Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-06-02

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Its editor is the distinguished Charles
A. Dana, Assistant Secretary Of War in
the administration of Lincoln, and for
a long time connected with the New
York Tribune:
On the 4th of March, 1901, Thomas
Jefferson rode on horseback unatten-
ded to the capitol, hitching bis sober
gclding at the gate, ascended the
stepB, look the oath Of ofioo from tho
lips of John Marshall, aud delivered
that inaugural address which has
since been the keynote of the Demo
cratic party. John Quincy Adams,
when his Presidential term expired,
mounted a quiet nag, tied n portman-
teau behind him, and wended bis way
leisurely from Washington TO Quincy,
declining 20 receive any public demon-
stration from his admirers along the
route. AT the close Of Gen. Jackson's
long and remarkable administration,
he departed from the Federal capital
seated in a smoking car of the railway,
clad in a simple garb, wavinga grace
ful farewell TO his friends crowded
around the depot, and drawing conso-
lation from democratic clay pipe.
Each of these eminent men on sew
eral occasions, some of them of historic
celebrity, refused 10 receive presents
as testimonials of regard for public
services, both previous TO and when
filling the Presidential chair, except
ing that State legislatures voted two
or three swords and medals to Gen.
jackson while be was in private life,
as tributes to his gallantry in the
battle of New Orleans. Neither of
them ever bestowed Office upon rela-
tive, while both Jefferson and Jackson
specially declined to do so, the former
in letter which rebuked the practice
with marked emphasis.
We have fallen on other times. Are
they better timesi On Wednesday,
the Sd of March, 1869, the President
elect accepted s65,OO out of a sum of
money raised in New York at his own
pressing solicitation for Gcn. Sherman
TO pay him (the PresidenD for house
which he desired to sell. On Thurs
day he took the oath Of Office, and in
his inaugural address ho pledged him
sell to the rigid execution Of all laws,
whether he liked them or not. He
then spent nearly the entire first
week OF bis term in trying to evade
the plain provisions Of salutary stat
utes, because they blocked the way
for the admission of the most impor-
tants seat 10 his Cabinet to the almoner
who had bestowed this dazzling
present. Bafiled in this by the nrni-
ness of the Senate and the frowns of
the public, he nevertheless installed
among his constitutional advisers
other individuals who, though not
obnoxious to this particular objection,
were chiefly distinguished for having
conferred upon him costly and valuable
benefactions. Along with other ap-
pointments bearing this sort OF trade
mark, he appointed as his Secretary
OF the Navy a gentleman wholly inca
pable of filling the place, who had
taken the lead in giving him q fifty
thousand dollar house in Philadelphia
some three years before and he sur.
rendered the baton of General Of the
Armies 10 a renowned soldier, who,
with bis knowledge and appreciation,
lifted one hand to the oath of office,
while receiving with the other a
tempting gift valued u: 100000, Of
which the fifty thousand dollars
house in Washington formed part.
Not to 90 back to Jefferson, or Adams,
or jackson, for virtuous examples,
even Andy Johnson bad sense and
decency enough not to accept horses
with the Presidential oath lingering
upon his lips.
Such evil practices of men in high
places, whose vast achievements have
dazzled the popular imagination, tend
to demoralize the public service, aud
debauch public opinion. Ostentatious
displays and profligate expenditures
come to be regarded as necessary con
comitants OF official station, and it is
felt that the main object of office is
not TO discharge ones duties to the
country, but to thereby attain sudden
riches and indulge in shoddy mag
nifcence. The natural result OF all
this must inevitably be, that corrup-
ton and venality will walk unabashed
and almost unrepuked through every
department. Moreover, such evil
examples not only shed their porni-
cious influence through the place
hunting and place holding classes, but
roach the very roots Of society. They
infame the young men of the land
with a passion for wealth as the great
object of life. They tend to make
lucre the badge of honorable distinc-
tion and the possession of riches the
sole passport TO power en'inenee, or
even respeotability.
Is it not high time that the masses
of the people, who neither seek nor
hold Office, should labor for The return
of the good old times of republican
. simplicity, when statesmen felt a stain
ns a wound; when the dispenser oi
patronage would scorn to feed his poor
relations from the public crib and
when President would cut of bis
right hand ere il should sign the com
mission of man who had bestowed
upon him a giity
+ "Young man, what's the pricc o
this silk Y asked deaf old lady.
"Scven dollars" was the reply.
"Seventeen dollars r exclaimed she
an give you thirteen"
"Seven dollars, ma'am, is the price
of the silk" replied the honest shop
man.
"Oh, seven dollars, replied the lady
sharply; an give you tivc."
b "Why, Mr. Jones, are you drunk |!
exclaimed Mrs j., as her husband
came staggering into tho house, lat
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