man politi-
cally or personally identified with him
in Washington, should ever be made
President of the United States. Sure
ly the nation is not so poor in manly
honor, in exalted personal probity,
in Executive worth, that it can find
no man available" as possible
President outside of the hungry
hacks" and "bummers," political,
who have been perpetually posing and
masquerading for the Presidency for
the last five years.
| love my country, love its people
best of all, love its honor. | cannot
live so close to it, heart to see it dis
honored-accursed rs have seen it
by the men who assume to govern it,
without consecrated protest.
| do not overestimatc the force of
any word Of mine. 1t may drop far
short of its mark; it may reach but
one human mind but wherever it
falls. it shall be the priceless seed of
truth.