The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1880-08-17
Grant

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U. 8. Grant, since his political in
terment at Chicago, by the Republican,
party has lost much oflthcihcro. wor-l
ship that was bestowed upon him
prior to that time. Rcfiectina people
have asked themselves Whist has
Grant ever done after all that entities,
him to rank SO pre-eminently. above
bis feilowsH, The fses fofthe case is,
the old man" has reached the zenith
oI his fame and his glory Is gradually
but surely growing beautifully less.
Once he was the idol of the whole
Republican party, bnt his inorliuate
ambition, which led him TO seek thu
Presidentiall8flice for the third term,
caused his ruin. lie should have re-
membercd the story of the Virginia
boy who enaeavored to cut his name
above that of George Washington, OH
the Natural bridge of Virginia.
This ambitious youth climbed SO high
that he was unable TO descend aud
there he hung, with grip of despair
till his friends rescued him by rope
from the top. Grant attempted 10
excel Washington bv being President
the third time and like the boy ON uhe
bridge lie hangs suspended, unable to
successfully advance or hohorabIy
descend. Republican power, the rope
by which he yet hopes TO be saved
viii soon be broken and lie must fall
TO the bottom and be lost in the
depths Of obscurily. Had lie stopped
| IN time, he would have lived in the
hearts Of the people. Even his polit-
ical enemies would have forgiven his
sins they would have looked upon
him as q child of fortune more than a
man ofipre-eminont genius and great
ness, and LEFT him in undisturbed pos.
session Of the honors he had gained
This he did not do, and he was re-
pudiated, and rcmmded tothe shades
Of private life by his own party, In
convention assembled, in lis own,
native State. After, his triumphal
march around the world, he returned
TO his native country TO De met with
defeat at the hands OF his own party.
Comparatively little has been heard
or thought of Giant since this oc-
CURED, but he is once more brought,
before the public ina light not at all
enviabIe. Gen. Jno. Mcdonald in
his book exposing the Whisky Ring
frauds of few years ago, giyes,the
inside workings OF this corrupt ring.
II will be remembered that McDon-
aid, who was convicted with Joyce,
Avery and Mckee, AID put in the
penitentiary, was the moot intimate
and conf .lential friend of Grant. Ii
was believed by many at the time
that the president was as guilty, as
the. others. McDonald's book con-
firms this. The whole history OF the
ring is given. Grant not only knew
of'the ring but received his share o.
the money made by the Wholesale
swindling Of the government. Inter
views were held, between them, let
tiers passed and dispatches were sent,
all of which are gwen and tubstanti-
ated by corrobaraling circumstances.
Grant promised 10 interfere with his
pardoningpower and save the lead
lug criminals, but this lie did not do
till they had served several months
in the penitentiary. Mcdonald was
one of these and the friends OF Grant
claim that the testimony of con-
victed fellon amounts 10 nothing.
Coming as it does years after the ex-
posnre, from laman who :npto that
time was a confidential friend of the
President, who took rides with him,
who wined and dined with him in
the White House, and who was APP
pointed to an important Office by him
il must be entitled TO some credence
Babcock, resigned TO keep from being
struck By the "lighiniDg" that was
playing arond the singh places" in
Washington. lie too was on terms
Of !ne greatest intimacy with Grant
and tits reasonable to suppose that
MeDonald's disclosures are true. Al
any rate there are many people who
do believe and win believe that he
was equally guilty, and. the "Busted
Hero" will he given another kick as
he descends the ladder of fame.
Grants Star has set and lie will live
in history, as a despoiic tyrant and
pliable tool CT corrupt and dishonest