National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-04-15
GENERAL GRANTS DEFENSE.


warned the Republican party that the
nomination of General GRANT would put
" the Republicans on the defensive" 1t
had evidently forgotten, or fancied that
the people had, that ut the very close
of General GRANTS administration OIL the
Sd of March, 1877, it set up for him against
the world and all its prciudices the most
perfect defense. Its editorial leader of that
date says:
At his first election "he swept the country
at large, by large majortics and won the
electoral votes of all the States except seven.
He made his second campaign when the Re-
publican party was torn by domestic dssen.
sions; his name was still so potent spell that
the majority of four years ago was more than
doubled. General GRANT saved the Union In
battle, and gave hope and strength to the Ma
ton in the darkest hour of its history. Even
his errors were, after all, evil tendencies more
frequently than positive wrongs.
Now, our memories rest rather upon the sub
stantial achievements Of the past eight years (;
the careful management of the finances, the
reduction of the debt and taxes, the slow yet
steady Improvement in the condition Of the
South and chiefest of all the magnificent sue.
cess of foreign policy which will hereafter be
the admiration Of the world. His policy in
| government mas been as open anu direct as MS
| strategy in the wilderness
lie has never basely schemed to accomplish a
political aim, or to get an adversary out of the
| way, or to reward q friend, or to punish
an enemy. His very contempt for the
prudent counsels of politicians has some
times carried him safe through danger
Gus undertakings He assumed the gov
eminent when reconstruction was crude
experiment, and the great danger to be dreaded
was not the invasion of the white mans rights,
but the theft of the black mans liberty. II
was certainly a merCiful Providence for the
freedman that he found at this critical time a
President disposed to take liberal view of
the power and the duty of the Executive in
extending over him the protecting shield OF
the Union. Time may perhaps show that it
was best for the whole Nation, likewise, that
| the strong hand of central authority should
put down the murdeTous spirit before II be-
came unmanageable. His errors will quickly
fade from recollection, and the essential in
tegrity and truthfulness of General GRANTS
character will be fully recognized.
1t will be borne in mind that the above
was written and published after the ex
President had made his full record of eigh
years administration. He was on the poin
of surrendering the reins of power into tn,
hands of his successor after completing tn,
history of his two terms. His last act hat
been performed, except to step down an(
out All his policies and measures and tn,
events that had chequered period of eigh
years of the Nations history under hi
Presidential guidance had been developed
and recorded. They were fresh in thu
public mind, and under the inspirations o
the hour and Of truth the New York Itib
une, in a moment of honesty and candOr
reminded the country of " the careful man
"agemont of the finances, the reduction o
" the debt and taxes, the slow, yet steady
"improvement in the condition of tn,
"South, and chiefest Of all, the magnificen
" success of foreign policy which vii
thereafter be the admiration Of the world
"His policy in government has been al
"open and direct as his strategy in thu
Wilderness. He has neper bdseiy schemet
"to accomplish a political aim, or to get a,
" adversary ont of the pdy, or to rc,rard {
"fricnd, or to punish an enemy"
These utterances and unstinted indOrse
ments of General GRANTS administrator
of public affairs were at the end thereof
Immediately thereafter TIC Iellleu iron
public trust, and within few mon this sui
sequently left the country for Europe
where he has spent all the time down Il
within a few months enjoying the generou
homage Of nearly all the civilized nation
of the Old World. He has no public rec
, ord that Is not covered by the Tribune
fullest commentator, leaving nothing 70
il to criticise, much less defend. In tn
fuce of its own record, it is difficult +
divine the motive of its present course to
ward General GRANT, 1t is not honest o
manly, but partakes of that spirit Of GUS
edness which is malignant, and hence can
not he just or even generous. The defens
!. of General GRANTS record as set up by tn
Tribune at the close Of his public career
bomb-prOof as against any assault that
or any of its coparceners in hate can no.
bring against him as a candidate for r.
election. 1t certainly must abolish the dc
fenscs it erected for his protection foI
| assault in 1877 before it can expect Other
J to follow it in its present policy Of petit
hato and spite The wisest thing howeye
for it to do is TO be as honest, fair and cal
did now as it was on the Sd Of March, lS7'