New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-05-24
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
eRANTs sTRENGTH is HIs wEAKNEss.

To the EDITOR OfThe Trt6WnG ;,
SIR Your able and influential journal has
presented in It's columns argumen for and against the
nomination of General u 8. Grant o Republican can
didate for third OF the Presidency. The state
ment OF reasons has been coRent either side
respectively from the point Of Wow OF partisanshp
But 1t seems to me that most important and radical
point in the argument has been overlooked. Personally
Ihave the highest respect for General Grant That no
Is able and brilliant soldier is matter OF record
Whether he the greatest soldier OF our late war; or
whether his chat success which made him
President for two terms without regard TO statesman
like ftness for the most part q cumulative fact
built on the logic Of events with which he hid moth
ing to do, is most doubtful question. But freely ad-
hitting that General Grant was q greater col
der than Cesar NapoleOn; that his two admins
tratiOns were remarkable for rigid purity largeness
OF view intellectual foresight and patriotic devotion
to tho interests Of the Nation admitting everything
that his most fiery partisans cnm seems TO me that
in their blindness they furnished the strongest
philosophical argument against his denomination The
common war cry which tho Grant men have united In
brutng abroad through the country, is that this dis
tnguished ex-soder and exPresdent is necessary to
the Nation necessary to crush the socaed arrogance
OF the South. necessary consolidate the National
strength and resources to perpetuate our present
prosperity. 49,. Az.
exists could possibly exist, this would be an all
powerful reason for voting against him. The instant
that any Is believed by large and lnnuentlh
portion OF the people of this country to DO absolutely
necessary the perpctuity of the Republic, oven nee
essary to prosperity, that man becomes terrible
threat. Il wond no longer be safe to give
such q man, however great the confidence . We
might epose in him. the supreme governmental poslI4n
II would be more safe and patriotic to vote Tor the
In tho country than for the best holding SO
memorable u claim the blind devotion OF ms fol-
lowers This cry OF necessity has been the fatal IN
nucnce whioh has undermined FREQ institutions from
time immemOrial. | do not need to cite the swiftly
succeeding examples, which Will to the reader or
history. The sole strength of republic in It's people,
its principles, It's Institutions and when the guarantees
that STRENGTH believed to he In the hands OF one
a few individuals 10 indicates that the Ship OF state
IS sailing INTO breakers When Arstides Ostracised
in Athens he asked certain dragged citizen carrying
the significant oyster she'll why he was opposed to num-
"Because you called the BEST" was the reply
There Significance In the rconder. II is dangerous
10 republic when individual likes popular attention
az the prop and savior OF free Institutions
To myself and u thousands Of others General Grant
presents himself one who nd greatness thrust upon
him" fully much he "achicyet greatncss; IA one
whO had ne been President would have occupied
higher rank the minds OF the iudcOus In the sense
OF the criticism the Emperor Galba, by Tacltus,
"CGpdr iniperii, nisf iDperGsset"
But, allowing the most fuisOme praises or the GrhnI
cdcque he just the political claim made for him ought
to bc fatal TO his prctenslOns. =" SIRIUS
AeiC. York, April 3, 1880