The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-29

PRESIDENT GRANT is rapidly suDslolng
into stolid stunldity, or stupid stolldl-
ty, which, cons ring all things, is almost
sublime He .uoes not seem TO care
whether school keeps or not. He no
longer makes the feeblest struggle against
the tide, but calmly floats on and with 1t,
and hobs up and down as every Radical
ripple hobs him. This is the spectacle
presented by our new President, who has
been tided on from a tanpit and noateo
into his present position. Under these
circumstances, how long it will be before
he ceases to be an object OF passing inter
est to the public, AMI become mere OBJ
iect of contempt, eveL to his party, is
matter of such incOnscquence as to be
scarcely worth inquiring.
And yet the general puolic-the people
who have business, prope -ty, concern In
public matters, and regard for national
hOnor-cannot but be vitally interested IN
the conduct of great affairs which directly
and indirectly affect all other affairs, great
and small, public or private, N the whole
country. To be sure, grain will grow and
bread will be baked whether the Execu-
tive power of the nation is efficient or not.
But the price of what we put into our
mouths, or on our bucks, may and will be
seriously affected by the manner in which
what we have come to call and to accept
as the Government" instead of the "Ad-
ministration," may be conducted. If the
Government drifts, all things else will
drift with it. If the Government is strong
only in expenditures and extravaganza,
the cost Of every mans living will be pro
portionately enhanced. If the Govern
ment is weak In everything but motley
spending, business throughout the country
will continue, as now, TO be depressed, and
though the rich Of certain class-the
money-lenders, The spectators, especially
the few who speculate upon the mistor-
tunes of TIE many-may become richer,
the poor, meaning the great majority OF
the people will grow poorer daily.
This Is the situation to-day. 1t is seen
that the new Administration is too v AK to
pin shred of faith upon that it WI dopt,
OF even suggest, a single one of q great
measures so much needed to revive our
dropping business or to encourage fresh
enterprises. After four years OF war
which drained the vital energies OF the
country, followed by four years of peace
which were worse than war because they
were protitlessly spent, not in recuper-
ating the exhausted country, but in patch
ing up party for public wear of four
years more, it did seem as if the time had
come, at last, when the people, i. not the
Government, might have opportunity to
attend to something beyond and more vital
to the nation than mere party politics.
Grant was represented to be man who
would be strong President, who would
bind up the wounds which his party had
inflicted; who would bring back to the
nation something of that real and sub
stantial peace which even he prated about
and which the people prayed for; who
would cut down the expenses of admins
tering affairs who would reduce taxation
by reducing the army of tax -gatherers
ana the cost of collection who would as
semble around him the best advisers; who
would send abroad the best representa-.
tives; and so give to the Government q
solid strength which would make it re-
spected beyond our own boundaries and
hOnOred at home.
These representations were freely made
by the partisans of Grant during last years
campaign, and by means OF these false
pretences thousands upon thousands OF
Democratic votes were secured to assist
in making the man President. 1t is evil
dent enough already, thus early in the ca
reer of the new Government, that these
Democrats have been fearfully deluded
not to say swindled. 1t IS seen that the
new Administration is not merely incom
petent, but nearly imbecile. To be weak
says Milton, is TO be miserable; but tc bt
worse than weak-tO succumb with almost
sense of satisfaction to the willy trick
sters who propose to WELD that weakness:
and to mould putty President as they
Lo1
From the day when the politicians bagged
him body and boots in the matter of the
Treasury SecretaI yship, and yielded tc
their clamors against A. L. Stewart, he
has presented the shameful public spec
tacle of man who had made loud
mouthed pretensions of extraordinary
independence, and then deliberately pros
tituted himself to be used whenever and
however his party chose to use him. II
is not merely the disgrace of an individu
al, il is the shame of whole nation.
The result of this abject acquiescence to
the will and ways of the paltry politicians
who are now play ing with their puppet,
is manifest in the ridiculous exhibit OF
second class men who have been put in
nearly all the prominent positions of trust
and honor The twice or thrice-construct-
ed Cabinet is an assemblsge of advisers
whose advice no New York merchant
whose business is worth half million q
year would deem worth asking, and these
are the men who are to manage, aud
worse yet, to absolutely direct and control
concerns which are as complicated as they
are vast. Elegant nincOmpoops are sent
abrOad-a mere magazlnlst to England
and a sartOrial snob to Spain-tO manage
delicate and difficult relations which may
result in war with half of Europe. In
other almost as important places, fitness
has been the last and least consideration in
making the appointments, and relation
ship, favors and presents have been para
amount. These are the weak props of 9
still weaker President. II is by such
means and by such administrators thai
our great Government is TO b. conducted.
Perhaps this poor President and his in
competent assistants were needed to dis
pei the delusiOn that Grant was a man o.
great executive ability, and that the Re
publican party had statesmen in its ranks
When they have played with Government
awhile, the people will see the need o.
public officers who are competent to work
-Neso York Citizen, april 17th
johnson at Home.