Louisiana capitolian., 1880-04-10
HoIoas 70 GRAFT.

States. -
All OF this pomp and display at this
time are not without design. It Il y
deliberate plan to manufacture popu.
lar sentiment and shape public opin-
ion in favor of a thi,Mternl. It is be-
lieved that the American people are
dased By the magniAcence and splen-
dor Of the receptions rendered their
distinguished fellow citizen BY oil tbs
nations Of the earth, and that in him
is scentered that greatness which should
command an outburst Of popular en-
thusiasm in his behalf that must ter
inmate In his elevation to position and
power for an indefinite period At time.
But it should be remembered that
the tribute pald to General Grant BY
foreign powers WAS not to his quail
ties and eminence ~ an American
statesman, q civilian, a philosopher, :
scholar or philanthropist. II was hts
fame as a successful military hero
alone that elected the adulsti0n ofthe
kings and monarchs Of tho world. In
their estimation military genius is
transcendent and OvershadOws all
other human qualities.
Can it be imagined that the corrup-
tions Of the Grant administration,
himself implicated in the disgracefal
transactions Of Babcock, Belknap,
Borie. Williams, Shepperl..and other
disreputable associates were unknown
to the outside wor.di Was not the
government conceded everywhere to
be q personal one, arbitrary and die
tatorial, setting at defiance the Con-
stitutiOn and the laws Of the land
and treating with contempt the rights
Of tho peoplei Certainly no glory
or credit attached to the civil rule Of
General Grant, either at home or
abroad. His fame and the honors.
paid to him rest entirely upon his
military success. Strip him Of that
and he stands before the world with
out an attribute OF greatness or an
clement Of merit.
The day for the services Of military
men in the government Of this coun-
try has passed, more especially if
they have no other qualifications to
recommend them. Hence all the at
tempts to inAict Gen. Grantagain up
Oh the country, simply because Of his
military renown, will fail, and his
parade through the country and exhi-
bition of himself will only confirm the
people in their belief that it will not
be safe tn entrust him again with the
responsibility Of their government.
The popular demonstrations in be-
half of Gen. Grant in these parts Of
the country where his political party
| is dominant and where he is regarded
as the saviour Of the Union, are not
inappropriate or inconsistent, If the
people see tit TINS to express their
gratitude and admiration. But We
cannot reconcile any snch exhibitions
by the Southern people, and more
particularly Of this Stats and city.
with that dignifed manhood and proud
self respect which should characterize
their department towards one who is
to-day but the embodiment Of that
unrelenting hate for the South to
which the Republican party 30 tena.
ciously clings.
We cannot forget that he was tho
ready and willing instrument in the
hands of those despicable creatures of
reconstruction, who 10 mercilessly
preyed upon our State and 80 shame
fully abused and trampled upon our
people when they were powerless to
protect themselves. The free and
ready use Of the bayonet to cr,,sl, out
an honest expression Of the just in.
dignation of IN outraged community
was ever subject to the ''beck aud call"
Of the partisans and minions of Grant.
His janizaries could I've and were in
voked to arrest and lnaltreat innocent
citizens, drag them to prison, perse-
cute them upon false accusations and
heap insult upon injury by taunting
them with their l,elplessness. Legis-
latures were not free from their rude
interference, and representatives Of
the people, at the point of the bayo-
net, were elected from their lawful
seats to make room for the hired
emissaries Of the Republican party.
This and other like indignities finally
produced q revolt and resort to arms,
which terminated in the shedding Of
blood and the loss Of life.
The memories Of all these ontraces.
these trials and sufferiugs, are still
fresh, and to this day there has been
no atonement for the fragrant wrong
done an unfortunate, impoverished
and oppressed people, by an over
bearing, tyrannical, unjust and des-
potic President, who now comes
among those upon whom he 30 re-
Gently vented his wrath and showereA
his venom.
We fail to see the rmotest obliea-
ton on the part Of our people to honor
Gen. Grant BY any public demonstra-
tion, or any display Of enthusiasm
which may be construed into admira-
tiOn for the man. Because he has
been feted abroad and is now the net
and favorite Of Republican politicians,
who propose to use him for their pur-
poses, is no excuse for the sycopIan-
tic adulation ofSouthern people which
will be as unbecoming and ill-timed
as it must be disingcshons, insincere
and hypocritical. Let those in the
Custom-house and other Federal off.
ces who hold his commission, who
have been the beneficiaries of his ia.
vors, who worship at his shrine. show
their gratitude, and let the black CO.
horts Of Republication join them in
ppans Of praise to their great politi.
cal idol, but let our people and the
Democratic party maintain that re.
spectfal attitude and that quiet and