The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-03-05

and promises to execute most sacred trust,
according 10 terms prescribed with unmis-
taxable clearness, and then dishonesty
breaks the engagement-such a government,
SO conducted, is an unspeakable curse. It
is not only an oppression, but most de-
moralizing cheat a base impOsture, more
degrading-tO the nation which submits to it
than the heaviest yoke that despotic tyranny
can fasten on its neck. If, therefore, con-
stitutional and legal administration Of our
national affairs be out Of the Question-h
our only choice lies between perverted re-
public and monarchy-then stop the hypO-
critical pretense of free government, and
give us a king And who shall be our royal
master but Grant? That he will serve the
turn as we'll as If not better than another.
will, 1 think be admitted by all who attend
/ to the reasons now presently to be enumer-
ated.
In the first place, a new monarch (that is,
one who has no hereditary claims) ought to
! be an approved good soldier, with skill to
/ enforce obedience; otherwise his sway could
not last long over people disposed to be tur-
bulent. All, or nearly all, the founders Of
royal lines have been military men from
! Nimrod downward. 1t is vain to deny that
/ Gen. Grants reputation for military talent
/ is well-founded. 1t is more than doubtful II
any officer of our army could have subiugated
the South so completely even with all Grant's
advantages, or taken so many defeats and
still won a complete victory in the end. II
is not however, what he has done, but what
he has shown himself capable of doing, that
gives him his leading qualification for mas
terdom now. The fear that goes before him
will make actual violence unnecessary. His
strength Of character will frighten his sub
iects into submission where a weaker mar
would be compelled to butcher them fol
insurrection.
Gen. Grant is good hater Of those VIII,
thwart him, which is natural, and not a seri-
Gus fault but he is not lercely vindictive
and his career has been marked by no act Of
savage cruelty. He could not be an An
tonine or a Titus, but we can trust him no
to be a Nero.
1t may be objected that his moral behavior
and mental requirements do not bring hin
up to the mark which ought to be reached
by the permanent ruler of a great, intelligent
and highly civilized nation but in this re
: spect, he is as good as the average Of soveI
? eign princes. The present reignng famil
of England has never has a male membe
who was his superior. For centuries pas
! the pOtentates Of continental Europe, wit
only few exceptions, have had habits a
coarse as his and he is wholly free from som
ter Tible vices to which many Of them wer
; addicted. 1t seems to me that he will do we
enough to ''herd with vulgar kings"
; The nepOtism from which our de mocrati
tastes revolt is virtue in king All mon
J archs are expected to look after their ow
T. families first, and all have their minions an
J favorites whom they fatten, spoil and col
: rupt. Who among them has not given hi
, protection to a worse set than Grant
; The favor which Grant bestows upon COZ
E rupi rings is given for purpose. As a car
l didate he cannot be elected, as president h
= cannot sustain himself, without their SUI
port but enthrOne him he can afford to def
: them.
] What we call the greediness Of Gen. Graz
for the wages Of official iniquity would /
/ entirely proper in the supreme ruler of a
e absolute government. It is not bribery {
? buy the favor OF a king with presents, and
i king is not guilty of stealing when he hell
i himself to public money without legal righ
. II looks 10 Us ike \ IeTTlDle Outrage IOT
n president to have himself represented at
state election by the bayonets of his stan,
I ing army to install governors that were +
o jected at the polls, to tumble the chose
y legislature of free state out Of its hall,
e procure the fabrication of false returns an
S force 1t on the people. But General Grant
lawlessness would be lawful in a countI
governed by the mere will of a persons
= sovereign. Where there is no law there ca
: be no transgression.
But while General Grant has some quail
ties which would make him a tolerable kin
= and none that would make him an unel
durably bad one, he is not at all the kind
= person that is needed as president of Il
United States on the assumption that or
: system Of government is to be continued.
think it is to be continued. Unlike NJ
- O'Conor, believe that the struggle to get
honestly administered is not hopeless. y
are not yet reduced to the necessity of choC
l. ing between a republic wholly corrupt and
- monarchy founded in pure force. Thereto
l conclude with jefferson that, if any m
r. (Gen. Grant particularly consent to be
:. candidate for a third election, 1 trust he W
- be rejected on his demonstration Of am
tious views"