The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1869-05-04
snbeciles In the white H0use and
Cabinet.-Danger Ahead.

Z
The New York Times, rad, speak
ing of Grants leading foreign appoint
mcnts, says they "have been to general
lv treated as coin for the payment of
personal or political obligations, and
evince no very thorough knowledge of
the qualifications required for effective
service ir the foreign field" The same
leading idea is expressed by the New
York Sun (Rad }, which says the Presi-
dent s'installed among his constitutional
advisers individuals who were chiefly
distinguished for having conferred upon
him costly and valuable bcnefactions."
In other words, the affair was a sort of
gift enterprise business, where individ
uals that paid well were sure to get a
leading prize. The Sun makes specifi-
cations that are rather damaging. 1t
says:
along with other appointments bear
ing this sort of trade mark, he appoint
ed as his Secretary of the Navy a gen
tleman wholly incapable of filling the
place, who had taken the lead in giving
him a fifty thousand dollar house in
Philadelphia, some three years before;
and he surrendered the baton of Gener
al of the Armies to a renowned soldier,
who, with his knowledge and approha-
ton, lifted one hand to take the oath of
office, while receiving with the ether a
tempting gift valued at 100000, OF
which the sixty-five thousand dollar
house in Washington formed part. Not
to go back to Jefferson, or Adams, or
Jackson, for virtuous examples, even
Andy Johnson had sense and decency
enough to refuse the present of a car
riagc and horses with the Presidential
oath lingering on his lips"
The pernicious effect of such evil prac-
tees of men in high places is forcibly
sketched by the Sun:
''Such evil practices of men in high
places, whose past achievements have
dazzled the popular Imagination, tend
to demoralize the public service, and de-
bauch public opinion. Ostentatious dis
plays and profigate expenditures come
to be regarded as necessary concomi-
tants of official station, and it is felt that
the main object of office is not to dis
charge ones duties to the country, but
to thereby attain sudden riches and in
dulge in a shoddy magniticence. The
natural result of all this must inevitably
be, that corruption and venality will
walk una3ashed and almost unrebuked
through every department of the Gov
ernment"
The Sun states the case'well when it
says the natural result of filling offices
on the gift enterprise plan, adopted by
Grant, 'must inevitably be, that cor
ruption and venality will walk unabashed
and almost unrebuked through every
department of the Government"
The Round Table. a New York peri
odical of ability and influence, sees
where this universal corruption-oflicial
and private-will lead the Republic, 1t
will, as sure as fate, drift into Imperial
ism 1t says:
at is impossible, when people think
all things of their bodies and nothing
of their minds, that either democratic
or any other pure form of government
can long be maintained. Unless great
change comes over American people, it
will not be maintained by themselves
They are rushing toward the precipice
at railway speed, and the universal cor
ruption that good men deplore is the
prelude of decomposition which is as
certain as fate"
When the President of the United
States appoints to the prominent Offices
Of the country those who have been his
benefactors in the way of rich gifts, the
pernicious example is felt in every
branch of the public service. 1t de-
moralizes also the public sentiment of
the country. People lose that nice sense
Of pride in the general character OF the
government which is the main guarantee
of its perpetuity. Private morals are
affected by the want of dencency in the
official head of the Republic, and sense
Of the general degradation is followed
by an indifference to whether the gov
ernment is Imperial or Republic