The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-07
THE INGRATEs LEAVE EARLY.

From the Chicago Post
The insensibility to shame that marks the
conduct of certain Republican editors who,
being refused office by General Grant, have gone
over TO his detractors, is significant sign of the
political degeneracy of the times. In the better
days of the republic, the Journalist who thus adj
vertised to the world his true character as sol
dier of fortune-a free lance ready to battle
under that leader who gave to his followers the
most wine and the largest share OF the common
spoil-could not have faced popular indignation
for a day. He would not only have lost his sub
scribers, but he would have sunk so low in public
esteem, that the members ofhis profession would
have hooted him out of their brother
hood. Yet the history of the last two
months affords, among the pro-
fessedly Republican editors of the
country, half-a-dozen instances in which first
one and then another has made public procla-
nation that his fidelity to the party, and his
professed admiration OF its leader the eXecu-
tive head of the nation, was all the while
secretly conditioned upon the expectation of
ofiice because General Grant surely has done
nothing or neglected nothing which can bring
him within the just censure OF his party friends.
He is to-day the same man that he was when
these ingrates were bespattering him with eX-
traVagant praise. So far as he has
had occasion to yindicate the policy OF the party
in his official action, he has not failed to come
up to the standard by which his partisans will
judge him hence, the utmost of which he can be
accused is that he has here and there made II
mistake in the character and fitness of those
upon whom he has conferred his patronage
mistake in every instance due to the want OF
discretion or want of honesty on the part of his
advisers. But in the minds of the malcontents
the Presidents unforgvable offense is his failure
TO reward their high qualities and arrogant pre-
tensions.
1t is perhaps fortunate that these gentlemen
have displayed their weakness and venality thus
early. We are yet in the first quarter Of the
first year of the new administration; and Grants
real business as President has hardly commenced.
Thus far he has been merely distributor OF the
spoil, of victory-one office to every ten appli-
cants We know, as yet, nothing of his admi-
nistratiye qualities As we time and time again
foretold in the attempt to abate the eXtraya-
pance of public expectation, he has been the
Victim, often an unwilling and not unfrequently
a rebellous victim to the disgraceful traditions
to the victor belongs the spoils-upon which
both parties act But it is not possible that Con-
press will get through its next session without
fhe necessity arising for calling around him all
the strength of his supporters; hence we say
that il is fortunate that the men who have
already furled their banners and gone to the rear
or over to the enemy, because OF the insuilicency
of the pay, viii not be in position, when a
struggle comes to make their treaehery felt.
Now. the Republican party can afford to con-
oratulate itself on the fact that the apostacy to
its policy and principles which we have lately
observed is harmless TO all except those VINO
hove ccf"firod. -