GENERAL THOMAS
Among the great heroes
of war General Thomas is the one who is least generally known. His modesty has been always
as remarkable as his ability, and the newspaper gentlemen who make so much of contemporary
fame have not devoted themselves to daily praises of him. His sphere of duty, also, has
removed him from the immediate mention of the central journals. But his name is
universally honored as that of a wise man, a well as a great soldier; and he is now likely
to be brought into peculiar prominence before the country.The appointment of General Thomas to succeed Sheridan shows that
the President was not brave enough to defy altogether the loyal feeling of the country.
General Thomas is understood to be in hearty sympathy with that feeling. He, too, has
served long enough in the rebel section to learn that the Radical policy is the only wise
one. The weak, vacillating course called conciliation is always the most destructive under
such circumstances. It is precisely the situation in which Radicalism is seen to be the
true conservatism. We mean, of course, by Radical a policy based upon the perception that
where there has been a fierce and prolonged contest, and one principle has wholly
triumphed, the peace that follows can be secured only by making the predominance of the
victorious principle every where felt. The policy of what is called
"magnanimity" is an attempt to avoid this; to say to the defeated party,
"There, we are stronger, and we are right; but that being settled, just have things
your own way.
This is the policy which the people of
the country have, with instinctive good sense, repudiated. This is the policy of which
Generals Grant and Sheridan and Thomas know the unspeakable folly. This is the policy
which they all strenuously oppose. And this, of course, is the policy which the President
tries to pursue. Those, therefore, who see in the removal of Sheridan a stroke of
Presidential wrath, and another of the endless blunders of his official conduct, are
warmest in their approval of the appointment of Thomas to succeed him. His appointment,
however, shows that the removal of Sheridan was an act of mere personal hatred. For, if he
were removed because of the measures he adopted, why appoint a successor who would
continue them? This was done not because the President feels any more kindly toward that
policy, but because of his fear of too direct an outrage of public sentiment, and because
of the protest of General Grant.
While General Thomas is military
Commander of Louisiana we do not believe that ex-rebels of the Mayor Monroe school or
their sympathizers will have any cause of rejoicing.
Articles Related to Overt
Obstruction of Congress:
Congress
February 2, 1867, page 67
February 16, 1867, page 99
March 16, 1867, page 163
How Long?
June 29, 1867, page 402
Reconstruction and Obstruction
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Summer Session
July 6, 1867, page 418
The Fortieth Congress
July 17, 1867, page 467
Thanks to the District Commanders
July 27, 1867, page 467
Impeachment Postponed
July 27, 1867, page 467
A Desperate Man
August 13, 1867, page 546
The Secretary of War
August 24, 1867, page 530
Samson Agonistes at Washington (cartoon)
August 24, 1867, page 544
The Stanton Imbroglio (illustrated satire)
August 24, 1867, page 542
Secretary Grant
August 31, 1867, page 546
Southern Reconstruction
August 31, 1867, page 547
The Political Situation
September 7, 1867, page 562
General Thomas
September 7, 1867, page 563
Southern Reconstruction
September 7, 1867, page 563
The General and the President
September 14, 1867, page 578
General Sickles Also
September 14, 1867, page 579
Southern Reconstruction
September 21, 1867, page 595
The Presidents Intentions
September 28, 1867, page 610
Impeachment
October 5, 1867, page 626
The Main Question
October 5, 1867, pages 626-627
Suspension during Impeachment
October 19, 1867, page 658
"Disregarding" The Law
November 2, 1867, page 691
Impeachment
December 14, 1867, page 786
General Grants Testimony
December 14, 1867, page 786
The Presidents Message
December 14, 1867, page 787
General Grants Letter
January 1, 1868, page 2
Secretary Stantons Restoration
January 25, 1868, page 51
Reconstruction Measures
January 25, 1868, page 51
The President, Mr. Stanton and General Grant
February 1, 1868, page 66
Romeo (Seward) to Mercutio (Johnson) (cartoon)
February 1, 1868, page 76
The War Office
February 1, 1868, page 77
Secretarys Room in the War Department (illus)
February 1, 1868, page 77
The New Reconstruction Bill
February 8, 1868, page 83
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