The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1869-05-05
Then and N0w-The Earlier and the
fTf o h- Later Presidents. -. ','---

Z. On the fourth of March 1901, Thom-
as Jefferson rode on horseback unat-
tended to the Capitol, hitehed his So
Der gelding atithe1 gate, assembled the
steps, took the oath of Office from. the
lips Of John Marshall, and delivered
that inaugural address which has
since been the key note of the Demo
cratic party. John Quincy Adams;
when, his term expired, mounted q
quiet nag, mailed pOrtmanteau be
hind him, and Wended his way Ieis-
urely 70 Quincy, declining to receive
any public demonstrations from his
admirers along the; route. At the
close Of Gen. Jackson's long and re-
markable administration, he departed
from the Federal Capitol seated in
the smoking car of the railway, clad
In a simple garb, waving graceful
farewell to the friends who crowded
the depot, and drawing consolation
from democratic clay pipe.
Each of these eminent men on sew
eral occasions, some of them of histor-
ic celebrity, refused to receive pres
ents as testimonials OF regard for pub
lie services, both previous TO and
when filling the Presidential chair,
excepting that STATE LegisIl lures No
ted two or three swords and medals
to Gen. jackson while he was in. pri-
vate life, as tributes to his gallantry
in the battle of New Orleans. Nei-
ther OF them ever bestowed Office up
on a relative, while both Jefferson
and Jackson especially declined to do
so, the formerin avletter which rebu-
ked the practice with marked empha-
sis. .g 10 on --- -s5a'r- 7s-irsTg61 ,asss
We have fallen on other times. Are
they better times ?. On Wednesday,
the Sd OF March 1869. the President
elect accepted S65, COO out OF sum of
money raised in New York at his
own pressing solieits ton for Gen.
Sherman, 20 pay him (the PreSidentl
for q house which he desired TO seH.-
On Thursday he took the oath of. of
hce, and In his inaugural address pied. !.
ged himself to the rigid execution of
all laws, whether he liked them or
not. He then-speut nearly the entire
first week of ms term in trying, 10
evade the plain provisions OF salutary
statutes, because they blocked the
way for the admission to the most
important seat in his Cabinet of the
alm0Der who had bestO we'd this daZ
zlirg present. Baf1ed in this by the
tirmness of the Senate and the frJWns
of the public, he nevertheless INSTALL
| ed among his constitutional advisers
other individuals who, though not
Obnoxious tO this particular objection,
| were chiefly distinguished for having
| conferred upon him costly and valua-
ble bonefactions. Along with other
| appointments bearing this sort of
trade mark, he appointed as his Sec
retaFy of the Navy Il gentleman Who'll
~ incapable or filing the place, who
had taken the lead in giving him a
$50, 900 house in Philadelphia, some
three years before and he surren-
dered the batOE of General of the Ar
mics to renowned soldier, who. with
his knowledge and appreciation, lifted
one hand to take the oath of office,
| while receiving with the other q
| tempting gift valued at 100000, OF
/ of which the $65, 900 house IN Wash
| lngton formed part. Not to go back
to Jefferson, or Adams, or jackson.
for Virtuous examples, even Andy
| Johnson had seLsse and decency
enough to refuse the present of q car
risge and horses with the Presidential
oath lingering on his lips.
| Such evil practices of men In high
places, whose past achievements have
| dazzled the popular Imagination, tend
TO demoralize the public service, and
debauch public opinion. Ostentatious
displays and prohigate expenditures
come to be regarded as necessary com.
comitants of official station, and it is
felt that the main object of office il
not to discharge ones duties to the
country. but to thereby attain sudden
| riches and indulge in a shnddy mag.
uificence. The natural res uIt of all
this must inevitably be, that corrup
! tion and yenality will walk unabash'
ed and almost unrebuked through
l every department of the Government.
| Moreover, such evil examples not
only shed their perniciuus influences
through the place hurting and place
holding classes, but reach the very
roots of society. They inflame the
! young men Of the land with passion
Tor wealth as the great object OF life.
They tend to make lucre the badge
of honorable distinction, and the DOS
session OF riches the sole passport tC
power eminence, or even respeeLa.
| biIity. gan l C-E {
Is it not high time that the masses
fof the people, who neither seek mol
] hold office, should labor for the return
| of the good old times of republican
simplicity, when statesmen felt 8
| stain as a wound: when the dispen
ser of patronage would scorn to feeC
his poor relations from the public
Ecrib and when a President would
cut OF his right hand ere IL should
sign the commission of q man WhC
had besl owed upon him a gift ?-N
7. San. Radical. s1-. a.slg.. - l..