The National tribune., 1883-03-01
81 WAS WITH GRANT,"
Some Contradictory Opinions. as TO the
SOundneSS Of His Views.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In YOUR issue of the 18th ult. l find an article
defending General Grant. / do not allow any
comrade 40 exceed me in awarding to General
Grant the honor that is due to him for the skill
which he displayed in the management of our
armies through which the war was brought to
a successful termination. | have watched his
career closely, and always with the greatest
admiration for his fine sOldicrly qualities
When the country was ringing with articles Of
condemnation over the management Of the
army at Pittsburg Landing. [ believed that if
we had not had General Grant at the head the
country would have had occasion to lamGnt the
destruction of one Of the finest armies that was
ever mustered under the Stars and Stripes.
The Union took a new lease of life when Presi-
dent Lincoln appointed him cOmmander-in-
chief and he established his headquarters in
the field with the Army of the Potomac. That
magnificent army felt that they now had
commander that could cope with Lee, and that
the dav of advances, to be followed by masterly
retreats was now over, and that from hence
forth the army would move steadily Ion to
Richmond" q if it took all summer The bat
ties bv dav the marches by night, that steadily
foIlowed-al7gays forward, never one step back
ward-untiI~ they resulted in the surrender Of
General Lee at AppomattoX and the virtual
ending of the war, constituted one of the grand
est campaigns in the military history of the
world: and all the honor that the people of the
United States could confer upon one man for
the completion of so gigantic an undertaking
Is only General Grants just due PaISied be
the hand that would strike one star from the
crown OF his military glory. So long a COM
rade of that grand army lives, it viii be his
prGadest boast was with Grant
He made the first great mistake of his life
when ne resigned the gcneraiship of the army
to grasp the glittering bauble of the Presidency
OF the United States, yet for that he is not to
ITs,-,- hot
resist the temptation to occupy that exalted sta
ton. But unfortunately for him, from the hour
that he accepted the Presidency down to the
present General Grant has done more by his
own actions to injure his high standing with
the American people than his enemies could
ever possibly have done. Surrounded as he
was by cIiques of politicians during his last
term as President they used him to suit their
selfish purposes and made him costly presents
which he was foolish enough to accept. He
filed the offices all over the land with his ia
vorites and deserted those who had stood by
him during the dark days of the rebellion, and
but for whose valor in executing his orders he
never would have attained the success he did.
| refer to the enlisted men of 1861 and 1852,
who bore the brunt OF the war. When the
equalization of bounties finally passed Congress
after it had been carefully investigated, Cen
eral Grant vetoed it on the ground that it was
a claim agents scheme; that the soldier did
not want 1t, and that the treasury could not
stand it. This, too III the face of the fact that
he he had but shortly before signed bill in
creasing MS own salary from so, 600 to $4,000
per year.
We of the old army and navy. who almost
worshiped the ground he stood OH and would
have followed him to death, if need be, felt
that insult from his hands far more keenl1
than if the blow had come from one who ha0
never set a squadron in the field or the divis-
ion of battle knew"
Yours, in fraternity, charity and loyalty
not that I love Grant less, but that l love my
country more JOuN f. MACRIE.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.