Des Arc weekly citizen., 1868-10-27
The Danger of Intrusting the
 Government to a Novice.

Government to a Novice. From the New York Express.l
 We endeavored to show, yesterday what a perilous expedient it would be on the part of the people, to intrust the administration of the Government to 6 man like Grant, wholly inexperienced fin the details of civil government, and prone, so far as one may judge of his political leaniugs, 10 be precisely what. ever the cunning demagogues, into whose hands he must inevitably fall. may see fit to make him. In ordinary times such an experiment would be g thing to be deprecated--bu under the circumstances in which our distracted country is now placed, it would be the night of foEy--nay, madness itself. Hence, we repeat again and again, this is no time for such experiments, with new and untricd men--and especially not with men whose only record is that which has come of civil war, and of an era in American history which no lover of his country can ever con- template save with feelings of anguish and regret.
 But, apart from the perilous experi- ment of thus placing the administra- tion of the Government in the hands of man who must, from the absolute necessity imposed upon him by his personal and political surroundings, become mere military dictator, cer- tain grave precedents are to be estab lished by his election which it is we'll not to lose sight of. Some of these may be summarily set forth as follows:
 The election of Grant with the re. tention in power of the Radical party will be a ratification by the people of all the violations of the Constitution which have marked the conduct o that party from the start. 1t will be precedent for establish ing governments of force, in spite of the will of the people, in parts Of the country where Radicalism and Radi- calls are unpopular.
 It will be precedent for making this Government thus not govern meut of and for the people, lut only for portion--it may be mert beg garly minority even.
 It will be substantially, popular Endorsement of all the audacious and shameless violations of law of which this Radical party has been guilty du- ring the last seven or eight years, in cluding:
 Arbitrary and illegal arrests.
 The seizure of persons and papers without color of lawful authority.
 The substitution of military for civil law in times of peace and ill soctions of country where there is no resistance to the Government.
 The destruction of the liberty of the press.
 The denial of freedom of elections.
 The closing up of the courts, the sus- pension of the habeas corpus, and the denial of justice 10 the people, where justice was due.
 The withholding of all parliamentary rights and privileges from minority Representative to the Federal Legis- laturc.
 The establishment of financial poll icy which increases the wealth of the rich and tends to make the poor man a mendicant.
 Which lays the labor and industry of the nation under fearful contribu- ton, for the benefit of wealthy manu- featuring and banking corporations.
 Moreover it will be an endorsement of the high tariff swinde. The shame ful extravaganza in the public expend- iture, and
 An opening of the door for still heavier burdens of taxation, with
 A multiplication of the army of in ternal revenue collectors, who are eat ing up the substance of the country, like the locusts of Egypt.
 The maintainance of great stand ing army in the Southern States, at an average cost, each man, of 5000 per annum--to come, in due proportion, out of the pockets of the workingman, the mechanic. the ssleried clerk, and the poor sewing girl.
 These are some of the precedcnts, f. nancial and economic, which tho cleo tion of Grant will be used to confirm and establish. There are others ofeven graver character, affecting our social and political status, which must not be overlooked. Among these are--
 The enforcement of negro suffrage.
 The inauguration of war of races, with
 The conversion of ten States of tho Uuion into so many Yankee San Do mingos, Haytis, and Mexicos.
 Now, be it borne in mind. we do not spcak of these grievances in the future tense. They are things past and pres ent-things which, and the effect oi which, the Democratic party are sol emuly pledged to redress, and to pre- vent the recurrence of; but which should Grant be elected, will be re- ceiyed as Radical precedents, warrant ing the repetition of them in future wherever the interests of the dema- rogues in power with him as theii leader shall point that way.
 Itremains for the people, then. to say whether they are ready to open the door to such precedenls, whether they are prepared to turn their backs on tho