The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-01-06
Gbe' peurocrot.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 6
A. McGREGoR, EDITOR.
What a President Should Be.

Gen. Grants reticence, and the terms of
his letter of acceptance, it is claimed by the
moderate Republican Press, at the North,
leave him uncommittsd to any particular
line of policy. We would that he could be
guided by the following deIineation Of what
patriot President should be, as drawn by
the hand of the great Expounder of the
Constitution. Let him take this master-por-
trait for his madel, and he will rally around
himself and his administration all good and
true men, the WIDE country over.
In speech delivered to the young men
of Albany, on the 28th of May, 1851, Dan
iel Webster said:
Gentlemen, a patriot President of the
United States is the guardian, the protector,
the friend of every citizen in them. He
should be, and he Is, no mans prosecutor,
no mans enemy, but the supporter and pro-
tectOr of all and every citizen, so far as such
support and protection depend on his faith
full execution of the laws. But there is es-
pecially one great idea which Washington
presents, and which governed him, and
which should govern every man in high Of
fee, who means to resemble Washington;
that is, the duty of preserving the Govern
ment itself; of suffering, so far as depends
on him, 7lO one branch TO interfere t0ith
another. and no pOlcer TO be assumed
not 6eLOnqinQ to each, and none ADAM
dOned ICliich pertains TO each; but to pre-
serve it and carry it on unframed for the
benefit of the present and future genera
| ton.
Gentlemen, wise and prudent shipmas-
ter makes it his FIRST duty to preserve the
ers,- and all that is committed to his charge;
to keep her afloat, to conduct her to her
| destined port with entire security of proper
! ty and life; that is his first object, and that
should be the object, and is, of every Chief
Magistrate of the United States, who has q
proper appreciation of his duty, His first
and highest duty is to preserve the COnstitu-
ton which bears him, which sustains the
| Government, without which every thing
! goes to the bottom; TO preserve that, and
keep it, with the utmost of his ability and
foresight, off the rocks and shoals, and
away from the quick-sands; to accomplish
this great end, he exercises the caution OF
the experienced navigator. He suffers moth
ing to betray his Watchfulness, or to draw
him aside from the great interest committed
to his care; but is always awake, always So
licitous, always anxious, for the safety OF
the ship which is to carry him through the
stormy sea.
Though pleased to see the dOlphins play,
He minds his compass and his way
And oft he throws the.Wary lead,
To see what dangers may be hid:
At helm he makes his reason sit,
His crew of passions all submit.
Thus, thus he steers his barque and sails,
On upright keel, to meet the gales !"
Now, gentlemen, a patriot President, act
ing from the impulses of his high and hon
orahle purpose, may reach what Washing
ton reached. He may contribute to raise
high the public prosperity, to help to I'LL up
the measure of his country's glory and re-
nown; and he may be able to find a rich re-
ward in the thankfulnass of the people,
tAnd read his history in a nations eyes,"