Year: 1868

THE letter of General Grant formally
accepting the nomination rendered him by
| the Chicago Republican Convention is a


model of candor and common sense.
When the committee of the National Con-
vention waited on General Grant and Mr..
Colfax, the former remarked that he had


never sought by word or deed the Presi-
Dental office or Presidential nomination
This was recognized by the country as an


entirely truthful statement. There has


never been an act done nor word spoken
by Grant in the way of seeking the


nomination 1t has literally been thrust


upon him. His personal feelings and his
official inclinations have been averse to
public Office. The Presidency can confer
no additional fame upon General Grant.
He has already reputation and name
the world over as the great Captain of the
age. He holds, in the light of his achieve


ments, the highest military office in the
| world. His ambition has been filled to
his utmost desires, and the Presidency has


nothing to tempt him. To one of his retir-
| ing habits and his aversion for display


and the torments of hand-shaking, it has
| many things to daunt him. He has, how
ever, yielded to the universal feeling of
the Republican party that he can be of
yet greater service to his country, and


under this assurance, coming from so


many quarters, he has accepted the
nomination.


What General Grant says in signifying
his acceptance has, therefore, higher
value than the words of mere politician.
He speaks not as an office-seeker, but as one
to whom acquiescence is a duty. He


meant precisely what he said when he
wrote: "It seems proper that some state


ment of my views beyond the mere accept
ance of the nomination should be ex-
pressed" He accepts the nomination be-
cause the Convention which rendered it
expressed, in his Judgment, the feelings
| of the great mass of those who sustained
| the country through its trials" Endors-
| ing the resolutions in which these views
and feelings were set forth, he could not,
| from mere personal considerations, decline
the nomination. In accepting it, however,
he took occasion to assure the Conven-
| ton and the country that, if elected, he
would endeavor to administer the laws In
good faith, with economy, and with the
view of giving peace, quiet and protection
everywhere. A more comprehensive an
nouncement was never expressed in as few
words, and no more appropriate and


patriotic statement was ever expressed by


any person. An administration of the
laws in good faith, and with economy,
would carry us back in practice to the


days when patriotism and personal integ
rity controlled national affairs and before
bad ambition had corrupted and destroyed
the agencies for the execution of the ma
tional will.


In accepting and approving the declar-


alton of principles by the Convention, as
an expression of the feelings of those


who sustained the country during its
trials" General Grant very wisely admon-
ishes all that it is impossible to assert
policy which must be adhered to, right or
wrong, during four years. New and un-
forseen political issues will necessarily
| rise. which change and modify those exist
| ing previously, and the President cannot
and ought not to be bound down by the
| letter Of the platform, when to do SO re-
ouires him to put himself in opposition to
| the will of the people. All platforms and
political declarations should be subordi-


nate to the popular will. General Grant
insists that purely executive officer


should always be left free to execute that


will


He recognizes that what the country


needs is peace. Itwants that peace which


should have followed the close of the war.


Peace, with its sequence, universal pros
perity, with an economical expenditure,
will tighten the burdens of taxation, and at
| the same time reduce the national debt


Hence it is that General Grant, with the
| feeling of the man who accepts public
office, not to crafty his own personal am
| bition, but purely to accomplish great
public end, frankly tells the people that


what the country needs more than all other


things is peace-peace, with all the States


restored, with civil governments in place


of military rule, and all the people enjoy
| ing quiet and protection in all their rights
such a peace means universal prosperity,


and such peace he proposes to have es-
| tablished. CAicag0 Tribune.