The sun., 1883-12-16

all our forces. and the great movements which
finally strangled the rebellion were then In
progress and for aught we knew might possi-
bly, be DETECTED from their purpose by his con-
dition." Mr.. Julian. indeed. is no admir-
or OF Gen. Grants. rs his action In
1872 demonstrated. In later part OF
this volume no confesses that tho iden OF
Grants first nomination In 1868 was exceed.
ingly distasteful. l personally knew him to DO
Incorporate. In politics he was Democrat
Ho did not profess to bo Republican. and the
only vote he had over given was cast for James
Buchanan In 1885, when tho Republican party
made It's first grand struggle to rescue the Gov
ernment from the clutches OF slavery. More
over he had had no training whatever in civil
administration. and no one thought OF him as
q statesman. But tho plea of his availability
rs q military chieftain was made Irresistible by
the apprehension that. IL not nominated by the
Republicans. the Democrats would aprropri-
ate him. and make him q formidable instru-
ment of mischief" As It was. his nomination
was only secured by cautious and timely diplo-
macy. and potent appeals to his sordidness In
the shape Of assurances that he should have
the office for second term" or the admins
tration OF the Government by Grant Mr.. Julian
writes: Tho management Of the civil service
was All utter mockery OF political decency.
while the animosities engendered by tho war
were pursed and coddled as the appointed
means OF uniting the party and covering up it's
misdeeds. The demand for reform. rs often
as made. was instantly rebuked. and the men
who uttered 1t were branded as enemies
OF the party and sympathizers with
treason. Such was the drift OF general
Generalization that the chief founders and
preGminent representatives OF the party
Chnse. Seward. Sumner. and Greeley-were
,h1 - 81, L.,
| end OF Gen. Grants first administration. as the
only means Of maintaining their honor and
self-respect. My own Congressional term ex-
| pired q little aftor Grant and Babcock had
| inaugurated the San Domingo project und
| Sumner had been degraded from the Chair
manship OF the Committee on Foreign Affairs
| The irrepressible conflict had thcn just begun
| to develop itself between the element OF hon
| esty and reform in tho party and the corrupt
leadership which sought to make merchandise
OF its good name aud hide Its sins under the
mantle OF its past achievements"
Returning to that part Of the volume which
| deals with the close OF the war. We encounter
the surprising statement that while every
body was shocked at Mr.. Lincolns assassina-
ton. the feeling was nearly universal [Mr.
Julian must have had in view the radical Re.
publicans in Congcss rather than the masses Of
the partyl that the accession of johnson to the
Presidency would provo godsend to the coun-
try. Aside from Mr.. Lincoln's hadtual policy
OF tenderness to the rebels which now so jarred
upon the feelings OF tho hour his well-known
| views on the subject Of reconstruction were Us
| offensive rs possible to radical Republicans.
In his last public utterance. made only three
days before his DEATH he had declared his nd
| herence to the plan Of reconstruction an
| nounced by him in December. 1868" and ac-
| COr1iDp y IN which ~ ha 4
| be allowed no voice in framing the institutions
under which they were to live. For a short
| time Mr.. Junns friends were led by Mr.
Johnson's professions to hope for a more
vigorous policy from the new President. but
they were swiftly undeceived. Apropos OF the
violent controversy within the ranks OF the
Republican party touching the expediency OF
giving the ballot to the Southern blacks. Mr..
Julian is careful to remind us that his old
enemy. Gov. Morton. was. for upward OF year
after Lincoln's death. violent opponent OF
negro suffrage. Norton s sudden tergiversation
on this subject is. he tells US OF course. inex-
plicable on any ground except self-interest
1t Is with reference TO Oakes Ames and the
members OF Congress declared by committee
Of their own party to have accepted bribe for
their action In the Credit Mobilier business,
that MIR. Julian evinces a curious reticence
which is by no means noticeable In other parts
OF his book. He says. however. truly enough.
that the fate OF the men involved in this
offensive scandal seems like perfect travesty
OF justice and fair play. Some Of them huve
gone down under the waves Of popular con.
domination. Others. occupying substun italy
the same position according to the evidence.
have made their escape. and even been honored
and trusted by the nation. while still others
are quietly Willing away their lives under the
shadow OF suspicion. The case affords q
strange commentary upon the principle Of
historic justice"