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Harper's Weekly 02/13/1875
“THE MYSTERIOUS INFLUENCE OF THE NEW YORK `HERALD!'”
J. G. B., Jun.“Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War.“—Shakspeare.
N.B.—The Public is requested not to be frightened, as they are only Newspaper—Pups, and J. G. B., Jun., has let Animals loose before.
[FROM THE NEW YORK “HERALD,” JANUARY 22, 1875.]
IS IT PEACE OR WAR?
The Message of President Grantpublished in
yesterday's Herald, urging upon Congress spe-
cial legislation in reference to the “importance of
preparations for war, in the arming of our sea-
coast defenses,” is an event of unusual signifi-
cance. It is a technical and brief Message, and
on its face seems simply a suggestion to Congress
of the necessity of the procurement of heavy can-
non….At the present critical time in our polit-
ical affairs, it is a document of the gravest im-
portance….When the executive head of a great
government publishes to the world that the forti-
fications are practically worthless, and that a
new armament is necessary, he means one of two
things—either to invite an attack from some ene-
my, or to inspire legislation of a menacing nature.
….Taken in connection with the general drift
of events for the last few months, we can not
solve the President's meaning without arriving
at conclusions that give us uneasiness and con-
cern….But two chances remained—a rebellion
in the South and a foreign war. Nothing has
prevented the revival in the South of the rebellion
but the admirable patience of the Southern peo-
ple. Provoked as they have been almost beyond
endurance—a high-mettled, proud, irascible race
—nothing was more probable than that they
would have answered the usurpation ofKel-
loggand the conduct ofSheridanby insur-
rection….An appeal to the sword would be a
crime, and a crime perpetrated in the interest of
the President's ambition. Nor should all inde-
pendent men of either party ignore the gravity
of the situation. They sneered at our prophecies
of Cusarism, yet came to accept them when they
could be no longer denied….Grantshould be
forced to resign, and the Presidency should be
transferred to Mr. Wilson….But the war pur-
pose exists, and the President should be taught
that he can not thus trifle with the interest of the
country for his own personal ambition. The res-
ignation ofGrantmeans peace, and so long as
he hesitates we are threatened with war.
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