Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1884-05-10
nilly POST.INTEllIGENcER.
IyCOsGRrOCs.

IyCOsGRUOGs
III. Presidency Of the United States
=. In the estimation of the citizens OF
Sbis Republic, the very highest ONCE
by human being. In their
INDIGNANT il outranks all hereditary DO
sitiou and title. from the lowest to that
NJ su,ocratic Gar. Sultan or Emperor
There ia. az to sveAk, An InVe@'isafe
NJ saeredness and bIgh responsibility /
an rounding the Chief NaRissrafy OF
this Republic which even the fierce con-
,aeta of n artisan warfare cannot remove.
when once the electors ct Tire e''''ntry
have from their number seiertsd one
;pto whose hands is committed nv 'he
Constitution the powers and duties OF
Cb;sf Executive, in their judgment tue
incpm,,ent of that high office has been
elevated to the pinnacle of human
greatness as ruler. This idea Is deep.
" implanted in the public mind aad
heart, and its logical result has oeen
soouiesced in by nearly every ex-rresi-
dam, in a diQnified retiracy from the
activity and turmoil of politics or brisi-
uess, after the expiration OF his ofnciSi
farm or terms of service. We are not
about to argue as to the correctness OF
this public feeling. but that it does eA-
let and has existed since the retirenent
of the first Chief Magistrate OF the
united States TO the quiet of Mount
Vernon. ia we'll known. The sentiment
NAV not be founded upon justice, nor
ia il any more supported by laws
wr;tten St unwritten, than that
otber which declares that third
elsc.iou TO the Chief Magistraey Is mex
pedient, unsafe, and must not be per
mittsd. but it is just ~ truly III accord
NTH thu public sense of fitness end pro-
priety.
We are moved to iot down these re-
Elections ON reading OF the pscnniary
rever.ss of General and ex-Presideht
Grant in Wall street by the failure OF q
firm of stock brokers of which he ~ a
special partner. And here 1t may be re-
uarked that the mere connection Ut the
name OF an x-President with wall
street and stock brokerage seems incon-
eruous and i'll fitting. 1t is not In ac-
cord with the pride of our people IN
their institutions and government that
n man who has once held the highest
office in the Nation should be shaving
notes. dealing in "puts" and calls,
or mineling in business ventures vain
the bulls and bears" who consti-
tute the stock gambling fraternity OF
Wall street. There Is probably no man
in the country who would not regret to
read Of any personal injary or disaster
TO General Grant, yet there are many
who will not lament the failure OF the
: firm of Grant & Ward II thereby the
name of the ex President shall hence
forth be disassociated with stocks and
Wall street.
Il il no easy to descend the mountain
When General Grant retired from the
Presidential Office after an incumbency
Of eight years, and with the f"rewelis
OF multitudes of his admiring country
men sounding in his ears, set sail for
Europe on tour which was TO encircle
the round earth, there lived thereon no
man 80 greatly renowned. His journey
was triumphal procession. BY peas
ant. prince and potentate he was 40
corded homage, and when on his re-
turn to the United States he landed In
San Francisco he Was greeted with
warmth of welcome unsurpassed IN
heartiness and enthusiastic demonstra-
tions of respect and Joy. by any offered
TO the conquerorsof olden time. His
journey across the continent was
equally marked with cordial greeting
and expressions of afeciionate esteem
and the large cities OF the East Wed
with each other in elaborate ceremo-
monials and extravaganza Of display
in honor OF the soldier President. He
was ut the height of renown. the zenith
of fame. Upon that pinnacle he cosld
have rested securely through life. lie
did not choose the only way to achieve
that result-keep opt Of politics and
lead life Of dienihed leisure. II wai
by the mistaken advice of his friends
that he 70 entered the political arena,
II 10 the popularity of his nature which
has impelled him into association with
che speculative monied men Of the
country.
The candidacy OF General Grant for q
third term nomination need not at this
time be discussed. II In conceded that
IL was disastrous, not only TO his i'll a6-
vised ambition, bat to bis renown. as
history will record IL. He fancied that
the welcome, the expressions OF esteem,
the pagesntry, the evident admiration
of his oountrymen, might be utilized
for his reconciliation; that in his case
they we're strong enough 10 reverse a
tradition OF the nation, which no one
heretofore had presumed 30 violate, He
overestimated his strength. and under.
valued the allegiance Of the American
people To the principles upen which, ne
they conceive. rests the safety OF their
government. He vas mistaken. Had
he been nominated, he would surely
have been defeated. The candidacy OF
General Grant for the third term NOM
ination. dimmed tbs luster OF his
rsnown. This cannot be denied. Ii
was against the instincts and better
Judgment Of the people, and he vas sne-
jscted 10 much hArsh criticism. In
spite, however, OF that grave mistake. be
holds today, and win retain. a warm
place in the popalAr heart.
General Grant returned TO this eoan
try with q competency ample 90 sup-
port him in style becoming his posi-
ton during life. There was no need
for him TO speculate, nor TO seek wealth
by ventures. either in railroad OF other