The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1869-04-21
The President and the Party.

There were those who hoped that
the President, who had been elected
bv the people. MS they said, would dis
card the politicians and rely upon the
country. What do such words mean !
Who is the country. aud what arc the
people? They arc the Republican nnd
Drmocrntic parties. There IL not n
vast reserved multitude of "pcoplc y
independent Of pnrtics. The people
nrc divided into the great party organ.
i2atinns; smd 10 expect that the prrsi'
dcut would cndcnvor TO find some one
who WAS in sympathy with neither,
was TO expect that he would Do guilty
Of unut,erablo folly.
There were those, for instance, who
hoped that Mr.. Charles Francis Adams
would be made Secretary Of State.
The columns Of this paper arc the wit
ness Of our appreciation Of Mr.. Adamss
ability and service. But Mr.. Adams
has chosen to withdraw from the Re-
publican party. Upon the eve OF an
election which involved the essential
question whether the late rebels should
control the Government Mr. Adams
preferred TO express no opinion. Now
at such q time for man like Mr.. Ad-
ans not 10 speak was to express him
self ,houSnndiold more loudly than
if he had shouted. The people Of the
country, who felt In every tibro that
the war WAS q real thing, and that no
misfortune was 20 threatening as the
presence Of Wade Hampton and his
party IN the Government, elected Gen.
eral Grant. Mr.. Adams showed no
sign ofintcrcst or sympathy. His son,
inierrntially, under the circumstances.
with his tniher's assent. had been coquct-
ting with Wade Hampton, and was
the candidate or Wade Uampton's par
tv for Governor Of Massachusetts. II
General Grants first net had been tho
nomination OF Mr.. Adams as Secretary
Of State, he would have paralyzed the
party that elected him, aud opened q
stru. gle like that from which that
party has just victoriously emerged.
The government Of this country is 4
party government. When President
Is elected, he is the representative OF
principles and q policy which arc ap.
proved by q constitutional majority OF
tho people, who are tho source Of pow
CT. Those people, therefore, have a
right TO demand that those principles
shall prevail, and. rs inthe absence OF
u proper civil service system the con-
troll of tho Executive Administration
iS essential to the effective organiza-
ton OF the party, they will naturally
expect that tho Administration will be
intrus,ed to honest and capable men,
who arc also Of tho party. liza man
believes that the asceMdency Of his
party is essential 10 the highest public
welfare, knowing tho necessity Of
thorough party organization to that
result, he will properly take every
honorable means 10 strengthen aud
complete that organization.
b! Now politician Is very elastic term.
Burke and Wilkes, Hamilton and Fre-
neau, wore all politicians. They took
an active interest III politics and in
party organizations. Tho treproach Of
many OF the, best American citizcnB
has always been that they. arc not pol
iticiaus. If tho word has como to have
Oil offensive significance, tits because
those who should have kept 1t ipuro
have evaded their duty. They have
allowed 1t TO become pynonymouswlth
rascal. But it has still higher mean.
Ing, which every honest man, will re.
member, and every patriotic man Will
cndeavor to restore. AN American
who rlumes himself upon not being a