Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/99

 ULYSSES SIMPSON GRANT 73 ployed in his campaigns, yet the extraordinary com binations effected and the skill and boldness ex hibited in moving large armies into position entitle him, perhaps, to as much credit as the qualities he displayed in the face of the enemy. On March 4, 1869, Grant was inaugurated the eighteenth presi dent of the United States. Gen. Grant had never taken an active part in politics, and had voted for a presidential candidate but once. In 1856, although his early associations had been with the Whigs, he cast his vote for James Buchanan, the Democratic candidate; but this was on personal rather than political grounds, as he be lieved that the Republican candidate did not possess the requisite qualifications for the office. So much doubt existed as to his political proclivities that prominent Democrats had made overtures to him to accept a nomination from their party only a few months before the nominating conventions were held. But he was at heart in thorough accord with the principles of the Republican party. He be lieved in a national banking system, a tariff that would fairly protect American industries, in the fostering of such internal improvements as would unite our two seaboards and give the eastern and western sections of the country mutual support and protection, in the dignifying of labor, and in laws that would secure equal justice to all citizens, re gardless of race, color, or previous condition.