Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-22
cssrr AND THE LOTUS CLUB.

At the dinner given to General Grant
by the Lotus Club, Mr.. Whitelaw Reid
made several suggestions as TO the future
of the guest, and among them was one to
the effect that he should be made a life
Senator. The proposition is indeed
intended to include all ex-Presidents,
and the theory upon which it rests as
sumes that the United States Senate
would be greatly the gamer by such a
change. To us it seems that the ex-Presi-
dents would be placed in an anomalous
position by such an arrangement. The
United States Senate is intended to be a
representative as well as a deliberative
body. Though not SO close to the people
as the House of Representatives, it is still
connected with them, and it is capable of
being influenced by popular sentiment.
But the ex-Presidents, being made Sena-
tors at Large, would really represent no.
body and nothing Their absolute sever
ance from any organized body of public
sentiment would have the effect of making
them represent themselves alone. They
would therefore be led to develop their in
dividual ideas without reference to the bent
of public opinion, and being independent
they would probably become either mis-
chievous or useless. As regards General
| Grant himself, we cannot conceive of any
position less congenial to him than the one
proposed. He is not a statesman or law
! maker. He has had practically very little
civil training, and his civil career has been
disfigured by Just the defects which his
| military education made most probable.
Great soldiers have very seldom been good
| legislators. The only instance in which
any evidence appearing to have contrary
significance can be cited is that of Napoleon
Bonaparte, and his civil government was
despotic, and obviously nodded upon that
of the camp. The Duke of Wellington
failed conspicuously in civil affairs, and
Grant has not been more successful in that
direction. As life Senator his best quail
tiles would be obscured, and he would be
placed at great disadvantage. Mr.. Reds
other proposition, that he be made General
of the army, is far more practical and ap
propriate. That undoubtedly is posi-
ton which General Grant is in every
way fitted for, and in that position he
would suffer nothing by contrast
with his colleagues or his subordi-
mates. In fact this is precisely the
Office which the country should offer to
General Grant. 1t was in the profession
of arms that all his enduring glory was
gained, and it is his military career which
will remain the pride and admiration of pos
terity. He has nothing to hope in the
way of enhanced reputation from Sena-
torial honors, and he would enter an arena
in which the odds would be against him.
It appears to US that those of his friends
who are now engaged in agitating the
question of his future would do most wisely
in abandoning the idea of the life Senator
ship, and concentrating their forces upon
the restoration of that high military Office
which has once been his, and which he
may be said to have an enduring title to.
We have no doubt that General Grant him.
self is as ready as ever to serve the country
in whatever way may be pointed out to
him, but his friends should see that the
choice lies between position for which he
is eminently qualified, and one for
which he cannot be said to have any special