Year: 1868

"Principles not Men, "as a general
thing, is a good political motto
The principles which party sup
ports are generally the objects of
that party's devotion, rather than
the Men who are put forward to
represent them. But in the pend
ing canvass the candidate is
much stronger than the Republican
Party. Men will vote for him who
have never been Republicans Life
long Democrats are shocked and
disgusted by personal attacks on
his character and reputation. Men
who do not believe in the policy Of
the party which has put him in nom
ination, nevertheless look upon
him as the safest and best
man for the Presidency, and thou
sands of others, who care nothing
for party, who know perfectly well
that any programme of measures
that can be laid down to-day may
become obsolete tomorrow, and
who feel that the success of an Ad-
ministration depends far more upon
the spirit and temper which presides
over it than on the specific measures
which it may stand pledged, look to
Grant as the man specially fitted to
carry the nation through its per-
plexities and restore it again to
peace and prosperity.


Much Of this is due to the pro-
found sense entertained of his ser
vices to the nation during the war.
Men of all parties, whatever may
have been their original convictions
or opinions on the subject, can now
see and realize the terrible peril
from which the nation has been saw
ed. The success of the rebellion
would have entailed disasters which
all can now appreciate. The estab-
lishment of the Confederacy would
have been but the beginning of ma
tional griefs. The alliances it could
have made with foreign Powers
the causes Of strife and war It would
have had or made with the North,
the divisions of interest and Of feel
ing it conld have created among the
remaining States, the further seces-
sions it could have melted and the
popular discomfort that would have
followed tue defeat of our arms, in
dicate the depth and scope ofthe ru-
in into which we should have been
plunged. From all this Gen. Grant
delivered the nation. He accom-
plished what all desired and what
many others had undertaken. He
conquered the rebel. armies, and
dispersed the rebel power. The
overthrow of the Confederacy was
his work. He crushed the rebellion
he saved the country from the
national ruin and degradation that
would have followed its success.


If the people of a nation thus
rescued from Impending overthrow
could be insensible to such a service
then, indeed, might we brand Re
publics as ungrateful. Our people
are not ungrateful and they cher
ish, to the last hour Of their his
tory, the fame of the man who has
rendered them so transcendaDt ser
vice.


But still more of this popular feel
ing, that Grant is the safest and best
man for President in this crisis of
the country, is due to the traits OF
character which he developed dur
ing his military career. We do not
mean his military qualities, striking
and brilliant as they were. We re
fer to those personal traits which
mark the Man, rather than the Mil
itary gu 1lities which distinguish
the General. His entire unseifsh-
ness,-his devotion to duty,-in
these days when, as rule, men
enter the public service only for the
personal advaE tage they can derive
from it, commands admiration and
begets confidence. Through aIlhis
long career he never sought his own
good but the good of the cause he
served. His promotions, rapid as
they were, always came to him IN
sought, the result Of his deserts.
never of his seeking. His firmness
Of purpose, daunted or dis
couraged by obstacles; the fertility
Of his resources which in every ex-
tremity found him always prepared
with new plan when the old one
had failed his sagacity in selecting
men to carry out his views, and the
confidence they all felt in his judge
ment and fidelity and the practical
character OF his mind, caring little
| for theories, never tenacious Of his
own views simply because they were
his own, but always ready to adopt
others that were preferable, resolute
and obstinate only to accomplish
the end at which he aimed, and
careless, comparatively, of the means
by which it might be reached, sc
only it were reached at all these
are qualities which all can appreci
ate and which command the respect
of all.


And this feeling of universal con
fidence has been greatly increased
by the fact that Grant has held him
self entirely aloof from the entang
lements of political parties. He is
not now. as candidate, any more
of partisan or politician than he
was during the war. He never fail
ed to avow his detestation Of the
rebellion and his profound distrust
of those who gave it especial
ly for those of them who had no
the excuse of living in the Soutl


where it's doctrines took root and ac
quired control. He has always
looked to those who rallied at the
call of the country and did every


thing in their power to protect ane
save it, as the men to be
trusted in restoring it's fortunes anC