Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-06-09
General Grant.

| General Grant.
In the presence Of a combination Of polit-
ical elements, inconsistent and incongruous
in their character, before an unreasonable
and unreasoning prejudice, sedulously famed
by the partisans of ambitious rivals, Gen
eral Grants candidacy for the office Of pres
ident failed in the Chicago convention. In
view of all the circumstances developed dur.
ing the canvass for delegates, and particu-
larry during the preliminary proceedings Of
the convention itself, it had become appar-
ent TO impartial observers, that neither of
the two leading candidates could be safely
nominated. To withdraw General Grant
| would be to nominate Mr.. Blaine. To pre-
vent this dangerous contingency, the haz-
ard of defeat was boldly taken. While there
are many who will regret the use Of General
Grants name where it was sure to be COW
cred with the semblance Of defeat, it must
be conceded that its use on this occasion has
warded off a greater danger from the Re-
publican party and secured the nomination
of a candidate possessing qualities of high
craftsmanship, of impregnable personal char
acter, and whose election is as sure as any
thing in the future can be. This achieve
ment, perhaps, will not, in time to come, be
reckoned least on the brilliant record Of
General Grants services to his country. We
most sincerely regret the creation of state
of feeling that apparently rendered it haz-
ardous act to nominate General Grant. Our
admiration of the man, our appreciation of
his services, our faith in his integrity is SO
great that we would gladly have seen him
again the occupant of the presidential chair
Our personal preference was intensified by
the belief that his later experience, his
studies of different systems of government,
his travels and observations abroad and al
home, added to his previous experience in
civil administration, had qualified him to
give to another term of the presidency high
character and a degree of success in civil af-
fairs as exceptional as is his military rec
ord in every aspect in which the latter can
be viewed. We believe that this was the
sole ambition of General Grant, and the one
grand motive that inspired his desire for a
third term of the presidency. Adverse crit
icisms have attached to his civil administra-
ton. He assumed the office of president
wholly Impractical in the duties Of civil
executive. He was called to the office at the
close of a gigantic rebellion. The country
was honeycombed with the decentralization
that follows in the wake of a great war. 1t
penetrated every department of life. Even
religious organizations were not exempt
from its baneful influence. The fountain
cannot rise higher than its source. The low
ebb of morality among the people predeter-
mined the prevalence of corruption, to some
extent, in the government 1t was INSOFAR
able from any administration at that time,
but the most audacious assaiant of General
Grant never ventured to impugn his per-
sonal integrity. He emerged from the fur
mace heat, which had consumed so many in
private and public life, without the smell of
fire upon his garments. The offenses which
have been SO obstreperously cited against his
last administration were his misfortune and
not his fault. With a personal character I'M
furnished by breath of suspicion, with a
military record unmatched in the history of
the world, it certainly was laudable ambi-
ton which he entertained, to silence the I'M
just voice of adverse criticism, even if he
could not compel its appreciation, by DEM
onstrating to the world that he was capa-
BILE of achieving the highest distinction in
civil as well as in military affairs. We be-
lieve that the faults which marred his pre-
vious political career would have disap-
peared; that ripened experience in civil life
would have taught him to select his civil ad-
visers and subordinates with the same I'M
erring precision of judgment which he dis
played in choosing his military command
ers that an administration unique for its
purity, for the healing balm it would pour
upon civil discord, for its dignity, its prac-
tical, comprehensive craftsmanship, would
have crowned his third tenure of the office of
president; that his fame as civil admins.
TRAITOR would have added luster to his dis
tinction as the military hero of the rebellion.
The American people may yet, when the
hour of political passion and prejudice has
passed, when the cool sober second thought
comes, regret that this high privilege was
denied to the silent, unobtrusive citizen to
whom more than to any other man this
country owes its grand rank among the ma
tions of the earth. But prejudice, unjust as
it will ultimately be shown to have been,
had cast reasonable doubt on his election
in the event of his nomination. The sue
cess of Republican principles is of more i'm
portance than the personal ambition of any
man. This fact General Grant, in the spirit
of true patriot, will be the first to acknowl
edge. This consideration alone has pre-
vailed to defeat his nomination at Chicago.
The American people, chivalrous, generous
hearted, will yet do ample justice to General
Grant