Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-05-12

In war umea, Il was considered
treason TO orlticlse The acis Of Lincoln
a Co, who were then called "Thc
Government" BY roaiois II The tone
OF some Of the Radical newspapers
means anything, the otovemmcnt" Is
Just now being rather roughly handled.
Although but latcly putin power, the
guns OF iis own friends are being
turned against t. The Chicago Trib-
une, (lhe leading organ Of loyaldom
in thc',yest, aud a number of lesser
lights, are "sailing in" rather roughly,
but truthmlly- The Boston Adrer.
tiSer, Summers organ, also speaks very
disparagingly of the powers that be,
although Massachusetts has two mem.
bers in the Cabinet, two leading For
eign Missions, and more clerks in the
Departments and carpet-baggers in
the Negro Bureau, than any other
State in the Union.
The Tribune makes the following
flank movement upon the enemy's
works;
"when Gen. Grant was induced into the Prcsi-
dental Office, ON the 4th Of March last he was
stronger in the respect and confidence Of the peo-
pie than any othor man who has filed that high
office during the present generation. On
that day may be safely said that President Grant
was tho strongest mnu In Chrstcndom for his
power was rooted in the affections Of iroe people
There has been change. Too months hare passed
avay aud il oaHRoi be affirmed that ce harc strong
administration. Its moral power has been lrittor,
ed away by small ahsurditc, General
Grants first mistake consisted In his supposing
that n government is the same thing A. an army.
To carry II government statesmen are
neclc who understand the ideas, the wants aud
the temperament Of the people. and whose conjoint
experience aud wisdom nay form a body Of opin-
ion in harmony with the nation or at least with
the party in power. II there be statesmen in
General Grants Cabinet he has yet to make him
self known as such to the public. 10 begin at the
beginning, the Secretary Of State does not know
the men, OF the idea, the country at the present
day. nor do thcy know him. II is
probable that he was a. much surprised when be
was called to hll the foremost place in the Cabinet
as his c0untrymcn were. lie has come down To
us from former generation. But be is
not the man to conduct our diplomacy. Nor is be
the man to take a leading position in great and
progressive government The second
mistake of the President (and the one which has
perhaps weakened him most in public eslimation)
is his cagcrness to appoint personal friends and
relatives TO Office. In this behalf be has furnished
a target TO the enemy where all their shots take
effect, and not upon him alone, but upon the party
which elected him. In appointing Mr.. Washburn
Secretary Of State, mere matter Of compliment,
he tihed with the dignity Of the highest Office in
his gift. A compliment Of this nature ought not
to have been either conferred or accepted. The
Office l. too high 10 be made an instrument Of po-
htencss. More than bali the votes against the
repeal Of tic uiict Tenure law were made by this
act Why, Il may b; asked. DO we say
thcsc things? The answer j. tuo-fold. In the
first place they are already known--cverybod is
taking about them, IN the streets, on the horse
cars, in the railroad trains in the club rooms,
around the cucher tables and everywhere except
in the Executive Mannon. The facts cannot be
more public than they are. In the second place
II Is Necessary, as we conceive, that there should
be a change. There must BE- Cabinef rih states.
B,anshp in H. aud tlere nusi be on end 10 HspeiisH
IN me gousranlsai, because the respect aud conf
dencc Of the public cannot be retained where the
former Is wanting and where the latter nbounds.
Without the respect and confidence Of the public
no administration eau have any vitality