Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-08-27
The Presidents RecrcatIOns.

ANNNNANAhFA
The asinine prcw seem endeavoring in
spiteiul feeble way TO criticise President
Grant for availing himself of the summer
vacation TO indulge in ofr-hand social in
tercoursc with the people at the watering
places and elsewhere. II Is not questioned
that the President seeks this recreation In
nm appropriate manner, but IL seems 10 be
assumed that he ought 10 swelter at the
White House, or, ifthat unhealthy location
prove too bilious snatch hurried rest Mt
night Mt the Soldiers Home, haunting
Washington by day. The only President
wholiyed without recreation (othcr than an
occasional attendance at Washington
thcatre) was Mr.. lincoln. The Copper
heads not only did not thank him for his
unrcmitting Hcrculean toll, hut availed
themselves of the solitary occasions on
which he sought to unbcnd from the labors
of the government TO waylay and murder
him-an achievement in which they at last
succeeded. With the exception of Mr..
Lincoln, every President he's made tours
Of recreation through the country. An.
drew johnson amused himself in the
only way he was able, by swing.
ing around the circle on drink
ing tour, making stupid and very
maudlin speeches. Mr. Buchanan resort.
cd every year TO Bedford rs his favorite
place President Pierce visited the Crys-
tai Palace at New York, and went into
summer quarters at Cape Island. Presi-
| dent Van Burcn was fond, even TO 1unkey.
| ism, of aristocratic people. President
| jackson spent many weeks OF his vaca.
tion at the Ripraps, Fortress Monroe. The
President most ostentatiously addicted to
displaying himself on public tours, with a
pOmp and hauteur that ut the present day
would he oppressive and offensive, was
Washington himself He esteemed II part
Of his official duty to make formal impe-
| rial progresses around the country, and part
of the official duty Of everybody who came
in his way TO receive him with punctilious
Difference and parade. President Grants
military achievements throw those Of the
| First Presidents far into the background.
His civil career has been marked by less
protension but not less ability, judgment
or prudence than that of Washington. II
| cannot be deemed improper that he
should mingle with the people in man.
ncr neither mean nor ostentatious,
neither intrusive nor vulgar, but
with the natural and unaffected plea.
sure of n well-poiscd gentlemen among
| his social equals. He observes the
characters and studies the opinions
of nll, but reserves iudiciously the express
| sion of his own. This certainly Is char
actcristic of the most successful statesmen
and executive rulers of all ages At the
| White House he could meet only politi-
clans. At Long Branch, New York,
! Boston, Newport, Saratoga, he m, cts the
men of business of all classes mt the East.
| With those Of the West and South he is
moro familiar than any President who
| cVor preceded him. Who can doubt that
| he information he is thus accommodating
its of infinite value to himy Fortunate
would IL have been if his predecessor had
| spent his time thus, instead of organizing
| policies at Washington in ignorance of
popular opinion. Moreover, what public
need Is being neglected. Were our
| finances, foreign relations Indian affairs,
reconstruction, bureau or revenue man
agement ever advancing more salts
lactorily or being reformed more rapidly ?
| Was there ever more vigor or less waste
moro fidelity or less corruption in
our administration When Grants pres
encc was needed during the eight long
years of the war, and of the perils of re-
construction, was he ever absent from his
postY Did he ever seek the capital for pro-
| motion, or come TO II at all from the time
| he entered the army rs Rcgimental Staff
Quartermastcr until he was called there as
| Gencral-in Chief of all our armiesp Did
his stars or staff then figure at the water
ing placesS Never The clements of his
| success were then military He moved
freely among all his officers and men from
Sherman, Mcpherson and Sheridan down
to Surgeons, Quartermasters and privates.
He studied the problem in all its parts and
mndo no mistakes. His problem now is
u financial, industrial and political one.
He is moving among men OF business, of
industry, and who, through these resources,
have earned their summer months for
leisure, He sees very great number of
them. And if he learns nothing else he at
least learns them. lie does well and wise
ly. Before we find fault with it, let us see
what evil comes from it-Chicdg0 Tribune,
| AugHSt l3