Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1869-04-19

President Grant, with undoubtedly
the best intentions, has made several
unfortunate mistakes in his domestic
and foreign appointments. Some Of
those to which we refer might we'll have
been omitted altogether, for the present
iucumbents cannot justly be accused OF
incompetency, uufaithfulness, or politi-
cal unsoundness, and tue country was
led to believe no removals would be
made but for cause. The President is
| evidently unable to resist the demands
| Of Congressman and other leading poll
ticians to have places made for their
personal friends and adhcrents.
Party direction seems to be made up
of y congeries of private cliques, all
working, so far us the distribution of
places is concerned, for private ends.
When one Senator or Congressman
goes out, the officers appointed through
his influence must follow him; and
so rotation is narrowed from a par
tisan to a personal rule. That
the President, or his Cabinet, con-
s~ciously and purposely, in every in
stance Of removal sough, in this spirit,
are themselves governed by a personal
motive, it would be unjust to say.
Probably, in q majority of cases, they
are influenced by er parte statements,
and led to believe removals are demand
ed by the public service. Many reno
walls eau be truly justified on this ground,
but several that have come to our knowl-
edge are clearly violative of the declared
intention Of the new administration to
retain good officers, who are ut the same
time known AS good Republicans. The
principle which allows Senators and
congressman to dictate removals on
other grounds is destructive Of the mo-
rate of the public service, calculated to
disgust the best citizens with public life,
aud to keep the control of affairs in the
hands of mcu of low abilities and mo-
tives.
As u specimen Of the unfortunate ap-
poirtments made from the ranks Of Pa
cifc coast politicians, and an illustra-
ton of the influences effecting them,
we may refer to the nomination OF
Charles E. belong, of Nevada, for the
Japanese ministry. This is a position
requiring solid ability, varied culture,
discreet Judgment, and u character and
bearing that will command respect.
Our relations with both China and
Japan are peculiarly important, by rea-
sou Of our geographical position and
commercial growth o. the Pacific. We
should be represented there oply by
men of the best talent, able TO cope
with the experienced and accomplished
diplomats from England aud France
Now Mr.. DeLong is simply u smart poll
tician, of very narrow attachments, en-.
dowed with much 1uency of speech and
self-conidence, popular with the Boys
and expert in the iutrigues by which
primaries aud conventions are con-
trolled. He has not even strong politi-
cal convictions but his aspirations are
boundless, and he has been constantly
working for place since hctrst appeared
in the California Assembly, ten or
eleven years ago. He has twice been
candidate for United States Senator
from Nevada, withdrawing from the
last contest in favor Of Stewart, IN pur.
suance, rs was geuerall, asserted n
believed, with the bargain that he
should be compensated by a high Fed
eral appointment. The President mas
doubtless appointed him Minister to
Japan on the recommendation Of Stew
art and other representatives of Ne
vada and thus the conditions OF q
private contract are carried out at the
expense OF the National character and
interests abroad. Whether Mr. Van
Bokelen, our present Minister to Japan,
is charged with iacapacity or unftness
of any kind we do not know. It has
been popularity supposed, however,
that he was discharg;ng his trust with
credit to himself aud country, and if