The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-02-26
The Proclamation of Grants Candidacy.

The following important statement
has been published in the editorial col
umns of the New York Times:
i" A near personal and political friend Of ex-
President Grant, who doubtless knows whereof
he speaks, authorizes the following as a correct
statement of the Generals position with refer
ence to the Presidency. He says: General
Grant is not now, nor has ever been, a candi-
date for Presidential nomination. But, should
the Republican National Convention nominate
him in the same manner as any other candidate
would be nominated, he would deem it his duty
to the country and the party to accept. Trav-
cling abroad, he was stranger to the contest
now going on for the Presidential nomination,
and has written no letters on the subject te
any person, and all assertions to the contrary
are without foundation in fact"
This may be accepted as authoritative.
1t is timely, doubtless truthful, and GER
tainly as explicit an explanation of the
ex-President's attitude as we are likely
to get.
1t clears the atmosphere of doubt
that enveloped his real inclinations. It
dasbes the hopes of those sincere and
patriotic admirers who had placed their
iaol above the reach of that ambition
which finds in the most sacred national
| traditions no obstacle to its gratifca-
ton. 1t rebukes the panegyrists who
are won't to discover in the character of
| Grant the exalted virtues that have
consecrated the memory of Washington.
It furnishes key to the mystery of the
silence of the sashed and girded
sphinx" 1t forbids the hattering
thought that the Soldier of Appamottox
was a man whose native simplicity
could not be corrupted by the possession
of power and the Establishments of high
Office. 1t not only shows that the popu.
lar hero was capable of assembling his
aspirations that he might more surely
realize them, but it convicts him oi
stooping to the low arts of the politica
intriguant.
Disseminating as the revelation is, i
but confirms the estimate which a ma
ierity of Grants countrymen had formed
of his character. For ourselves, W,
have never hesitated to declare the be
lief that the series of pageants organ
lied in his honor since his return h
this country were mere links in chall
of events deliberately contrived to fos
ter his popularity as a Presidential can
didate, and that they were so under
taken with his full knowledge and as
Now that the fact is made too plail
for the most .obdurate skeptic to dis
pute, men of all parties may properi
consider the significance and probabl
, consequences Of his candidacy.
} 1t is evident that the General him
, self had serious misgivings as to the rt
r ception which the idea of third teri
7 was likely to meet. While he hope
> for the best he feared the worst.
: this state of uncertainty he craftily re
) Trained from divulging his ambition
, So long as there was room for doubt, h
: real purpose was guarded by a judicior
! ambiguity of speech. But as he pursue
I his way from the Pacific across tn
continent the clamors of applaudin
thousands vastly augmented his sen'
O of his own importance, and. accordingl.
we find him relaxing his caution an
venturing remarks that puzzled tho'