The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-12-22
Gen. Grants Victories OF Peace.

All large communities are very un-
grateful. Republics have become pro-
verbal for their forgetfulness of public
services. This country is undoubtedly
specially given to the vice of ingrati-
tude toward her great men, at least dur
ing their lives. AT this remote period,
Washington stands in halo of glory,
but while he was President, nothing
could exceed the bitterness of the cal
umnies poured out upon him. Every
possible scandal against his private and
public life, every form OF vulgar gossip
and base insinuation was used against
him. All our public men, during their
active service, have passed through this
ordeal. The intensity of party spirit
was perhaps greater at the formation of
the Government thansnow, and calum-
NATION was more INSCRIPTIONS. Still,
through every new ter of the Presi-
dency, the incumbent, or the aspirant to
it, has been exposed to this biting storm
of scandal and calumny. 1T seems to
historical students that the old and new
Democratic party always had peculiar
proclivity to personal gossip against our
great men, if of the opposite side.
Washington, the two Adams's, Gen.
Harrison, Gen. Taylor, Clay, Webster,
Lincoln, and above all Gen. Grant, have
each and all been the mark for unceas-
ing vituperation and the bitterest per-
sonal calumny. Democracy has in fact
become mainly now an organization for
scandal. Nothing that President Grant
can do, will satisfy the gossip mongers
if he speaks, he is foolish if he keeps
silent, he is stupid. If he defends the
honor of the country, he is driven by
his old thirst for blood :" if he seeks
peace, he is pusillanimous.
There has been endless scandal
among the Democrats about I" the
presents" made to him. We are not
aware that during his Presidency he
has received gifts, but if he has done
so, no man deserves them better. Let
our readers 90 back to 1868 and 1864.
Let them remember the almost utter
hopelessness of the national cause till
the great blows of Donaldson, Vicksburg
and Lookout Mountain turned the tide.
Let them recall the long and bloody
struggle of theWilderness, with the best
General and the best army the rebels
ever had, and the final glorious triumph
honors and rewards great nation could
bestow on her greatest son would have
have been in the least beyond his de-
serts. Compare the petty gifts made to
Gen. Grant by the grateful citizens of
the country he had done most to save,
with the immense rewards and emolu
ments heaped on the Duke of Yelling
ton, for services not so vital to his coun-
try and not more brilliant. There is
something pitiful and mean in this
counting the dollars which have been
given by men, grateful and admiring, to
the best General of the Republic, who
had stood between us and ruin. The
services which Gen. Grant has rendered
this nation can never be repaid
and all this trumpery gossip about his
presents is mere outburst of party
spleen.
We admit, indeed, that something of
the halo which surrounded the great
chieftain's head during the fiery days
of battle and siege, has faded. He had
a position at the close of the war which
no Presidency could enhance. We all
expected too much from him in his civil
administration. We all ardently hoped
that to the martial crown which he had
won by such noble services he would
add the more peaceful wreath gained
by greater victories in peace. We felt
that President Grant, above all, was fit
ted to redeem the Government from its
one great curse, of filing offices with
professional politicians, and that he
could at length inaugurate the great re.
form of change in the civil service.
He undoubtedly began his administra-
ton hoping to accomplish this. His
first appointments were made outside of
the party hacks. But one man cannot
reform a whole system, however deter
mined he may be. Congress did not
support him in his efforts. He was
badgered by members applying for con-
stituents. There were thousands of of.
fees to be filed. No impartial Board
to determine applications had been
formed. Congress and the country left
the President 10 get out of the difficulty
as he could And the result was pre-
cisely what was to be expected. The
President fell back on the old system.
and appointed persons to office on the
recommendation of members Of the
House and the Senate.
The old methods of filling the Civil
Service were resumed, and the Govern
ment of the country was carried on, as
before, by men chosen not for fitness,
but because they had performed certain
party services, or were favorites Of GER
tain members of Congress. Everything
fell back into its old vicious rut. This
was hardly to be avoided. The Presi-
dent was either compelled to fall out
with his party and Congress, and create
second Johnsonian administration,
and start himself new mode Of filling
offices, or he must go in the old track.
There is no middle ground. Either
there must be an impartial commission
to examine applicants, and they must
be chosen or rejected for qualifications,
or the members of Congress or others
must recommend to the President, and
he must follow their advice. 1t was
perhaps too much to expect the Presi-
dent to inaugurate this great reform,
single-handed 1t would have involved
four years of incessant warfare with
Congress, and split in the Republican
party. Following thus in the track of