The Republican journal., 1870-01-27
SOME RADICAL TESTIMONY,

| There is little need that the opposition
should arraign the party in the ascendancy
for its shortcomings and abuse Of power.
Its friends are doing that well enough-bet-
ter, in fact, than could the opposition. as
their opportunities for knowledge or the SUBJ
| lect are greater. II those who still adhere
70 The support OF the administration. viii not
take democratic authority for evidence that
things are going wrong at the capital, we
| spread before them to-day testimony from
good republican sources, the genuineness of
which none will gainsay. And we ask for it
| q calm and candid consideration
The New York Sun, from which is copied
the article on the White House, upon the out
| side OF to-day's paper, was an enthusiastic
supporter of Gen. Grants election, and his
defender until a late date. II has recently
given to the public a series of articles like
this, and, if ii may be credited with einccri-
ity, now believes that the President and his
chief Congressional supporters, need some
wholesome checks. 1t is with no purpo Sc
simply of attacking Mrs Grant, that the com
ments upon the style and ceremony of royal
ty now observed nj the Presidential mansion
are recitcd but because it becomes necessary
as part Of the whole tedious ceremonial OF
etiquette by which the ruler at Washington
is hedged in. Mrs. Grant, born TO compare
lively low fortune and dizzied by her suddcn
elevation, as people are apt to be, especially
women, is stricter in her requirements of de-
ference than she otherwise would be. With
people thus crcumstanccd there is always a
lingering suspicion that somebody will as
sociate the past with the present, and forget
to remember the newly acquired dignity.
With those born to opulence and station this
feeling never arises; their position is assur-
ed, and cannot be gansad The dignifed
hospitality which President Pierce and his
excellent lady dispensed at the same man
sion; the elegant simplicity which peryaded
the White House during the Presidency of
Buchanan, when Miss Lane presided over it ::
these did not need the questionable aids of
gaudy adornment, gliding, closed apart
ments, military secretaries, livcried lacQllics
or 1ingly ceremonial to assure the visitor
that the representative OF a great nation
there resided. Dignity Of manners, the as
sertion of simple self-respect and self-reli
ance, the nobility of intellect, the charm of
conversation, were there to do duty instead
of silly ceremonial. Even Andrew johnson.
though tailor OF Tennessee, had the good
sense to follow the example of his predcccs-
sors in that respect.
All this ceremonial costs money Fuss
and feathers are expensive Injuries. Ac-
cordingy we find the expenses of the Presi-
dental mansion very nearly doubled, even
since the first years Of Lincoln's Presidency.
There is good solid food for reflection in this.
which we commend to our readers.
The other article to which We desire to call
special attention IS the speech of Rcpresen-
tative Dawes, OF Massachusetts, Chairman
of the Committee OH Appropriations. Being
in that responsible position, he naturally
takes an interest in the matter of expendi-
lures and, finding his party getting out of
all reach and reason, he makes a most terri
bic and damaging exposure. There is no
wonder that it carried CONSERVATION into the
ranks OF his party friends There is 10
wonder that there was wailing and crashing
of teeth So deadly a wound has not been
inflicted on the Republican party since its
existence as it has received in the house of
its friends.
Here, then, we have the most positive and
direct charges Of antrcpublican tendencies
that ape royalty, and of extravaganza that
will be ruinous if unchecked, coming direct
ly from well-informed radical sources. 1t
cannot be said that ''somc enemy hath done
this" That style of argument does not APP
ply here. 1t is from outraged and indignant
party friends that these come. We do not
know what the people will say-but we be-
lievc the load to be TOO heavy for any party
to carry and live.