Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-12-08
Prom the Washington Patriot
THE PRESIDENT.

I
Ii would be to US a most congenial and
grateful thing to be able TO say that we have
1t this time in the Presidential chair man
worthy of his seat. Nothing could well be
or us more ungrateful task than TO be
obliged 10 say that we have not. We have
ong been accustomed to look with profound
respect to the Presidential chair, the emblem
Of national leadership, so often filled by illus.
trious and patriotic men, whose virtues and
valor either did much to create or much to
the liberties of the American people.
we regret most sincerely than we can do so
no longer. Most profoundly do we deplore
that from such a source should tlow-whence
once flowed wholesome and uncontaminated |
current strengthening and animatng broth |
erhOOd of people and q sisterhOod OF States-a |
poisoned and dangerous stream calculated, II
not designed, to vlliale and sweep away the
liberties of people. No man ever entered
that chair with so many and amazing oppor-
tunties to do good, and for retrieving the
ieopardzed rights of his countrymen, as did
President Grant and no man ever so shame
fully disregarded them. He blasted in day
every hope reposed in him. He wavered for
Il while between the two wings Of the party
mainly, but not wholly, responsible for his
eection-plastlc but presumptuous clay IN the
hands Of alternate pottefa-and then sunk into
the arms OF the worst, to be moulded by them
into an instrument for the most desperate uses
At the time Of his election he had the es-
teen and confidence Of many whose seli-re-
spect soon obliged them to withdraw their
confidence, as having been misplaced and
| BETRAYED His lack of education and antece-
dents necessary TO qualify him for the Presi.
dency was well known. Men did not think
him great or fitted by culture and reflection
for his place, but they thought him patriotic
and honest. lie was said TO be a soldier, with
a soldiers honor and frankness a patriot,
with patriots large-heartedness and to be
possessed Of a sterling common sense, which
would stand him in good stead for his univer-
sally conceded ignorance in government
Many helped to place him where he is from
these considerations. How infinitely great
must be their disappointment If not their dis
f gust, we will not pretend to fathom. Where,
Il Is asked on all sides and without reference
to party ties, is his alleged soldierly honor and
- frankness now Turned strangely TO dis
5 honor, discrimination, and intrigue Where
the imputed arge-heartedness, characteristic
of a patriot, which would move him to dc
homely Justice to all men, and to strive TO as
j suage, and finally to wholly heal, the bitter
5 ness and animosities of the pastY The an
4 swer, II there be any, Is TO be found in th'
4 callous workings Of his stolid insensate nature
. as shown in his treatment Of one hall OF hi
u country, on whose people, TO secure his owl
IS reelection, and for no better reason, he wOul'
y visit many stripes. Where is the all-atoninl
- common sense that was so generously ascribe
. to him, one of the strong points put proml
IS nently forward as covering q multitude OF IN
|. firmities, and as a substitute for mulutud
l. of talents, and which was in many ways I
NJ stand in the stead OF so much Swallowe
q. up and lost in dense cloud of ignorance.
q But not only in our experience of Gener,
q. Inc bu ola
want of knowledge of everything essential I
his position, and an Lnftncss for the eXalte
scat Of responsibility and power in which i
IN has unfortunately been placed, that MAXI
sensitive and sensible men blush Tor the
ruler, but he has shown no disposition, NJ
even capacity, to acquire needed informatic
and lessen by study and reflection his glarir
o. unftness anu deficiencies. Antecedent Pres
IT. dents, even the ablest, the best informed, Il
II most studious, and thoughtful found that
needed all their knowledge, their talent, the
- thought, their time, their skill in government
IN al affairs, and all tlieir powers Of body al
d. mind, to perform even acceptably well the a
duous and momentous duties required at the
-, hands, and inseparable from the pOsltiC
49, which they had assumed Not so with Pr
:" sldent Grant. He seems TO think that he CT
administer tue Government wisely with Ia
his mind-and that the empty halt-whil
with the other half, he occupies himself wi
matters more congenial to his education al
IRE instincts, and Il must be confessed, mo
Is, suited to his powers. His thoughts are e.
raj IDENTIFY not as Our thoughts, and such as tn
be are we do not know that anything would
es1 gained by hislbrnging them to bear upon 1
"a class of subjects that must Of necessity, col
ais before him as President.
mt Nevertheless, if but for mere appc0ran
IT sake, one would suppose that now and III
Gu he would at least seem TO think upon su
es subjects. As to his time, he has but little
&C. give TO public affairs, and that little is unha
IS, PLY not given TO advance bis country's pea
eu and happiness and common good, bnt 10
u stirring up OF strifes and heart burninga "
DIV halt.eXlinguished anlmosities, showing Il rea
aacrty TO cooperate and give form and {
III thority 10 mlschieyous and lawless enactmen
Were he n complete nOrentity where lie Is,
EN- could be borne, if not with patience, at L.
OF without apprehension But 1t is not so.
oy is Of Importance at least, il only in that he
nc endorse and give effect TO iniqulties. Pre-
dent Washington shrank from exercising
en- accepting extraordinary powers even VIII
iev urged upon him-pOWers which, in unsc
eel pulOus hands, would be dangerous to
DV- liberties OF the people. President Grant col
OF sells their creation and seizcs them with ayi
M ty. The former understood the present 4.
Gu ger as principle, and the dangert
-nt precedent OF comforting irresponsible 30
Iu' or upon a President tho latter und
ny stands nothing and dumbly reaches ouI
, hand to grcedily grasp all that is offered hi
.ne Such, in this regard, Is the difference betwe
70, an unselhsh patriot In the morning Of our Ii
ma tory, filled with sOlioitude for the future Of
nation he did 40 much and suffered 80 mu
VI 10 bling Into being, and the self seeklr
~ vacant minded man. ignorant OF his countr
ut institutions in any brond and complete sen
ieu reaching out on all sides to possess himself
Inu arbitrary power, who now fills the seat viii
~ Washington once filed Nor has Preside
ne Grant any appreciation Of the command
- dignity Of the place to which lie has he
-" called, and the consequent obligations Il
a rest upon him Presidents that have 90
Ias before him realized that they occupied a 81
~ ton Of dignity and honor, and recOgnizi
ole what was incumbent upon them, consecral
'ai themselves, while President, with pGtrio
~ devotion to the nations best interests 4
'ue highest good To President Grant all cons
~ atoms Of this kind are mere yap0rs, iorml,
W and void, floating about in the wild waste
,'e his untuiOred understanding.
no Our relations 1T home and our Relate
ne abroad are at this luncture such as to requ
~ at the head OF affairs u man OF statesmanli
III opinions, OF political experience, and Of ]
, iiOnal and International knowledge That
ne have not such "a msn 10 but too painfully a
M humiiatlngly true Nor have we any p
10 sent remedy for the situation. Re dwell up
sr- II may help us in the tuture-we trust it "
we but it cannot help US now. We must y,
~ our burthen, and swallow our mortiicatlC
ole albeit they are great. We are but reapi
on that which we have sown, and suffering /
Ter penalty OF our own folly. We picked up I
apples ofthe Dead Sea shore, and we are NJ
IN eating the ashes. At this, one OF the mt
Tor critical periods Of our history, General Ora
ord is President and sits In q slatesman's seat
i've
md e6EOIAI N0-Ior.
ask 49, w INES'
~ ON RR1AGE