Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1879-09-11

N. c., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER II, Is

human but they ought to be care,
full not to alarm the county with
such sinister threats as are in
volved in the reasons they give for
insisting on Grant. There is a
profound and just belief among
Americans that they owed the re-
bellion to the unscrupulous love Of
power and political predominauce
which had grown up among the
Democratic leaders, and if these
had been accustomed at more fre-
quent intervals to a period in the
minority we might have been
spared a bloody and costly war.
But sensible people do not forget
that Republicans have in their
turn had long lease of possession
in Washington. The country has
not failed to observe the naughty.
intolerant, domineering spirit of
the Republican leaders at lhe cap
ital during the last winter and
spring, and it will not be safe-it
will he very unsafe indeed-for
these to go any further in showing
the American people that they are
seeking excuses for resisting the
popular will if that should next
year elect to depose them, and in
preparing the way and the means
for an act of usurpation. Ii that
once gets into the heads of the vo
ters they will sweep the Republi-
cans from power, and they ought
to do SO. We cannot afford to
keep servants in the house who
refuse to go out and begin to bar,
ricade themselves inside.
What could General Grant Go,
in any contingency or emergency,
which a civilian could not do as
we'll and better? "Keep down the
South 2" How do the Republican
leaders propose him to keep down
the South /? Not by unconsttu-
tional means, surely But if they
look onl, to constitutional means
then civilian President not only
answers every purpose, but is much
better for every purpose, because
constitutional methods are civil and
not military methods. The great
est and most momentouss war ot
modern times, the war OF the re
bellion, was conducted to a success
fnl close by civilian President,
and Mr.. Lincoln succeeded entirely
because he was a civilian, aud as
far removed as possible in thoughts,
habits and methods from military
men. The most widespread and
formidable riot this county has seen
the railroad riot of 1877, was put
down without difficulty under the
administration of another civilian.
President Hayes, himself almost, il
not quite, as purely civil magistrate
as Mr.. Lincoln. 1t is new doctrine
surely in this country that we nceo
a general at the head of affairs, and
we warn the Republicans that it is
doctrine which they ought not to
advance too loudly. because it will
bring them, and justly, into odium
But both Senator Hoar and Gen
eral Garfield say, and other Rcpub
licans hint, it may be necessary te
nominate General Grant because be
is a military man and will grasp the
Presidency if he thinks he is elect,
eG and about to be cheated out o.
it. But what have the candidates
to do with that matter-undcr the
constitutions Nothing at all. The
constitution, nowhere gives a Presi
dental candidate the auth ority tc
take possession of the Office if ht
shall imagine himcclf to have beer
elected. Not even the Presiden
in possession has any other duty t.
perform than to hand over the Office
at the appointed time to his sue
cessor, declared by Congress.
1t will not ! . for the Republican
leaders to be talking this kind .
nonsense. If they mean what the.
are saying then the only safe thing
tor the people to do next year Is t.
sweep them from power oy al
overwhelming vote, because evi
IDENTITY their too long possession c
power has rut dangerous and un
constitutional ideas in their heads
If they are only talking for bun
kun then they had better take car
lest the voters, jealous Of liberty an
peace, and justly resenting sue
hints of usurpation, take them to b
III earnest and visit upon them tn
popular wrath.
WheE the party in power begin
to talk about needing a general, 6
that he may put himself in otfic
and that he may "keep down" an,
body, that means that they are cor
sidering unconstitutional and exit
constitutional methods, which n
free people will or ought to tolerat,
-Nea0 York Herald.
Grant is expected to arrive
i San Francisco on the 15.h inst