The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-01-07
Want of Confidence.

Don Piatt, the Radical Washington
correspondent of the Radical Cincin
natl Commercial, In letter to tina
paper, dated the 2Sth ult, relates the
following, giving the reason why tht
Republicans nominated Gen. Grant
and showing their want of confidence
in him now they hayesecured his elecI
ton:
A few days before the late adjourn
ment, 1 sat by prominent member
of Congress, and leader of our organ.
zation, discussing the probabilities OF
Grants Administration.
"The fact is, we know nothing o.
General Grant, said the NJ. c., sEhe
was nominated because of his availa-
bility as candidate, and belief
gathered up from his record, that he
was reliable. twas Hobson's choice
with us-we were forced to accept him
or defeat" far - e
Under these circumstances, would
it not be well to move slowly, and feel
our way little ~ I asked. esel;.'5 :
Certainly, if it were possible; but
do not see how we can put the brakes
on-a President is President-and ]
have been here long enough to know
that the first two years we give to reg
istering his edicts, and the next two to
securing our own reflections. That
is the history of partisan legislation ?
But the tenure-of-office act makes
great difference in the relations ex-
isting between Cangress and the Ex-
ecutive."
Certainly; and the civil service
bill will make yet more of change.
But you viii see that the one viii not
be passed, and the other viii be re-
pealed at once" -"
"Do you really think SO 2" aasi4i r
eyes, do. L find a large number
of men who give me as reason that
they want the responsibility of select
ing honest and efficient agents thrown
upon the President; it is not well.
therefore, to have his hands tied. The
reasons really animating them are to-
be found in a desire to fiatter General
Grant, and in the other and more
powerful motive to- be found in the
fact that, if the Senate has to be COM
suited in the SELECTION andrdismissaI
of officers, each member will have less
freedom in the bestoWnl of patron
age" f.g - tsaIi3 sil j
And are veto haze the same fear
full rush of hungry ofice-seekers, that
have disgraced us of old?r I'd
" Well, yes, We were hungry of;
fice-seekers before we came to Con-
gress, and we hold our places through
the consent of other hungry office
seekers, who look to us for support,
If we cannot satisfy them, theytwill
turn on u.s." z453sa .aaa.aa Iu4
g So there is no hope of getting out
of this demoralized condition OF, the
service, and returning to the constitu-
tional purity of the fathers!" !
"The constitutional purity of the
fathers, as you call it, was well enough.
But we have learned since then that a |
Government is not made up. of paper
constitutions, and cannot rise above /
the virtue and intelligence of the p,eo-
pie really making it, no more than a |
fountain can rise above its head. We
are not the representatives 6f the /
earning nor the morality of the land. |
We are simply the representatives. of /
The people, and come to our places1
through their accredited agents-the t
politicians of the caucus. LOOK at
Butler, if you want an Illustration He
$ a man of large brain-wonderfully
'ultivated-and yet he moves repeal
If this law because he is driven to it..
He holds his place through the pateo
'onage claimed for his district. He
toops to flatter Grant, for if left to I
he Senate, it will be used against I
aim.Y III 4..f ee.,si-s..,- -s5fsd a..I 4
L cannot give the name of5the gem
'leman talking to me in the above, for
would do him an injury. But The is 4
me of,the few here whe seek, throughl
lard study, to be considered statesl'E
men and not politicians; and you may
count them upon your fingers, p "a, II