Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-05-20
Cen. Grant. Admin,.tr.sI...
BY HENRY WILSON.

ulen, took the oath pfesci oed ior tue
President OF .he United States. ! y Dim,
these have Dcen iaoAtls ol Irlaio such as
he has never known. From all sections
oI the land came an earliest, persistent,
vehement pressure for place SUCH As NO
President had ever encountered. Per
maps the pressure for Offices Was isT q
few days IN lS6i quite as strong; but the
impending civil war checked il. Many
who then sought civil service hastened
to Join the nations defenders, aud patri-
otism demanded the retention in Office
o. some democrats who were loyal 10
their country. Then disappointed aspi-
rations were forgotten or siienced in the
clash OF arms. Now nothing comes to
break the terrible pressure upon the
President. New nothing comes to arouse
to high deeds, ungratitied ambitio; :,
por to silence disappointed aspirations.
Many seek, but few can be taken. That
few are, doubties, more than satisfied
that their own merits, rather than the
Presidents favor, won for them the gilt
tering prizes. The many who We're not
taken see ne merit in their successful ri
walls, nor sagacity in = President who
could over look claims like their own
The successful few, having won only
that which they think of right belong
to them, are chary of their thanks. The
unsuccessful many, having had that
which they think should be theirs of
right withheld by an. unappreciating
and ungrateful President, are profuse in
their censures. Er- .s-,-..-. sz.gz.
Several appointments have been made
that were mot fit to be made" The
truest friends of the President see this:
but they confidently hope that these er-
rors will be speedily corrected, that
these errors will be admonitions in the
future. In spite, however, of the mis-
takes, for which the President is not
alone responsible, the new appointments
have been, as a whole, marked inn
provements. Four fifths of the appoint
ees are abier and purer men than the
men whose places they take. No man
at all acquainted with the public men of
the country-no man who has any
knowledge of the men removed, or the
men appointed-can doubt the correct
ness of this declaration. More especially
is this true of the internal revenue ap-
pointments. The Commissioner of the
Internal Revenue is gentleman of
large capacity and practical experience,
and he has brought ta the public service
an inflexible purpose to reform abuses
and collect the revenues. The future
will demonstrate the fact that the asses
sors and collectors he has appointed are,
as whole, greatly superior to the Off
GERS whose places they take.
Whatever may be the merits or the
demerits OF the appointees TO Office,
there is, and there will continue to be
for some time, expressions Of disappoint-
ment, unfriendly criticisms, and carping
censures. But the patriotic and liberty
loving masses that made Gen. Grant
President should not allow themselves
70 be blinded ny the dust ner prejIdiced
by the clamor raised by the disappointed
applicants for place. Ia the m;iiti piici:y
of his appointments the President has
sometimes failed TO put the right man
"a the right place." hut he has not failed
To firmly maintain the PATRIOTIC. liberty
loving, Just, and hanaue idess, princi-
piles, and policies that made him Chief
Magistrate Never before mas the Nation
been so exalted. Never before has the
Government heen administered for sixty
DAYS so in harmony with the demands
of patriotism, liberty, justice. and hu-
name and Christian civilization.
There no longer goes out from the EA-
ecutive Mansion words that enIbitter
men against their country and their
countrymen. The Chief Magistrate now
seeks to bring all branches in the Gov
eminent i'm sccord. and to inspire hope,
confidence, and goodwill among the
people. He joins Congress-or, rather,
he leads Congr.ss-and his loyal coun-
trymeu in the grand work OF restoring
the Union, and of making the nation
one in affection and purposs. Inspired
by his words and acts, tens ofthousands
of his countrymen in the states lately in
rebellion are new striving to restore the
unity of the nation on the basis of 10y
atty and equality of rights. Patriotism
applauds the firm, wise, and practical
action Of President Grant for the restora-
ton Of the states and tine unity of the
people.
President Grant is the first Chief Mag
istrate of the Republic who is committed
to the policy of securing to citizens with
out distinction of color or race the right
of suffrage. He accepts in all its fullness
the policy of human rights that recog-
nizes the equal citizenship of the black
man. In appointments to official posi-
tions he has braveIy recognized the
rights and privileges of the colored race.
Two colored citizens represent the nation
abroad; two eolored citizens have been
made assessors of internal revenue; and
another colored citizen is postmaster of
Columbia, the capital of naughty South
Carolina. Through all our history the
conduct of the nation toward the black
race has been in violation of the spirit of
Christianity. Grant was elected by the
friends of the despised and wronged
black man to assure to him equality of
rights. To that noble work he is giving
practical evidences of personal and Off
ciaI devotion. Surely liberty applauds
this firm and consistent action of Presi-
dent Grant.
The conduct of this professedly Chris
tian nation toward the red man has, for
generations, been in violation not only
of the precepts of Christianity, but even
ef the sense of Justice among men. Gen.
eraI Grant, in his Inaugural Address,
remembered the wronged Indian, and
reminded the nation OF disregarded if
- f~r.o4t.n d,,.;.s praaidnpt Grant