Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1881-03-23
WHAT SHALL BE DONE FOR
GEN GRANTS DIGNITY

WHAT SHALL BE DONE FOH
GEN GRANTS DIGNITY.
by REV. LEONARD wooLsEY BACON,
Tho question is one that has grown
up, or been pushed up, before the pub
lie mind only within a few months
When we first began to know the
General, there was nobody's dignity
in all the world that took care of itsel
more efIectualIy, without the slightest
attention from anybody, than U. S
Grants. Perhaps the reason why il
needed so little care was that it got sc
little from himself, in those days wher
there was such tremendous work to do
and he was one Of those rare men who
stuck doggedly to the work, without
any side glauces at the newspapers, tC
sec how his dignity was getting on
He did not write dramatic dispatche.
nor put himself into impressive atti
tudes When il came to that kind o.
thing, General Banks was unspeaka
bly, more majestic His dignity was
sedulously taken care of; and so in O
different way, was General Buffers
But Grant kept driving ahead at his
business, "moving Immediately on the
enemys works" as if be didn't have
any such baggage as a dignity to look
after. After that tremendous fighting
that ended in the fall of Vicksburg, he
was sent for to como to Washington,
where he was the universal admira.
ton; but he told the President and
his Council of War that he wished they
would hurry up and give him his or.
ders, for he was "tired of this show
business" And when the American
people heard that, they clapped their
hands, like the multitudnous waves,
and said to one another: "Here's dig.
nifty now Here's man that is not
thinking about feathers in his cap or
stars on his shoulder Here's another
man as Abraham Lincolnr By and
by some oil the politicians succeeded in
getting at him in his tent in Virginia
and whispered to him confdentially
that a gentleman in his position could
have anything he wished for that was
in the gift of the people. Couldn't be
think Of something he would like
And, after reflection, he said there was
one thing He did wish the common
council of Galena would make plank
walk as far us his front gate. But the
finest thing, it seems to me, in all
Grants career, was his willingness to
sit still and hardly hold his own along
the trenches looking toward Rich.
mond, with all the country inpatient.
ly wondering why Grant did not strike,
while Sheridan and Sherman, his sub.
ordinates, were in the full blaze of pop
ular admiration and he himself little
in the shadow. This was heroic. In
those brave old days, it probably did
not occur TO any one in the civilized
world that measures were necessary TO
secure Ulysses Grants dignity. But
now things have changed. The Times
is passing round the hat, and the In.
dependent is bidding for a pension and
a title, and Mr.. Hayes is trying to in
vent new pattern of epaulet, all be-
cause Mr.. Grants dignity IS in peril
and something must be done for it.
What can have made the difference?
| suppose that there were people
who voted for Grant for President in
1868, because be observed" it, or was
"entitled" TO tit was comforting
honor" on him. In every election,
great or small, there are fools who give
their votes for such reasons. But
good citizens, worthy of the trust of
citizenship, voted for him not for
Grants sake, but for the country's
sake. We thought that he had quail.
ties that were needed in the Presiden.
oy-the simple straightforwardness
The devotion TO public duty, without
regard to public interest; the faculty
and the will to find the right place
-ho set resolution that would fight il
through on well.considered line of
'ack.door influence opposition in front
md rear We thought we knew our
nan, and were voting for things like
.hese when we voted for Grant as
President We thought we were do.
ng a good thing for the dignity not of
Grant, but of the office, by putting a
worthy man into it.
Well, there is no denying it, the coun.
ry was partly disappointed. Without
epeating Mr. Summers overstrained
Indictment against Grants administra.
ion, we have to acknowledge that at
he very points at which we most re.
led on him he failed us. The faculty |
# picking his subordinates, which had |
'een conspicuous in the field, was con.
picuously absent in the Presidency |
rhe dogged tenacity of purpose gave
way on the one line Of policy on which
10 committed himself most resolutely
the Civil Service Reform. And tho
uperiority to oil seliseeking-here
vas the most lamentable lack. No
itizen since Washington refused q
rown, no President since Presidents
egan to be had had so many and
ueh noble opportunities for acts of
ignity. So many occasions there were
'hen, with the highest propriety, he
night have courteously declined gifts
'om persons who might bo candidates
'r official favor but he missed these
pportunitios. The SALARY Grab" bill
which Congress, for substance, offer.
d Mr.. Grant, then President, moro or