Year: 1873

Some OF our contemporaries treat the course
of the HERALD in regard to the spirit of Cesar
ism as desire to make war upon the admin
istration of General Grant We have expressly
disclaimed this purpose We like General
Grant better than any conspicuous man in the
republican party. By this we mean that we
have seen in Grant more honesty, sincerity
suming and self-denying patriotism, than
in most of the leaders of the republican
organization. In many respects his character
is o beautiful one, or at least those phases OF
it which became manifest during the war.


His speeches his letters to General Sherman,


Mr.. Washburne and his father; his declara-
tons OF policy his magnanimity to Lee his
appreciation of Sheridan and MCPHERSON
and other young soldiers of genius; his silent
resistance to the encroachments of Mr. john
son; his general modesty of thought and be-
havior, were SO much in contrast with the self
ish and dishonest characters of men like Col
fax, who were civil leaders. that we welcomed
him as one whose achievements in civil life
would equal his achievements in war;


If General Grant has failed to meet our ex-
pectations we must not censure him until we
see how much he was Influenced by the cir
cumstances surrounding his Office. We can
not reform our politics by turning out Grant
simply to elect Hancock or Sherman by
making dishonest political canvass like the
last, based upon misrepresentation and SIAN
der. We accept all that is good in Grant and
his administration; and it is painful to think
how events have diminished the glory of one
and weakened the influence of the other.
Our fond hope that Grant would be superior
to his time has vanished. When he elbowed
Mr. Hoar out of his Cabinet to make room for
sixpenny, ranting lawyer from the Dismal
Swamp, and dismissed Mr.. Cox for offending
General Cameron, his administration began
to ebb He might have elevated his Cabinet
to the level of Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Cox. We
believe it was his desire to do so. But he gave
way to the sullen and greedy majority of his
party, who yearned for men Of the measure Of
Delano and Akerman, and, after forcing Mr..
Hoar from the Cabinet, rejected his nomina-
ton for the Supreme Bench; rejected one of
the first thinkers and lawyers of the land
put slight upon man conspicuous for his
purity and requirements, as an act Of frevenge-
of revenge because he had been gentleman
and not politician That was the surrender
of Grant. Since then he has been captured
President, governed by an oligarchy of able
and unscrupulous men, like Morton, Carpen-
ter, Stewart and Chandler, who make virtue
of their contempt for dignity and tone in
political life. Before the era marked by
the withdrawal of Mr.. Hoar the administra-
ton was animated by high purposes. 1t was
not what the politicians called a popular
administration. The muscular statesmen who
chewed tobacco and voted railway subsidies
waited for revenge. Those who knew Wash
ington three years ago will remember the
undertone of comment in high circles-the
sneers at Grant the littleness felt towards
him for his ignorance of party dis
cipline and requirements. They will remem


Der the anger of the politicians when
the virtuous and pure-minded Mcclure, Of
Pennsylvania-whose position as a reformer
suggests the Fagin of Dickens at the head of
Young Mems Christian Association-was
told by Grant that he could not appoint Gov
ernor Curtin to the Cabinet because he meant
to please the country and not the party. 1t
was evident to those who looked closely at the
administration that O war would now ensue
between Grant and the muscular statesmen,
and Christian paragons like Mr.. Colfax and
Mr.. Wilson decorated themselves in temper
ance and prayers and quietly went into train
ing for nomination.


In that contest Grant would have won. He
had the better sense of the country with him.
He could have put aside the denomination,
bade defiance to the muscular statesmen, and,
relying upon that honest sentiment which is
sometimes sluggish in action but always
sincere and hearty in support, made an adj
ministration to compare with that of Washing
ton. Many things he did in spite Of his part.
were commendable. His resolution TO have
peace with England his Indian policy his
appointments to the Supreme Bench many of
his minor appointments his payment of the
debt his enforcement Of the laws against de-
falcations and malefeasance in office ; his desire
to propitiate the South as in appointments like
Longstreet his wish to have St Domingo,
were all acts of craftsmanship, and will be
remembered to the honor of bis administra-
ton But the tide has been sinking The
dream of denomination came to the Presi-
dent even as the dream Of throne came to
Macbeth, when the weird sisters met him ON
the heath with prophetic greetings. The incense
of the lofty station was too much even for the
soldier who had ridden through the smoke
and fame of hundred battles with an un-
dimmed reason. The weird sisters-who in
this case were the muscular statesmen like
Carpenter, Chandler and Morton-told him
the crown would come again if he would obey
their bidding. To that troth he has
been firm. They have asked nothing