Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-23
THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE
DICTATORSHIP,

The hrst three weeks OF Dictatorship. In
the United States has developed enough to
indicate what its future will be- The reti-
cence that was foolishly published under
false Label as uncommon wisdom turns out to
be the commonest kind of stupidity; and the
charges of military ambition and arbitrari>
ness, so Indignantly denied by the friends of
Grant during the last canvass, (says the Co.
lumbus Crisis have received confrma-
ton from his first acts. His administers
ton seems to have begun without wisdom,
and promises to be conducted without dignity,
and end without glory to its head or good to
the country. The ENABLED warrior" who
guided his army to success by his reckless
ness and himself to power by his reticence,
does not find those qualities which distin>
guished him in the military available in the
civil service. The very modification which
he must feel after the humiliating defeats he
has met renders him the more dangerous, for
they serve to drive him to the Selling of the
imperial robe which his sycophants are so
anxious to bestow upon him, despite of their
recent ridicule of Frank Blair's prophecy
He is completely defeated in his war upon
the politicians of his own party; but he has
recourse in his military education. His first
proceedings are like those of a military die
tator putting his camp in order, rather than
like the proceedings of statesman called to
the Presidency of plain and simple repub-
lican government. Instead of clerk or two
in his office, such as sufhced the last, and all
preceding Presidents, we fud him filling the
White House with Brigadier Generals by the
half dozen, who perform the functions assign
ed to those who surround a king He has
his Lord Chamberlain Brigadier, his Aid
de, Camp Brigadier, his Private Secretary
Brigadier, and his clerks, his messengers,
and his solutions all bearing military rank,
and being paid out of the public purse. His
Cabinet he evidently regards as his military
staff, and not as councillors learned in the
laws and accomplished in State craft. His
official household is a burlesque upon all pre-
conceived notions of free republican gov
eminent 1t is simply the organization after
the manner of European monarchies of re-
Eal esLaDIlSuneuL, uiue u VI meMUeIo VI d
family and personal friends, having perpet-
ual and hereditary lien upon their Offices
The offices of General and Lieutenant General,
given to Grants personal favorites, Sherman
and Sheridan, correspond to the position of
arch dukes and dukes in monarchical govern
ments where orders of nobility are under
stood. We are having the same things I'M
der other names. To such an extent has this
imperial nepotism gone, under the new adj
ministration, that it is seriously doubted
whether there is at this time any member of
Grants extensive family of relatives out of
Office, or particular personal friend who has
not been assured of fat place.
1t would be unfair to omit to say that the
developments of Grants first three weeks in
the Presidency have created profound and
widespread dissatisfaction among those who
aided to place him in power. The Abolition
lists do not undertake to defend his actions or
excuse the manifest deficiencies of his first
start but the better sort of them-those not
particularly anxious for office-arc burning
with indignation and disgust. They sneer at
the Grand Gift Enterprise, with head, quarters
at the White House, and predict. for it the
tate Of all bogus lottery schemes.