Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1869-05-07
rEHns Or SUBSCRIPTION
TWO DOLLARS AR.
The iamlnl,tratlon Of Gen. Grant.


In the allotment Of the chief Offices. at home
and abroad, President Grant has passed. through
the first. and perhaps most trying stage of his
administration Looking back in the lull follow
ing the adjournH ent Of the Senate, the short va
cation Of tie Cabinet officers, and the abatement
Of the rush Of Office seekers at Washington.
wha, sor; Of an administration do we find it to
be-
We note in the first place, that those who were
expecting anything but a republican administra-
ton. and are to be disappointed. With an
insignificant exception or two, Pres. Grant has
appointed only republicans to Office. The taint
Of copper or Iohnsonism proves fatal to any
mans hopes Of receiving or retaining Office, as
soon As the Presidents attention is drawn to it,
In the second place, it mus; be admitted that the
administration has mott thu, far shown the strength
and independe ce which many were hoping for
The cabinet, though containing mau Of culture
STABILITY ani high personal worth in the Secre-
t.ry Of State, very able lawyer in the Attorney
General, AID an honest man IN the Secretary of |
the Treasury, cannot be called strong one. The |
administration, too. has yielded to the influence
Of politicians sni p,ce-brokers, to an unexpect-
-l extent Grant himself, whose iron will could |
not be shaken by hostile mics, councils Of
War. or adverse experiences in war, mas yielded
TO pressure. repeatedly, in the matter Of ap-
poiutmei.ts in a way to surprise many Yet it
Is not 50 surprising after al. As General Of the
Army, he knew his ground, knew his enemy,
knew the tools and materials he had to work
with. But now he finds himself in Il very differ
ent position. His responsibilities are new to
him. He is not familiar with political ropes
The members Of his Cabinet, are as new in their
duties and responsibilities a he; and vet, with
this lack Of personal knowledge Of the men and
duties with which they have had to deal, they
have had to undertake the most difficult and i'm
portant task Of making appointments by thou
sands, each one Of which is an immediate honor
OF disgrace 10 the administration according as it
is filed with a good or bad man. They have
found themselves like previous administrations, |
compelled to take their knowledge Of applicants
at second hand. and amid conf citing applications
have endorsed the recommendation which seemed
best without much reliable information Of the
personal character and qualifications Of appli-
cints. OF course some mistakes have been made
Yer. thirdly. it is pnin that Gen Grant and
his adviser. mean well A.; mean to act upon the
best information at their command and are
willing TO rectify mistakes, as soon as they are
inside clear to them. Probably never before. in
the same spsce of time, have so many nominal
riuns been withdrawn, after having been sent in.
certain gentleman was nominated for Consul
nj one Of the ports the Mediterranean. The
day the name was sent to the Senate he got | :
gloriously drunk in honor thereof The next
day his appointment revoked by President
Grant. In another case young man had been
nominated for positi. by a head Of a Depart "a
inent, and the President finding, through an in -
stance Of which he was pe-fcctly cognizant, that
he was utterly characterless and uutruthful re- el
fused to approve the nomination. 4 confirmed 10
kleptomanisc, named Cox, Of Philadelphia, was al
appointed to a foreign consulate He was ar TX
rested the other day for stealing some trivial ca
articles iIom grocery store, and was let of
Ipon paying $500 to cover the value Of articles
iolen during the last two years The President
'romPtly removed him upon learning that he
'As unworthy Of confidence There have been .''
Their similar eases. "
President Grant thus fufs the promise Of his u"
Inaugural. And in this he deserves and should sue
eeeive encouragement. His declared purpose ''o
D remove unworthy public servants, though Of
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