The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1866-03-01

stances but we think we have said enough
to convince our readers that while no good
could be accomplished by an opposite course
the cause we profess to serve might be ac-
tualIy jeopardized thereby.
Reflections Suggested by the Presidents
Speech.
The following article from the Chicago
Journal so fully expresses our views that
we copy and endorse it instead of writing
one upon the same subject: s'-,1
1t would be impossible, even were it best,
to conceal the modification of the public
mind over the tone and temper of the speech
delivered from the steps of the Presidential
mansion on Thursday evening last Wheth-
er we consider the day, the place or the
speaker, we are equally panied and saddened
for the speech is equally discredit to them
all.
When the President recalled the attention
of his audience to the sacred anniversary
upon which he spoke, the recollection should
have been potent to restrain every ebullition
of bad blood, no less in the speaker than his
hearers. Indeed, we cannot imagine pub
lie address more out of keeping with the
character of Washington than that which
fell from the lips of his last successor on the
evening of the last anniversary of his birth
day.
And here let us not fail to remark that
we cannot too frequently recall the exam
pie of the Father Of his country in the mat
ter of sobriety and decorum on public oc-
casions. In this, as In other respects, our
first Chief Magistrate was an example wor-
thy the imitation Of his successors in that
august Office. President Washington was
notably clear of passion and of choer in bis
address to the people, and never allowed
himself to prostitute his station for the pur-
poses of personal retaliation. He magnified
bis Office, and was careful of its dignity
He behaved as though well assured of the
solemnity of his trust, and as though he
were under obligations, which he certainly
was, to abstain from whatever conduct
should bring his lofty position into disrepute.
| That White House in Washington is
the political Holy Of Holes of the American
people. Its tenants are under VOW to see
that the laws of virtue, decency and deco
rum are faithful executed within its walls
and on it's grounds, No man may defIe
those premises by word or act without in
curing the indignation of the public con-
science. When public decorum abandons
the Presidential mansion we may well look
about US with apprehension to see whether
it is to be found anywhere in public life
If we desire to point stranger to the
topmost flower of our American civilization
In the way of social refinement and political
| dignity, we should naturally lift our finger
to the Republican ''court" at Washington.
There we should reasonably expect to find
the purity, simplicity and sobrieuy in per-
feet appearing which distinguishes the tenn
porary "royal family of Republic from
| that which reigns for life over European
empires. If we cannot have sobriety in a
place so powerful as an example, we can
hardly hope for it i'll other places under the
influence of this one.
1t is time for such reflections as these, we
think, when such sp eeches as that of the
| President, on Thursday evening last, are
made under the caves of mansion which
he rents of the Republic. The landlord has
some jurisdiction over the tenant when the
tenant fails in requisite jurisdiction over
himself. The President, we are obliged tc
say, then, in behalf of the landlord, was not
sufficiently under seIf-restraint when he de-
delivered his recent Washington's birthday
address. Not to speak Of the ill taste of SC
frequently adverting to his personal sacri-
! fees in behalf of his country, we must de-
muir at the vituperative personalities with
which his speech is seasoned for the itching
ears of the groundlings-who, by the way,
will not justify, however they may applaud,
such language as this from such an official
as the President of the United States, and
on such spot as the steps of the Republics
tenement for the use of its chief servant. i.
When voices , cry ''Give it to Forney, "
and the President i'll response says he 9 does
not waste his ammunition upon dead ducks, "
he rather detracts from the force of what
Immediately follows, when he says: ''1hey
may vltuperate me, but let me say to you
all, this has no influence over me-" If vi
tuperation is without influence in the
one case it may be in the other; but if it
has no influence for good it certainly has
for evil, especially when employed by one
whoes official position, if not personal pres
ence, gives it the character of an example.
And when the President IN another response
to 6 a voice" wakes facetious over the
lifts" he gave when he worked at the
trade Of tailor, his remarks are not befit-
ting or becoming the place Or the occasion,
and when he violently protests against be-
| ing beheaded " or assassinated &" by
those who disagree with him, he may be
greeted with great applause by his
tumultuo us auditors, but he will surely be
regarded as ridiculous by the sober masses
who read his speech at their firesides. And
we do not like to see the President of the
United States make himself ridiculous
The President says he speaks in this in
stance as private citizen rather than a
Chief Magistrate. This is impossible The
| office speaks whenever its occupant opens
his mouth. His words may not be official
in the legal, but they certainly are in the
moral, sense, and have an official influence
upon the public mind. And when we re-
fleet that the President is regarded by for
elgn Governments as the representative of
our own, that representative is under ad-
dltlonal obligations to behave himself as
one whose behavior involves the reputation
of a whole people,
AS this is the second time the present
Chief Magistrate has offended against pub
llc decorurn, to the great modification of
his friends and the great qualification of his
enemies, we sincerely hope he will never
again give occasion for the reproaches which
at present pour in. upon him from every
quarter
Statistics Of the State for 1865.
Mr.. A. j. TURNER has introduced bill in