The union Democrat., 1869-05-15
Showing EzIs Celors.

| General Grant. before his election 10 ONCE
was regarded by q majority OF the people
irrespective Of politics, as being consersa-
tive man. The Radicals, imbued with this
idea. hated the political necessity that COM
pelled them to pick him up. on account oil nis
availability. Many Democrats imagined that
.. xou,d not .anction the Radical schemes OF
those who elected him to ofice. In fact great
numbers in every State voted for him under
his belief. We have heard men say that 1t
was the man and not the party that they
voted for-that they did not regard General
Grant as Radical. But by this time the
people must be pretty clearly convinced that
in RadicaSsm he out-Herod's Ilerod. His
negro anpointments and the information i'm
parted BY the following dispatch leave no
doubt on the subject:
CHICAGO, May 5.-A Journals special
saws Governor Geary and the Committee OF
the Union League. who visited the President
to-day. informed him they have been appoint
ed by the League to wait on the President
and members of the Cabinet for the purpose
os informing them Of the determination ot the
League 70 maintain it's organization and stand
bv the Administration in the effort to main
tain Republican principles and restore peace
and order in the Southern States.
The President expressed qualification at
this mark of confidence and assured the Com
mittee he would do all in his power to carry
out the principles of the Republican party
and of the League.
Hitherto the Presidents Of the United States
have been gentlemen who paid some regard
to honor and political consistency. 1t has
been reserved for Grant to set an example of
machaive;lian duplicity. He started out by
writing report, in the fall of 1865, on the
condition of the South, which became the
text book of the Conservatives. We next
find him the confidential friend and travelling
companion of President johnson. The con-
fidence of johnson was only obtained to be
betrayed, in the Stanton imbroglio. Still up
to the time Of taking his seat Grant made
pretence of conservatfsm-this pretence elect
ed him. Now he proclaims to the world that
he will do all in his power to carry out the
principles Of an oath bound, secret, political
organization. All experience and the lessons
Of history teach that such organizations are
inimical to liberty. In a country where free
speech and freedom Of the press are gnaran-
teed, the political principles that can only be
uttered in secret with secrecy secured by the
binding obligation of an oath cannot' be
otherwise than dangerous. When in the his
tory of our country has President before
pledged himself to carry out the principles OF
such an organization ? Alas we have fallen
upon evil times when the mantle of Washing
ton. Jefferson and Madison falls upon the
shoulders of such a specimen OF duplcity and
Ignorance as Grant. His official acts, since
his inauguration have been serious of blum
ders, from the appointment of Stewart to the
Treasury Department, down to his recent
proclamation appointing an extra session of
Congress. On the latter subject, the Wash
incton correspondent of the n. T. Herald,
writing under date, April 9th says:
"When the proclamation was read IN the
Senate, this afternoon, Mr.. Fessenden, in his
ouies. dry way, asked whether it did not pro-
vide for an extra session in 1870, instead OF
1869. Another opportunity was afforded the
dscontented for exclaming in derislon
sAnother blunder another blunder! The
cause of tins was the wording of the document
itself. which led for an extra session of the
Senate next April Fessenden wanted TO
know whether the word next did not literally
make the proclamation mean April, 1870?
There was no little smiling and joking at
this iuterrogatery from the Senator from
Maine. The only kind of joke he ever per-
pctrates is that which is covered with bitter,
cutting sarcasm, at which listeners are more
rrone TO feel astonShed than pleased there
fore, when he provoked laugh to-day 1t was
no common occurrence. Fessenden. however
was in earnest, and walked up to the Secre,
tary's desk to suggest that the attention OF
the President should be called to the wording
Of the proclamation, so that 1t might nave
legal and binding force to convene the senate
next Monday. Many Senators concurred IN
Fessenden's opinion. holding that as the pres
ent month was April, next April must inter-
a!ly be construed 10 mean April, lS'o. In
accordance with the suggestion OF Mr.; res
sensen il was sert back to the White House,
.nd ,bers altered so as to read 18th of April,
1890 instead of 18th of April next"
Dupicity on the great questions OF national
policy objectionable ignorance of the duties
of his office and nepotism in making his ap-
no;ntments seem to be the characteristics
which distinguish "the Great Reticent' from
his predecessors. An unenviable distinction
truly. With great truth "Mack" the Wash
ins,on correspondent Of the Cincinnati Com
mercidl says:
.The worship Of the shoulder straps is
about the shabbiest kind of idolatry | know
of. When political party ignores all the
men who are conspicuous in the civil history
of the country. and rushes with open arms to
embrace a West Point ignoramus, it deserves
no pity for whatever ill-luck may befall 1t:
You have no more right to exrect political
wisdom as the result of N West Point training
than you have to look for successful naviga-
tor in the graduate of a dancing-school.
A RAILROAD CoRNER.-The car of Durant,
President Of the Union Pacific Railroad. was