The first sixteen years after the inauguration of the Constitution, including the Administrations of Washington, John Adams, and the first four years of Jefferson, were by no means free from it.

But it never got so dangerous a hold upon the forces of the Government, or upon a great political party, as in the Administration of General Grant.
General Grant was an honest and wise man.

History has assigned him a place among our great Presidents.

He showed almost unerring judgment in military matters.

He rarely, I suppose, if ever, made a mistake in his estimate of the military quality of a subordinate, or in a subordinate's title to confidence.
But he was very easily imposed upon by self-seeking and ambitious men in civil life.