, 1869-04-17
THE PLETHORA OF PATRIOTISM.

President Grant must experience sol
diet1y pleasure in reviewing the army Of
ablc-bodied ofIicc-scekers who, for si1
weeks past, have sundered every tic Of
family business and friendship, and rushol
to the service Of their imperillesl country,
waiting not even for call or proclamation.
Some automatically disposed correspondent
at Washington indulges in an estimate that
for every Office in the gift Of the govern
mcnt there nro ten applicants. As there
nte 4o, 900 offices at the governments dis
tho olace-scekcr, ut 100000 strong
This, nftcr all, is tho most numerous
force TINT General Grant ever handled on
any one occasion, except, perhaps, when he
may have had on his hands the mosquitoes
Of the Mississippi River. Now, for tho
first time, VIC perceive that the promotion
from General Of the Army and conquoror Of
the rebellion to President Of the United
States is upward instead Of downward. If
the eutire army of oiace~scekers, including
those who 60 in person and those who 90
| by mail, wcro 1narshn1lcd on Pennsylvania
| avenue, tho van would reach tho White
House while the 1ear were swinging around
the Capitol. It would be such manifesto
I tion Of zeal for tho service Of our common
country us not even the grand reviews Of
Our victorious hosts under Grant, Sherman
and Thomas could surpass in numbers, en-
thusiasm or drill.
No conscnption, draft, or other coercive
agency now fills the ranks required for1he
country's service. The able-bodied rolun-
teers embrace their wives and children with
out sigh, tear themselves away from the
communities in which they have heretofore
dwelt without the loss Of q tear, and 'trzlly
round the flag" with patriotism that is
cheering TO the souls of such as have nearly
! lost their faith in human virtue.
President Grant can remember when it
was fur otherwise-when the services Of tho
10000 able-bodicd men now anx-
ious to illustrate the nations
honor and promote its interests,
with n few notable exceptions, could not he
had for love nor money. The magnitude Of
their business interests, the variety of ways
IN which their tAlents would serve the coun-
try ut home, and the burden Of their obi
gntions 10 afflicted step-mothers and suffer-
ing annts who would agonize nt their de-
parture, we're among the stern realities Of
war to those who sustain the draft and
| purchase substitutes. How much would
General Grant have given then for a rein
forcement Of 420, 600 men? But their mod
esty forbade! They ind not been trimmed
to serve their country. They had neither
the mental nor the physical ability to en-
dure arduous labors But now then
health has improved vastly. Their abilities
have expanded. He who would not
then have ventured to command q squad is
now ready to negotiate treaty. The de-
lights Of home, then Irresistible, are now
forgotten. It is easier 10 find fifty ready to
start for Bombay OF Hong-Kong than to
find one then who would start for Vicksburg
or Richmond. Such a revival Of patriotism
md plethora of patriots must be refreshing
to ono who has seen SO many occasions OF
which there Was barely enough to go around
when there were more vacancies at his dis
posa1 than there were applicants to I'll
them.
It is good to hayo men willing to serve
their country, but it were better if the,
were willing at the right time. This sug
gests to Us that Congress should pass law
that all applications for Office, direct or in
direct, to the President OF members of Con
gress, should be filed, and record kept Of
the applicants BY the War Department, II:
"men desircas to serve their country" Al
tho next breaking out OF war, all whose ap
phcations hive been filed since tho last wa.
shoun be drafted into the army, withou
beacft Of clergy OF privilege Of substitute
Would there be 100000 applicants for ofdc
; On these terms? Not much. Modest,
would again forbid! The country woult
find it had more places to ell than men I,
fill them Home would again have charm
for those nov 50 impatient for honorab1.
exile. The tenderness for the feelings O.
1naiaen aunts and step-mothcrs would revive
III tho manly bosom. The White Hous'
would cense to be shrine Of worship, Will
10000 kueeling deyotces, MI sending VI
their prayers and cards by the Presidensi
PH.ate Secretary. On tho contrary, i
would be said Of each and every member O.
the Cabinet, even Of Mr.. Borie, of whom i
is not likely soon to DO said, -" The Secretar,
stood alone" They would not only stan,
alone, but they would be left severed
alono when sitting, or riding abroad. Til
: White House, now SO overwhelmed wit
, patriotism, would become owlish md sol
itary, In short, the President would 500
,, be heard calling, RI in the days of yore, 70
l BON, ,NtM more men,