The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1869-11-10
Wanted-A President.

A nation standing upon tho vorgc
OF aotual bankruptcy, ovorwholm-
cd with the consequences of n
grcat national debt, and torn and
distracted with grave questions
naturally arising from a great civil
contest, its constitutional ruler
cuts moro fantastic antics than u
country pumpkin with his first
boots and swallow tailed coat.
Since tho Inauguration, tho court
journals havo tccmod with ten ia
bio nonsense and tho pucrilitics Of
Presidential tandangocs. Horse
races, ball, fancy brands Of cigars,
sea bathing, pleasure excursions,
and nothingness without limit,
have become the ruling clements,
and in tact tho administration of
the, government Of tho United
States. Each day, or cach week
at the most, some now Field Of
the Cloth Of Cloth is invaded to
set tongues to wagging and jon
kinsos to scribbling about Grants
proficiency in the dance, and tho
flavor Of his cigars the stylc Of
Mrs. Grants pctticont, her charm
ing simplicity or somo other cqal-
ly statcsman-likc twaddlc.
Button.holing committees Of
costcrmongcrs, gift association and
mutual admiration societies, take
the President in charge, who winles
and bIinks aud mirks in solid self
complaccncy ut their conceitcd
tom -ioolerios, with rs much indif-
ference, rs though he was lion
lied prize fighter, or successful
mounte. bank, instead Of tho arbi-
ter Of tho dcstinies, and tho con-
scrvator Of the welfare of moro
than thirty millions Of people. No
private citizen could play the part
that Grant is playing with digni-
ty; then how much loss can he, as
Prcsidtitt, 10 it.
Pretending 10 bc in favor of re-
tircmcnt :ind yquictude, he seeks
cvcry opportunity to become the
hero OF some idle ovation. His
every movement is hcrnldcd in ad.
vance; to give the sycophants and
toalics who cling to the buzz and
dust Of his going, ~ chance to re.
ccivc him with Il grand flourish Of
trumpcts.
Five months have elapsed since
his inauguration and yot tho A.
mcrican Sphynx | rs failed to in
form the people what his policy
will be. The fact is now patent
to all thinking men, regardless of
party, that Gcn. Grant is simply
an elaborate bore, and mentally
incapable Of having policy. His
tumblc.down Cabinet cannot fur
nish him with one. Originally
too weak to have the power Of CO.
hcsion, it is continually falling to
pieces to be patched up with ma.
tcrial still worse. lie scems con-
tent to play the hcro--a species of
comedy not vcrJ palatablc to A
mcrican ciLizons- rather than act
the President. His idcn of "rcaco''
is idle aud proAigatc show and pa
radc-to be made tho central fig
urc Of, gala day, and bo fcted,
dincd, wincd, cigarcd and horse
talked 10 al cxtcnuatcd degree Of
nauscousnoss.
Shades Of American Statesmen
Think Of IL Washington ora Jack
son playing tho carpet knight, or
gravcly discussing tho relative
merits Of cigars, or tho points of q
raco horse, while tho helmlcss and
pilotlcss ship Of state drifts at ran
dom on the sea Of momcntous
questions, and is being drawn into
the jaws Of SeyIla and Charibdis.
But Grant seems inclined to fiddle
and his constitutional advisers
seem to take pleasure in dancing
aud dangling at his heels, or fill
the allotted spheres Of second class
lay figures ut dumb shows.
There is an ominous beating up.
on bass drums; and plentiful pcals
Of mock thunder behind tho sccncs
but tho curtain has not yet boon
raised tn give tho cxpectant au.
dicncc q ticw Of tho wonderful re,
forms promised by tho now nd
| mimistratjon. Tho vcstibulcs and
ante rooms are filled with huge
trunks and canvass clubs, but tho
initiated know that thoy contain
only vacuity md saw dust. The
paid claequeys applaud and encore
tho shadowy farcos, bnt tho au.
dicncc who pay to sec The perform,
anco arc not satisfied. Thoy arc
not getting tho worth of thei,
money.
With our every commercial in
forest crippled, and their very OK
istonco endangered, the party in
Itpower has no financial policy loav
ing tho business interests of oul